NARRATIVES OF SASKATOON

1882-1912

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some men from Medicine Hat attempted to take a steamer, called after their town, down to Grand Rapids. They got as far as Saskatoon, passed under the railway bridge safely, when something went wrong with the steering gear. The vessel became unmanageable and dashed against the traffic bridge which carried away the upper works, and the water swung the boat around on one of the concrete piers. We viewed the accident from our home windows. The excitement was intense as we could see the men on board climbing on to the bridge. The engineer, who lingered to let off the steam fearing an explosion, jumped into the water and landed safely a short distance down stream. A barge containing coal was lodged along- side the steamer; this was cut loose to lighten the strain as they tried to pull the steamer off the pier. As the barge was released the steamer gradu- ally keeled over and sank where it was a total wreck. The owners lost the vessel and cargo, the only salvage being the machinery and some of the upper timbers. In February, 1908, I decided to sell out my Battleford business. The running of two large businesses proved too great a strain on my resources, so I sold off the stock there and the next year closed up the departmental store in Saskatoon, divided the premises into stores and offices above, re- taining one store for a clothing and shoe business. I determined to take life more easy after the strenuous years I had spent in business. We now come to the University, which has done so much for our city and for the Province. In Territorial days we had been led by Premier Haultain to fore-shadow the founding of our own University. Premier Walter Scott, with a fine vision of the future of the Province, made the idea substantial in the form of our present institution. The University Act was passed on the 3rd of April, 1907. It provided for nine Governors to carry on the business of the Institution, three being appointed by the Gov- ernment and five elected by the Senate. The other member, the Presi- dent, to be appointed by the Governors. Our people immediately began to lay their plans to have the University located at Saskatoon. Premier Scott in an address stated that the location of the University would be decided by the Board of Governors, thus taking the matter en- tirely out of the political arena. This statement raised our hopes, as the question would be decided on its merits and not on political policy. The Governors were not appointed till early in 1908. The Governors elected by the Senate and appointed by the Government were: Angus, Thompson, Dixon, Hitchcock, Jas. Mackay, MacDonald, A. P. McNab and myself. The Board met at Regina and elected Angus of Re- gina chairman. Three of the members went east to enquire as to a Presi- dent for the University. After their return at a meeting held on the 20th of August, 1908, Dr. W. C. Murray, of Dalhousie University, was appointed to the position. The first step taken by the Governors was to decide the basis on which the University was to be organized. In order to get all information possible from the experience of similar institutions, a delegation was sent East to the United States. From a report made by this delegation the Governors decided to recommend to the Government that the University should em- brace in its operation an Agricultural College, thus recognizing that the in- dustry of the Province of Saskatchewan was essentially of an agricultural nature. Emphasis was laid on this aspect of the question. Reports from some of the institutions recommended that the location of the University should be adjacent to the political capital, which opinion did not quite fit in with the ideas of some of the Governors, particularly those from the North. After having decided on the scope and aims of the institution the next business taken up was the location. The Board was invited to visit the several cities and towns aspiring to the location of the University in their locality. Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Battleford, Qu'Appelle, Regina and Saskatoon were all visited and the advantages of each were laid before the members of the Board. On the fifth of April the board met at Regina. Amongst other business to be transacted was the deciding of the location. I may mention that A. P. McNab having been taken into the Government Page 77

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