From the Archives of Western Newspapers

By Samantha Johnson
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Friday, August 2, 1901 – The Wetaskiwin Times

The big iron mine at Michipicoten, ON that is owned by the Clergue syndicate has been jumped by prospector Julius George. The mine is estimated to be worth between $10 to $15 million. George claims the mine was not owned by Clergue, who have been operating it for the past year. George re-staked the claim in daylight while Clergue was out east.

Duhamel village reports that peas, new potatoes and road works are the order of the day lately.

In Little Beaver Chips, Earnest Hoult was helping to build a fence last week when he suffered a fearful accident. While chopping a pole, the axe slipped and cut his kneecap in two. He is getting along as well as can be expected.

Those living in Millet were unable to cross the Calgary Trail last Saturday when the water of the Little Pipestone rose too high. The town has also released a map of their little village and expect to soon be seeing building after building erected such that they will shortly rival Wetaskiwin.

Wednesday, August 4, 1909 – Didsbury Pioneer

Those who are owners of cows are requested to take notice of the council’s decision regarding straying cows. Cows must be placed in yards by herd boys and remain there until taken out again at 8:30 a.m. Cows found straying on the streets are liable to be impounded.

The question of painting and putting eavestroughs on the fire hall, discussed at the special meeting of council, brought to our minds that we have two up-to-date chemical fire engines, a new fire hall, but no fire brigade. To get our money’s worth out of the engines, we must have a trained fire brigade. If a fire were to break out, every able-bodied person in town would at once rush to help. The consequence being there would be so many as to cause confusion to rein and render the engines practically useless.

The CPR has a new move on hand that is being regarded as a direct reply to James J. Hill’s invasion of Canadian Pacific territory along the international boundary line in the prairies. CPR is proposing a short line from Spokane to Vancouver and promises this route will be hours shorter than any other.

Friday, August 2, 1911 – Frank Vindicator

Six million people make their living underground working in mines and quarries. That is about twice the population of this country. They dig about $4 billion of wealth out of the bowels of the earth each year.

All oars used in the British navy are made from white spruce that grows on the Queen Charlotte Islands off the coast of BC.

A man named Gaul of Paddington, England, was found dead in a van. Early in the evening he made a wager that he could drink 13 half pints of beer in less than 10 minutes. He won the wager, drinking the beer in 7 minutes.

Dutch wooden shoes are made from willow wood. A cubic metre of this wood costs $6 and suffices for making 100 pairs of shoes of ordinary size, which sell for 12 cents wholesale. One workman is able to make 12 to 15 pairs per day.