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,

pathies of the people that a short time only elapsed until the entire tract contemplated had been applied for by prospective buyers, each of whom was expected to settle one-half section of land personally, or by substitute. So much interest in the settlement of lands had been developed throughout Ontario by the agitation that it led to numerous applications by other syndicates for lands to develop on similar lines. This, in turn, 50 embar- rassed the Government that they were unable, finally, to grant all the con- ditions originally contemplated to the Temperance Colonization Associa- tion. The end of it was that the contract with the Society (now organized into a joint stock company) was signed with no guarantee that the even numbered sections could be controlled by the company, and thus the first blow was struck at the main object of the scheme, and many subsequent difficulties were brought into existence which, to this day (1903), have not been overcome. It required up to June. 1882, to get the organization of the Company complete, and on the 22nd day of that month, a commission consisting of Messrs. J. N. Lake, W. S. Hill, and George W. Grant, accom- panied by a competent surveyor, were despatched from Toronto to ex- amine the tracts of lands set apart, from which to select and begin opera- tions. After a trip via Chicago, Emerson and Winnipeg, they disembarked from a construction train at Moosomin on the 6th of July. this being the furthest the railway was then constructed. Three weeks were occupied in reaching Clark's Crossing, then a busy point in ferrying freight for Battle- ford, and, strange to say, soon again to be for the third time, the scene of the busy life of the last stage of this district's experience in settlement, the first being the old Mackenzie survey of 1873 and 1878, during which was built the telegraph line, still in operation. The second has been referred to and the third came with the building of the Canadian Northern Railway and its great bridge across the river. Many were the incidents of the trip of the commission to this point; among others they were called out of bed at midnight in Fort Qu'Appelle to answer a writ of replevin respecting a pony bought in Brandon, which it turned Out had been stolen from the Fort a month before. They had brought it back home, and when it was identified they compromised by buying it the second time at one hundred and twenty dollars, or two hun- dred and forty dollars in all. The pony did duty for many years in con- veying settlers to examine lands. Sergeant Griesbach (1) was the officer of police in charge. A term of examination extending over some two months was completed by the return of the examiners, Mr. Hill going via the river and Lake Winnipeg route. Mr. Lake via Clarke trail (2) to Touchwood and Qu'Ap pelle, and Mr. Grant via Elbow and Moose Jaw. Their reports are interest- ing, and in the main will be found to bear out the prediction of the results which are so promising today. When we come to introduce the heroic band of settlers who opened the field we are compelled to look for some in vain, for they have gone over to the Great Beyond to reap their reward. One only now (1903) resides here to represent the beginning of 1882. Mr. J. M. Eby, whose experiences by Lake Winnipeg. Saskatchewan River and Prince Albert to this point are known mainly only to himself. Mr. James Hamilton and his son Robert accompanied the exploration commission almost the entire way, separating at Fort Qu'Appelle (3). To Mr. Hamilton and Mr. S. W. Hill, with Mr. Fred Blake, surveyor. belong the credit of the first selecting of the present Site of Saskatoon. they having been dispatched in a southerly 1) A. H. Griesbach, ultimately Superintendent of the North West Mounted Police 2) Lake so calls the trail from Clark's Crossing to the old Qu'Appelle- Humboldt trail. 3) Peter Latham and Harry Godwin were also of the part. See page 15. Page 9

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