From the Archives of Western Newspapers

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

October 10, 1883 – Prince Albert Times and Saskatchewan Review

The usual time for holding the autumn sitting of the Saskatchewan district court is Oct. 25, but the clerk informs us there is no word of when it will be held or who is going to hold it. A special sitting of the court was arranged in August but was cancelled at the last moment when word was received the judge had been ordered to Regina. The whole business had to be postponed with suitors and their witnesses sent back home at great loss of time and expense.

As bad as the old law of homestead cancellations was, it pales in significance to the iniquitous system that now prevails. Under the new regulations, homestead entries can still be cancelled when the requirement of the law as regards residence, etc., are not being met. Instead of the lands being thrown open for fresh entries, it now reverts to the government who sells the land at $2.50 an acre.

It is possible that some women who have been spending the season in Long Branch will be saddened to hear the Duke of Newcastle is making a tour of the English Lake Country and thus cannot have been paying attention to them in Long Branch. It is unwise to impersonate a Duke since they are limited in number, a common Baron or trivial Viscount would have been equally impressive and much less dangerous.

October 9, 1906 – The News (Red Deer)

Over four months ago, a love letter was written and posted in Strathcona to a young man in Ranfurly. This letter finally arrived in Ranfurly the other day but not before the fair sender and expectant recipient had become man and wife.

Gold has been discovered in the dry bed of an ancient river in Innisfree. Samples so far discovered are said to be remarkably rich. Claims have already been staked and the townspeople are considerably wrought up over the discovery.

Considerable indignation is being felt in North Battleford over the sentencing of Constable French of the RNWMP to 15 days confinement and loss of a month’s pay due to the escape of a boy who was being held for theft in the local jail. The jail is not well secured and the boy escaped when French was away attending to other duties.

October 7, 1910 – The Bassano News

A rumour is circulating at the Montreal courthouse that the former president of the St. John’s Bank and ex-speaker of the legislative assembly, who is now serving a sentence of five years in the St. Vincent de Paul penitentiary, will be soon liberated on a ticket of leave owing to a petition signed by 250 prominent citizens of St. John’s.

Violent storms paralyzed telegraphic communication east and south of Winnipeg on Monday night. The wires are slowly being recovered with consequent congestion of all businesses. In the south, the storm centred around Fargo, ND and all wires were temporarily lost between Minneapolis and Chicago. Indications are a severe storm is currently brewing over Lake Superior, but so far, no details have been obtained.

The quantity of mail going north into the Red Deer River section is increasing. On Monday, the mail occupied two democrats and weighed 1,200 lbs and was drawn by three horses.