From the Archives of Western Newspapers

Posted on September 19, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

September 18, 1891 – The Times (Moose Jaw)

Farmers are frequently advised to hold their wheat for an advance based on the shortage of the European crop, which is ephemeral and uncertain owing to the masses of non-producers in Europe unable to pay any greatly advanced rates for wheat flour. The farmer will generally find it is to their advantage to sell when a fair price if offered.

The teachers of Moose Jaw and the surrounding district had a convention this morning in the school building. This is the third in a series inaugurated by the Inspector of Public Schools for Western Assiniboia. In connection with the convention, a public meeting will be held to discuss educational topics.

A.H. Whitney of Toronto, who was on his way south accompanied by his wife, died in a hotel in Detroit of consumption. By a remarkable coincidence, another A.H. Whitney, from Quincy, Illinois, died at about the same time in the same hotel of heart failure.

September 18, 1908 – The Claresholm Review

Thanksgiving Day will be held on Monday, October 19 this year. It was decided that hereafter, for the convenience of commercial travellers and others who only spend Sunday at home, Thanksgiving Day should be celebrated on a Monday.

John McGarry, one of the best-known rail conductors in the West, died at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Medicine Hat last Sunday afternoon. He’d not been feeling well for a week or 10 days prior to his passing, but not enough to prevent him from working. He was on the No. 96 leaving Calgary at midnight Saturday and immediately went to his hotel room upon arrival at Medicine Hat. He sent a staff member for some medicine but died of heart disease prior to them returning.

54 million horses and 13.5 million labourers would be necessary to move, with the transport facilities in existence a century ago, the commodities now carried by railroads. Despite all the labour-saving devices now available, there is still a large demand for labour due to an increase in production, which has resulted in a vast increase to human comfort.

September 17, 1910 – The Strathmore and Bow Valley Standard

Settlers in the Nechako Valley in BC are desperately in need of staple supplies because steamers are unable to navigate Fraser Lake. This shortage is accentuated by a large quantity of stores being accidentally burned while awaiting transportation.

Strathmore came within an ace of having the biggest fire in its history early last Saturday morning. The fire started on the McKinley block with Mr. McKinley discovering it and raising the alarm. It started from below the floor about a dozen feet from the entrance to the pool room. After the fire was extinguished, fragments of a bucket and rags steeped in oil were found. Two men were arrested, and a preliminary hearing was held on Tuesday, which attracted much local interest. The verdict came down as the fire appeared to have been started by design but there was no evidence to connect someone to it and the prisoners were acquitted.

The Sept. 10 issue of the Albertan has an editorial statement by which it endeavors to prove that it was not incumbent on the Lieutenant-Governor to call a general election after the fall of the Rutherford government. The reasons the Albertan brings forth in support of this contention are the very weakest and are most transparent in their futility.