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Newspaper: Edmonton News - Edmonton

Misc. News Items

The Edmonton Bulletin

December 6, 1880

Volume 1 Number 1

Contributed for use in Alberta Digital Archives by G. Young.

Actual scanned images of some early Alberta newspapers are online at

The Alberta Heritage Digitization Project

http://ahdp.lib.ucalgary.ca/

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NO TELEGRAMS

As the line has been down since Saturday between Hay Lake and here, we are without

telegrams for this issue. A man will leave tomorrow to repair it, and by next

week we hope to be able to give the latest news from the East to here.

“HERALD” EXTRA

The following extra from the “Saskatchewan Herald” office arrived here by last

mail –

Battleford, Nov 22, 1880

By Cable to the “Herald” – London, Nov 15 - - Hanlan beat Trickett by three boat

lengths, winning the championship of the world. From Winnipeg – Garfield,

Republican, has been elected President of the United States.

A provisional contract has been signed by which the syndicated binds itself to

complete the prairie Section of the C.P.R. in three years.

It is said there is great trouble among the people (original copy too indistinct)

have been shot, and should there not be a change in the aspect of affairs a revolution

is imminent.

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Reducing the Force – Eastern papers say that the Department of the Interior, having

concluded to reduce the number of officers in charge of the Mounted Police by six,

the position made vacant by the death of the late Superintendent Dalrymple Clarke

will not be filled. There are to be no immediate dismissals, but as officers are

removed by the hand of death, or voluntarily send in their resignations, their

respective offices will be a abolished, and the work divided up among those

remaining.

The government has relieved Mr. Ryan of the contract for ‘the first hundred miles

of the C.P.R. west of Winnipeg, and will proceed with the construction in a more

substantial manner than his contract called for – and, it is to be hoped, a little

quicker.

The Scott Temperance Act has been carried by a large majority in Marquette County,

Manitoba.

The people of Portage la Prairie have entered a protest against it. They don’t know

what is good for themselves.

Track was laid on the C.P.R. east of Winnipeg to within three miles of Rat Portage at

last accounts. --- The weekly mail service has been extended to Bird Trail Creek

settlement. --- Mr. A Lang has captured a young silver grey fox. --- A Special

Constable is to be sworn in for duty around Edmonton. --- Rev. Mr. Steinhaurer, of

White Fish Lake, lately, addressed the Methodist conference in Montreal. --- Mr.

Cust has the contract for the Indian Department flour at $7.50 for Edmonton delivery

and $8.50 for Victoria. --- George Gagnon lately killed a very large wolf which,

after disposing of one of his sheep, came back for another. --- The sheep lately

imported from Montana by J. Volier, and sold in this district are doing much better

than we expected. --- Alex McDonald and Albert Boyd left for Bow River today. The

former expects to return to Edmonton next April to start farming.

Mr. Glass has started a subscription list for the purpose of supplying the Methodist

Mission church with firewood, oil, etc., for the winter. --- Abrah Spleyn and others

fro the Battle River settlement 50 miles from here, brought the first grist to the Edmonton

Mills today – 31 bushels of barley. --- New Year’s Day is drawing nigh, and we have

not heard of anything being done about the grain show.

Would it not be advisable to start the ball. --- A Big Lake resident wants to know

why the Government potatoe contract was not awarded to him, seeing that his offer was

20 cents lower than that of the party who secured it. --- Mr. Lucas, Government farmer

at Peace Hills, has been supplied with his share of that band of cows. They are reported

to be the sickest looking lot of animals in the country. --- The following are the ruling

prices for produce in this vicinity: - Oats $1.00 per bushel of 34 lbs., wheat $2.00 to $2.50,

barley $1.00, peas .25 per lb., potatoes $1.00, onions $2.00 and butter .50.

Last Saturday morning the thermometers at Fts. Edmonton and Saskatchewan registered 47 below

zero. This cold snap, which set in last Tuesday, is much more severe than the corresponding

one last year, but appears to be about over.

Mr. Wm Cust is in a bid fix about his threshing. Lamoreaux threshed out 1,000 bushels on

his Sturgeon River farm, and quit, leaving two stacks unthreshed, and says that he will

set fire to his machine rather than thresh another bushel, while Smith is going to quit

threshing, on account of the cold, and make shingles for the rest of the winter.

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THE BULLETIN

Will be published at Edmonton every Monday morning, from the first of December, until the

first of May. --- Subscription for the season $2.00. --- Season advertisements $5.00

per inch. Transient advertisements .10 per line each insertion. Business cards not over four

lines $2.50. --- Payments strictly in advance. --- Notices of births, marriages and

deaths, free.

Taylor & Oliver, Properietors

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EDMONTON BULLETIN, DEC. 6, 1880

ABOUT OURSELVES

Last winter, after the telegraph line had been extended to Edmonton, and an office was

established, an arrangement was made by which a weekly bulletin was sent over the line,

so that the people here might be informed at the earliest possible date of what ever notable

events were transpiring at the time in the world at large. But this plan was found to be

expensive to a few and, for various reasons, unsatisfactory to all. It was thought to be

a better plan to have the bulletin printed so that every subscriber to the fund could be

supplied a copy. To this end a hand press and a quantity of printing material has been

procured, a special correspondent has been engaged in Winnipeg and every Monday morning

from this issue until the 1st of May we will issue a small sheet in newspaper form, which

will contain a bulletin, giving the most notable occurrences in the world at large and matters

concerning the North West Territories in particular, local new from all parts of the Upper

Saskatchewan country, opinions on matters and things connected with the North West, and synopsis

of the news brought in by the previous mail.

A severe snow storm took place in Minnesota and Dakota about the 20th of October. Six inches

of snow fell at Fargo, and the Northern Pacific trains were blockaded. Our first sleighing

came on the 1st of December and there is only three inches of snow yet.

A new railroad company has been organized in Manitoba called the Westbourne & North-Western.

It will run from Portage la Prairies north-westerly along the base of the Riding Mountains.

Mr. E McColl, Indian Superintendent, has got back to Winnipeg from a tour of inspection in

the West and North-West. It is hoped that next season he may call here.

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INDIANS

Until the last few years it has been the boast of the Canadian Government that,

by strictly observing the letter and spirit of all promises made to the Indians,

they have, while settling up the country, preserved the most cordial relation with them.

But times are changing, and the old idea that honour or honesty is the best policy is

played out – at least in this district. Whether it was because of the progress of the age

demanded a change, or because it was from a desire on the part of the Government to cheat

the Indians, or because the paymaster calculated to make a good thing, or only because it

was a blunder – which is more that a crime – is beyond the power of our finite minds to decide,

but, with or without reason, a most inmitigated swindle has been perpetrated on a number of the

treaty Indian of this agency this year.

According to the terms of the treaty make between them and the Canadian Government a certain

yearly payment was to be made to them forever without fail, in return for their title to the

land. Until now the payments have been made in full, but this summer, on account of the short

notice that was given, all the Indians had not collected at the treaty ground on the day of

payment, and when the agent was asked to wait a day or two for them to come in, he said that

need not leave their hunts just the, and he would leave the money due them so that they could

get it when it was more convenient. This very sensible proposition met with the approval of

the chiefs, and Mr Wadsworth, after paying those present, went on his way, but although reminded

of it, did not leave any money or make any arrangements to redeem his promise. When the Indians

returned from their hunt they enquired for their ahuniahs, and have been enquiring ever since,

but can get not satisfaction on the subject. These Indians belong to a small tribe called the

Mountain Stoneys, and have always been friendly with the whites, and is a very small piece of

business on the part of the Government, or it is agent, to wilfully deceive them, as they would

not dare to do the Blackfeet.

Let it be remembered that a smaller reason than this precipitated the Minnesota massacre, and,

although there is not danger to be apprehended from these people just now, in view of the fact

that there is liable to be an outbreak of the plains Indians at any moment, it would be well

for the Government, instead of estranging those who are friendly, to bind them closer by fair

and honest treatment, so that if the time should come when the scattered settlements of this

country would have to make head against an overwhelming force of hostile Indians, without the

possibility of Government aid in time to be of any service, they could count on the help or at

least the friendly neutrality, of the only Indians the Blackfeet are afraid of.

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LOCAL

Eastern mail left on the 30th. --- Hay is worth from $3 to $4 per cart load. --- The Sturgeon

River Mill will not run for a week. --- First sleighing of the season on the 30th of November.

--- Lamoreaux’ machine was laid up at Harnois’ by the cold. --- Logan’s machine threshed

400 bushels for its owners and is laid up. --- Ed McPherson has sent his horses out to Abrams’s,

on Battle River, to winter. --- Alex Stewart left on Saturday for the head waters of this river

on an exploring expedition. --- A reduction of .45 cents has been made in the tariff on telegrams

between Edmonton and Montreal. --- Little Paul, freighter, left for the Bow River last Friday,

with goods for the H.B. Company and A McDonald. --- A petition has bee forwarded to the Grand

Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Canada asking a charter for a lodge at Edmonton. --- The little Giant

threshed 2,500 bushels for the proprietors, and quit before finishing them. He has gone out of

business. --- Donald McLeod’s carts arrived yesterday from Carlton with bacon for the H.B.C.

and freight for the Indian Department. --- The H.B.C. has let a contract to Alex Robinson for

taking 200 tons of coal. It will be taken out of the bank of Mr. Grant’s property. --- Owing

to the laxity of the Indian Department, the Indians at Lake St. Anne are without netting to catch

fish. The Lake swarms with them this year. --- John Coutts, freighter, arrived today with

ten carts loaded with bacon from Carlton, for the Company. He passed McLeod’s carts at Victoria

road. --- Messrs. Sinclair and McLane have the mail contract from Winnipeg to here, 925 miles,

for 1 year. Mr. McLane was formerly a resident of Edmonton. --- Mr Smith has threshed 11,000

bushels of grain up to date, and is at Big Lake now. On the 1st of the month he was unable to

thresh in the forenoon on account of the cold. --- The noble red men are equal to the occasion

now that Government have stopped their rations. Takoots a few days ago took a notion to hunt,

and last night brought 400 rats to the Company. --- The Rev. Mr Sevright, of Goderich, Ont.,

has been appointed to the Presbyterian mission of Prince Albert, the present incumbent, Rev.

James Duncan, having been appointed to Edmonton. --- Eighteen grape vines and seven rose

bush cuttings were received here last mail, and have been divided between Messrs. Ross, Hardisty

and Reid, who will attempt their cultivation next season. --- A number of Montreal capitalists

are forming a company to engage in stock-raising in the vicinity of Bow River. The Hon. Senator

Cochrane, the well known cattle breeder is the principal promoter. --- Alex Stewart, a former

resident of Edmonton, and now in the employ of Capt. Moore, arrived here with Donald McLeod on

the 26th ult., to look after the Captain’s timber interests here. --- When Mr. J. Norris came

in from Bow River this fall, he brought, in addition to a large herd of horses and cattle, a running

horse that he called “Touch Me Not” but which other parties say is “Blackbird”, a horse well known

in the McLeod and Bow River country. He has since sold the horse to Mr. Labelle for $400.

The “Montreal Witness” says that Rapid City had the honour of holding the first agricultural

show in the NorthWest last October. We beg pardon. An agricultural show was held at Edmonton

on the 15th of October ’79, at which over $00 was distributed in prizes, leaving a cash balance

in the hands of the society of $160, which has since been expended for seed grain.

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Later details for the NorthWest would seem to indicate that a severer struggle than first supposed

has taken lace between the Canadian and American Indians. The trouble took place at Missouri

Coteau, a range of hills extending from the international boundary in a northwesterly direction

toward Old Wife’s Lakes. The Canadians were Ocean Man’s and White Bear’s band, near Moose

Mountain, seventy miles southwest of Ft. Ellice, where they went down to the international

boundary in pursuit of Buffalo. The Americans, comported of Mandans and Gros Venres from Montana,

opened fire on the Canadian Indians with Winchester repeating rifles. The fight was kept up all

day, all the small Canadians being killed, as well as a number of women and children. One

American was found dead after the combat. On their retreat he was scalped, and a war dance

took place over it at Ft. Ellice.

- Montreal Witness

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Prince Albert and St Laurent have been formed into a territorial electoral division. The

election will be held this winter. Two electoral divisions have also been formed in the

Little Saskatchewan country.

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Col. McLeod is still acting Police Commissioner.

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GENERAL NEWS

The Dominion census will be taken on Monday, April 3rd, next. --- The Dominion Parliament

is expected to meet on the 13th of January. --- The town of Quesnelle, British Columbia has

been destroyed by fire, except one house. --- A gold nugget weighing six ounces is reported

to have been found near the city of Quebec. --- In New York City fully one half of the stage

and cab horses are laid up with the epizootic. --- The railway contractors in British Columbia

offer $1.75 and $2.00 per day for white labourers. --- A number of expelled Jesuits form France

have taken up their residence in Toronto. --- Of the $860,000 exports of British Columbia for

the quarter ending the 31st of August, the mines supplied $430,000. --- A company has been

formed in Winnipeg for bridging the Assiniboine, and another for bridging the Red River. --- A

very rich lead of gold has been discovered at Tangier, Nova Scotia, and a company has been formed

to work it. --- The Czar of Russia, who lost his wife a short time ago, is married again. He had

not been blown up for several days and was feeling lonesome. --- Drunken Indians are a common thing

on the streets of Winnipeg and local papers want one or tow of the liquor vendors fined, as an

example. --- The Lake Superior terminus of the Canada Pacific railway is to be changed from Forth

Worth to Prince Arthur’s Landing, where it should have been first. --- An order was issued that all

Indians within the city limits of Victoria, British Columbia should return to their reserve. A

number who refused were arrested. --- A large land slide has completely blocked up the Thompson

River, British Columbia, leaving the channel dry below the dam. An immense destruction of property

is expected when it gives way. --- Chief Victoria, who has been making it interesting on the

Mexican frontier lately, having murdered over 400 persons during the last year, was overtaken by

Mexican troops on the 14th of October, and killed, with 50 of his men. --- A fierce war is being

carried on between the railroads running west from Chicago. The Chicago Burlington & Quincy and

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific roads are selling tickets from Chicago to Kansas City for .50 cents.

The regular fare is $14.80. --- The British Government is making preparations to sit down on the

Irish Land League agitators. Large reinforcements of troops are being hurried into Ireland, and

the leaders of the league are to be arrested and tried for conspiracy. The hands at Woolwich arsenal

are busy making buckshot cartridge for the use of the troops in Ireland. This is peace at any

price with a vengeance. --- A new trial has been ordered in the Biddulph murder case. The trial

has already cost the Crown about $5,000. The jury failed to agree. --- The British Government

is in trouble again in South Africa. A tribe called the Basutos have turned loose, and are making

as good a fight as the Zulus. They are being aided by other tribes, and some of the settlements

are in great danger of being annihilated.

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