NARRATIVES OF SASKATOON

1882-1912

Genealogy, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Pioneer,Saskatchewan history, Temperance Colony, Temperance Colonization Society, Pioneers,John N. Lake, John Lake, Saskatoon history,

dollars being invested in this way. The City limits were enlarged, taking in a number of new sub-divisions; the Assessment went up by leaps; in 1912 it was $39,867,835.00, an increase over 1910 of more than twenty-nine million dollars. The building permits for 1911 were $5,111,306, and for 1912 $7,640,530.00. Was such a phenomenal expansion ever equalled in the his- tory of Canada? The Council in 1911 made an agreement with a syndicate to develop the water power from the river, and, in consideration of carrying out the under- taking they were given a franchise for a street railway within the City limits. The syndicate acquired the charter held by the local company, and started to have the work carried out. The engineers employed by them, after a thorough investigation into the whole scheme, reported that the cost would be largely in excess of the original estimate, and the power available from the flow of water in the river was so limited that it was not a feasible proposition from an economic standpoint. The syndicate asked to be re- lieved from their agreement. This was acceded to by the Council, the agreement was cancelled and the franchise for the street railway with- drawn. The Council, with the consent of the people, constructed the street railway as a municipal enterprise. There was a change made in method of assessment during 1911; the assessment on improvements was reduced ten per cent., and in 1912 a fur- ther reduction was made of fifteen per cent. The intention was to gradually reduce assessment on improvements till finally it would cease altogether. In the midst of all this mighty onrush the City Council and Commis- sioners had a busy time dealing with the problems presented for solution. The ordinary run of citizens do not realize how much they are indebted to the men around the Council Board for their singleness of purpose and de- votion to duty. It is a great satisfaction to me to testify that, during these strenuous years, there never was the slightest desire evidenced by any one of the members to influence the decision of the Council to their in- dividual benefit. It was not all a bed of roses for the occupant of the chair, and, on one occasion, the aldermen in their wisdom thought fit to censure him for having made remarks derogatory to their dignity which, unfortunately, had been reported in a newspaper. However, the motion was rescinded at the next meeting of the Council. In October, 1912, the Governor-General, H.R.H. Duke of Connaught, visited Saskatoon, and the Mayor had to do the honors on behalf of the City. This was the third time I had the honor of welcoming a Governor- General at Saskatoon, and my experience of these distinguished visitors is that the higher the rank the more amiable they are to a commoner. At the end of my second year, in 1912, I take pride in recording that my colleagues in the Council favored roe with their appreciation of my leadership by presenting me with a gold watch, and the heads of the de- partments with a silver loving-cup. As this is the point at which my service to the city in a public capacity comes to an end, it would appear to be fitting that my narrative should end also. ___________________________________ THE EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF SASKATOON A history of Saskatoon would naturally lie mainly in two distinct periods. The first, that of the earliest settlement commencing with the arrival in 1883, and years immediately following, of that first group of hopeful families who firmly believed themselves to be the vanguard of a small host shortly to follow. These occupied the little townsite newly surveyed on the south hank of the river and the adjacent lands. The first chapter in their history would record their ways and doings through a period of unexpected abeyance, which dragged on for almost as many years after the coming of the railway as before it. The second chapter. would deal with a sudden awakening into activity more than twenty years later and a passing with phenomenal rapidity through the successive stages leading to the full status and dignity of a city of no inconsiderable fame. Page 82

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