NARRATIVES OF SASKATOON

1882-1912

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as far back as 1883 and to him were we indebted for the fine wide streets in the City. When the surveyors were laying out the town site he in- sisted on these being laid out in the generous dimensions that we now enjoy. His passing away just as the fruition of his hopes for a great city were being matured was particularly saddening. Long will his memory be kept green in the hearts of the old-timers of the place. Saskatoon has been built upon the loyal services of men of Mr. Copland's stamp-and next to this upon the corporate spirit which made men come to one another's help for the City's sake. For example, a fire destroyed the building occupied by the Capital newspaper on the 8th of January, 1907. The following day a public sub- scription was taken up, contributors being of both political parties and a handsome sum was presented to the publishers to enable them to start afresh. This is one instance among many of the wholehearted standing to- gether of the Saskatoon citizens. Another incident of the same kind oc- curred about six months after. A large warehouse belonging to Cairns was burnt out. The Bank he was dealing with called the loan he had from them the following day. On hearing of this a number of citizens offered him a loan to tide him over the crisis. It was very fortunate that we went forward to the depression of 1907 with one of our must loyal and most far-seeing citizens in the Mayor's chair. By some happy instinct the citizens had chosen James R. Wilson in De- cember 1906 for their man at the wheel. The depression was general over the continent and affected the banks and even the firm from which we had bought the machinery for our electric plant, so that they in sheer self- defence pressed the city to meet its obligations. We all felt the hard times. Money was scarce and business was slow. No one however was discour- aged and we all looked forward to a speedy recovery. Meanwhile the City was up against it for money. The Debentures for the new works had not been sold and the Bank refused further advances. Great difficulty was found in even paying officials' salaries. Mayor Wilson pledged his own private funds to the extent of $40,000.00 to help out the City. Before re- lief had come by selling the bonds the firm which had supplied some elec- trical machinery threatened to seize the plant. The Mayor went around and got sufficient from a few citizens to pay off this account. Another instance of the Saskatoon spirit. On the 9th of September I started on a trip to Scotland accompanied by my wife and son. At first in contemplating this trip it was intended that my son only would go with me. Late in the evening before our de- parture we persuaded my wife to go also, and in the morning she packed up and was ready to go with us! We returned home again in December just before Christmas. Whilst I was in Glasgow I endeavored to sell the Sas- katoon Debentures. I found that this class of bonds was not popular. The repayments were in annual installments. They were what are called annuity bonds. I found that bonds which ran for a long term providing in- iterest semi-annually and a sinking fund to pay them off at maturity were most in demand. I finally made a contract with a firm to buy them at 90, but this firm failed to carry out the agreement. It was a great disap- pointment to me as I had spent a great deal of time negotiating with dif- ferent parties and practically spoiled the pleasure of my trip. At the civic election James R. Wilson was re-elected mayor by accla- mation. The Council was fortunately able in April to sell $480,000.00 of five per cent Bonds at 921/2, providing they were changed from the Annuity form to those more suitable to the British investors. This was done and the deal consumated. The bylaws voted on this year were for Public Works- $130,00.00; Hos- pital (additional) $25,000.00; Fire Equipment (including the Jas. R. Wilson Steam Fire Engine) $25,000.00 and $20000.00 to pay Canadian Pacific Rail- way for strengthening bridge to admit of traffic attachment. The Assess- ment had risen to $7,180,307.00. Heavy rains in the southern part of Alberta caused a great rise in the river, it rose to within four inches of the record height. in June, 1908, Page 76

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