Ernestly ?!Ernestly ?!By ERNIE NEUFELD, Weyburn Review Associate Publisher
Last week I mentioned my disappointment at not finding in turn-of-the-century Ontario newspapers more letters from locals who had settled the Canadian prairies and had written home about their experiences.
Through good luck rather than good management, I managed to enlist the help of district historical societies in the Barrie area, and as a result of an exchange of letters and phone calls with Helen Blackburn of Nottawa, was rewarded with the following glowing report published in the Creemore Star of August 4, 1904, and entitled "A Letter from Weyburn, Assa.":
"The traveller on the transcontinental express on the main line of the CPR passing swiftly westward through northern Assiniboia" (what Saskatchewan was called before they knew better) "knows nothing of the Weyburn district with its recent rapid growth and development and misses for sight-seeing as fine a stretch of luxuriant prairie land, dotted over with happy prosperous homes as one could wish to see in any part of the great west.
"It is not till the town of Moose Jaw is reached, and the burly brakeman announces in stentorian tones in a language all his own, 'Change cars for Weyburn, St. Paul and Minneapolis,' that its very existence is made known. And even then one fails to fully grasp the fact that that same town so glibly uttered is but yet the embryo around which a large trade centre will in time be formed.
"After boarding the 'Soo' division of the CPR, a short run of some ninety odd miles in a southeasterly direction brings him to his destination and lands him within a stone's throw of an up-to-date hotel, where the hearty handshake of an obliging boniface acts like a tonic on the enervated system after a somewhat tiresome ride of nearly three days.
"The town of Weyburn is but slightly more than four years old, although as far back as nine years ago several ranchers from Indian Head passed over its site on pack horses on a tour of inspection, and returned highly pleased with the appearance of the country. In 1900 it consisted of but several dwellings, mostly of sod, hastily thrown together to meet the then requirements. In 1901 it was made an incorporated village, and on the 5th of August, 1903, it reached the dignity of a town, with a duly elected council and mayor.
"We might here state that Mr. N.D. McKinnon, formerly of Creemore, was one of the town's first councillors, and still acceptably holds that position to the satisfaction of all. At the present time its population is estimated at 800 and rapidly growing. One would naturally infer from the foregoing statement that its growth is somewhat ephemeral and of the 'boom' order, but such is not the case, as a knowledge of its geographical location will show.
"At the Government Experimental Farm, Indian Head, the highest yield of cereals per acre in the Territories was obtained last year, and has been for several years past. Private farmers in the same locality have received equally satisfactory results from soil properly tilled. The same rich area of soil surrounding that northern town extends in a southerly direction for many miles in width, passes through here and ends finally at the foot of the Derk Hills (sic), a range of mountains bordering on Montana.
"Its location too is most favorable, being in parallel about 49 1/2 deg. or approximately 40 miles north of the division line separating the states of Montana and North Dakota. It was currently reported for a number of years, and even among a small number of uninformed, still retains credence, that we are in what is commonly termed 'the dry belt', viz., an area of country seldom (if ever) visited by rain. This is a mistake as any of the ex-residents of Nottawasaga who perchance read these lines, will testify. Last year was exceptionally wet, and this year, while not so many inches have fallen, is watered by frequent warm and growing showers. That report, as borne out by searching inquiry, was nurtured in the minds of the wily ranchers who are used to immense profit for free grazing, the government script and railroad lands, and were therefore (deterring?) the plowshares of advancing agriculturalists.
"While the wheels of civil government roll round smoothly and the law-abiding citizens live in harmony with each other, we are still afforded ample police protection. One of the mounted officers is stationed here, and may be frequently seen cantering across the country on the lookout for possible smugglers or criminal suspects reported in this territory.
"It is here fit in passing to say a word or two about this fine body of men, well equipped, well disciplined and veterans of the saddle, who patrol this great west from the most northerly point on Hudson's Bay to the farthest confines of the Klondike, and ensure as much safety to the lonely isolated hamlet as do the police guardians of our eastern cities. Their headquarters are at Regina and their barracks a mile or so west of the town, can plainly be seen while passing on the train.
"Weyburn is well equipped for the thorough education of its youth, at least in the primary and preparatory stages, as a fine building of two storeys equipped with a staff of three splendid teachers is still sufficient for its present requirements. The building is modern in structure, stands on the highest portion of the town site, and receives the most careful attention from a sanitary standpoint. In the country schools are being rapidly built on the sections of land every three miles apart allotted by the government for that purpose.
"The residents of any section that have 12 children within the required age are entitled to a school of their own, the cost of construction and maintenance being defrayed by a small additional tax upon ratepayers, the sale of the reserved land to the highest bidder, and by a liberal annual grant from the Department of Education.
"Intending Ontario settlers may have no hesitation on the score of proper mental discipline for their youth as competent teachers of both sexes are here doing an excellent service in that line.
"In this, my first letter, which will be enlarged upon at a later date, I cannot close in a better way or in finer terms of generalization than by quoting the following words of Whittier:
The letter is signed by Jas. B. Martin, and dated at Weyburn, Assa., July 21, 1904. Now aren't you glad you came?
This is occupying more space than usually yielded to this column, and naturally I will have more to say about the subject anon. It seems appropriate to mention at this time, however, that the letter is unedited except for style, and that I am just dying to learn - as surely you are too - who James B. Martin was. So far, attempts to identify him have eluded me.
My address (also listed on the Review's Website) is ernestly@pathcom.com.
Box 400, 904 East Avenue
Weyburn, SK
S4H 2K4
Phone: (306) 842-7487
Fax: (306) 842-0282
E-mail: production@weyburnreview.com
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Review (1987) Ltd.
