From the Archives of Western Newspapers

By Samantha Johnson
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

December 10, 1884 – The Calgary Weekly Herald

Prince Albert is ahead of Calgary in agitating for a school, a vote took place last Saturday on the matter of creating a school district.

A number of empty passenger cars went west on Tuesday for the purpose of accommodating the great rush of labourers who are now making their way home from the mountains.

If the CPR was truly mindful of its own interests it would run, during the winter, a weekly excursion train to Columbia Crossing. The benighted Winnipeggers would give a good deal to see what a genuine western town, with all the accessories, is like. A town such as they used to read about in the New York Ledger, in the days before the late lamented boom when they had time for instructive literature.

December 13, 1900 – The Outcrop (Canterbury, BC)

The mail service in northeast Kootenay is still languid. Hopes are still entertained that it will increase in vigor and energetic motion in the next few years. We firmly believe that before the next century closes, we will have a twice weekly service.

Boys of the wild, another Christmas is near at hand. Think of the old folks in the east and write them a letter. Do your best to rustle up a two-cent stamp and let them know where you are and what you are doing. How many are there in this district who for years have not written a word to the aged and grey-haired father and mother who walked the floor many a long night while you were a boy?

The Outcrop will pay a year’s subscription to the first couple who are married before Christmas.

December 9, 1915 – The Bassano Mail

Several Canadian officers are to be brought home from the front for instructional services. The unit of permanent forces performing garrison duty in Canada will be sending half their officers, non-commissioned officers and men to the front line.

There is still wreckage enough remaining on the battlefield of Champagne three weeks after the battle was fought to give some idea of the havoc of destruction when it was fresh after the advance. At least a million men were engaged on both sides with 20,000 prisoners taken.

Recruiting among Canadian miners in Nova Scotia is impairing the supply of fuel and severely affecting munitions manufacturing. Up until last June, 1,770 men have been recruited from Nova Scotia’s miners, equalling about 14% of the men working in the mines and those numbers are now about 20%. The result has been about a 17% decrease in coal output.