The above Mailgram refers to the lease of a railway-owned house to a railway employee. This was a common practice for many decades, especially in rural or remote areas where housing was not easy to find. The houses were usually of wood construction and very plain. Even in 1927 dollars, the rent of $5.00 per month was certainly cheap! It would represent about a days pay.

CPR Standard No. 4 Section House Plans and material list. 1914-15