From the Archives of Western Newspapers

By Samantha Johnson

Southern Alberta Newspapers

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Thursday, May 30, 1907 – The Advertiser and Central Alberta News

The boys down at the Royal are working overtime this week in an endeavor to perfect an invention of a new clothesline. The boys haven’t got the working model perfected at this time so it’s not much use asking for particulars yet. 

A well-known retired architect and yachtsman, Alonzo Jones, died in Bellevue Hospital, New York, from injuries sustained when he fell out of bed. Jones was found unconscious on the floor of his bedroom with a piece of broken china embedded in his side. He’d lost a large quantity of blood and had a contusion on his head. He was removed to hospital but died before regaining consciousness. 

In Dakota horses wear snowshoes so they can step lightly over drifts they would otherwise not be able to traverse. The equine snowshoes are made of boards 20 inches long and 14 inches wide.

Wednesday, June 1, 1910 – Didsbury Pioneer

Friday morning last, Didsbury suffered the worst fire that has ever occurred in the town or district. The Maple Leaf Flour Mills, erected in 1907, were destroyed along with two elevators, a chop house, store house, driving sheds, and the office. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it started at the bottom of the southeast elevator and before the fire brigade arrived, flames were shooting out of the top. Loss is estimated at $75,000, which insurance will partly cover. 

Premier Rutherford and his cabinet resigned last Thursday. Chief Justice Sifton was sworn in as Premier and President of the Council on the same day. It is unknown who will take over the vacant portfolios as Sifton is not taking anyone into his confidence. He has been given a free hand to choose who he likes. 

Believers in the thirteen superstition will have their faith strengthened by a tragic event in Australia.  Thirteen were seated for dinner at a social gathering of mining managers. Two retired to another room and the other eleven were enjoying some music when the cry went out that Brown had been shot and he died almost instantaneously. The two in the adjoining room were examining a rifle that was assumed to be unloaded. 

Thursday, June 1, 1922 – The U.F.A. 

A graph of wheat prices from September 1921 through to May 1922 takes up the entire front page. At the beginning of Sept. the price was $1.50 and rose to a peak of $1.64 within three weeks. By Nov. 1 it was at the lowest price of $1.02 before starting to climb again in February. It hovered between $1.36 and $1.50 throughout the next few months. 

Parliament is back in session and the greatest event of the past two weeks is the victory of the advocates of the compulsory Wheat Board at the Standing Committee on Agriculture. Mr. Motherwell, Minister of Agriculture, made a vigorous attack yesterday at the proposal to re-establish the board and again attempted to becloud the question today. At the end, the resolution passed by a narrow margin of four votes. Mr. Motherwell’s antagonism is puzzling as his slogan to become elected, “Vote for Motherwell and the Wheat Board”, still dances before our eyes. 

27,416 soldiers have been settled on farms of whom 8,674 are in Alberta. 2,352 were reported as failures by Jan. 1, 1922. In Alberta, 124 completely sold out, five sold their land, 426 sold stock and equipment and 143 cases were incomplete.  Returns from 419 sales showed a net gain to the crown of $71,739.80. The salaries and expenses of the Soldiers Settlement Board totalled $7,863,269.43.