NARRATIVES OF SASKATOON

1882-1912

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resigned his seat at the board and W. J. Bell was appointed in his stead (1). On the 7th of April, 1909, we were shown around Regina and the site was pointed out to us, which it was proposed to present to the University. It transpired afterwards that the larger portion of the land shown to us be- longed to the Government, although the Regina people led us to believe it was proposed to be donated by them. Battleford offered a site of one thousand acres free and Mr. Cahill of Saskatoon offered us a choice of one thousand acres out of a large tract of land as a donation. When the order of business at our meeting reached the question of lo- cation, we became conscious of a heightened tension. Each member voiced his opinion and set out the advantages of the location he favored. Before going to this meeting Bell and I hacb a meeting at Saskatoon with several prominent citizens and we were empowered by them in writing to guarantee that a site suitable and satisfactory to the board would be procured at a cost not exceeding one hundred dollars an acre and of at least one thousand acres extent adjacent to the City. This was used by Bell and myself as a trump card. When the balloting commenced the tension was very great. We first cast a ballot for the different places. Then in succeeding ballots the lowest was discarded till the issue stood between Regina and Saskatoon, When this ballot was being taken the silence in the room could almost be felt. After the decision we mutually agreed that the actual figures should not be made public. It was enough for me that Saskatoon was the choice. If the figures had been divulged, there would have been on the part of the public all sorts of surmises as to how this member and that member had voted. The reaction after the intense excitement left Mr. Bell and myself ex- hausted. I felt like a wet rag. We made our way to the telegraph office and the news was flashed to Saskatoon. At the hotel we were surprised to find no one about. It was evident that the people of Regina were so con- fident of that location being chosen that no interest was evidenced on their part. We hunted round to find Mr. McNab who was keen to know the result and then went to bed. Next morning we took the train for home. When the train reached Dunburn a special car from Saskatoon was hitched on to our train. It was filled with a joyous crowd of our fellow citizens, whose rapture at our success was unbounded. On our arrival at Saskatoon everyone and his wife and all the kiddies were at the station to welcome us. The steam whistles were blowing and bells ringing: the cheering continued till throats were sore. I managed to slip away in the crowd and went down to my home. Soon a happy procession appeared headed by a band. The centre of interest was a buggy drawn by ropes in which the Mayor, McNab, and Bell proudly sat. I was hustled into the rig and the jubilant proce~ sion proceeded up town. At the corner of Second Avenue and Twenty- first street a halt was made and speeches demanded. We were told that when the news reached Saskatoon the night before at about 11.30 it soon spread. Whistles were sounded and at first alarmed the whole town. People got up out of bed to know the reason and finding out crowded into the streets. The rejoicing was kept up for a couple of days and wound up with a torchlight procession. The board met at Saskatoon on the 22nd of April and selected the site. on the east side of the river, just opposite the public park. With a front- age on the river of half a mile we obtained eleven hundred and seventy Six acres at a cost of slightly under one hundred dollars an acre. We after- wards purchased another quarter section at a cost of eighteen thousand dollars. This gave us an area of thirteen hundred and thirty six acres in all. After investigation we appointed as our architects Brown and Vallance of Montreal on the 25th of June, and instructed them to prepare plans for five buildings including the power house from which we intended to furnish steam for heating all our buildings conveying the steam pipes and electric (1) At the Elections for the Local Legislature, A. P. McNab was re- turned for the city defeating Jas. R. Wilson by seventy-six votes. In December A. P. McNab, having taken cabinet position in the local House, was re-elected by acclamation for Saskatoon City. Page 78

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