Genealogy, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, Pioneer,Saskatchewan history, Temperance Colony, Temperance Colonization Society, Pioneers,John N. Lake, John Lake, Saskatoon history, Saskatoon Gen Web, |
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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NARRATIVES OF SASKATOON1882-1912Genealogy, Saskatoon, Pioneer, Saskatchewan history, Temperance Colony, Temperance Colonization Society, Pioneers,John N. Lake, John Lake, Saskatoon history, Saskatoon Gen Web, Saskatoon Genealogy BY MEN OF THE CITY PREPARED BY A COMMITTEE OF THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF SASKATOON PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY BOOK-STORE |
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