From the Archives of Western Newspapers

Posted on August 1, 2025 by Sunny South News

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

July 27, 1892 – The Saskatchewan Times

If cholera should spread through Europe and into this continent, it will be a great factor in the future course of values. It will certainly create a feeling of panic in financial centres, which may react on the price of wheat.

According to dispatches, the United States government and American politicians object to our carrying out any plans pertaining to a national position. We must not grant subsidies to the CPR or to steamship lines, nor must we be allowed to favour our own seaports because it is a discrimination against American interests. Aside from the imprudence of such a contention, it is positively amusing when emanating from a country that does not care how it treats other nations in protecting what may be considered its own welfare.

The Toronto Telegram says that privilege of either church or purse has had its day in Britain. The meaning of this election is democracy are in the saddle. The enfranchised many have become too powerful for the wealthy few. The peasantry has learned to look to the government for something better than a life of toil that sinks through the workhouse into a pauper’s grave.

July 31, 1906 – The News (Red Deer)

Despite advantages of beautiful natural surroundings, New York city is the ugliest in the world. Its skyline looks like the side elevation of an old comb, in which the teeth have been broken off at different lengths. Two-story shacks nestle against 28-story office buildings. Where two or three office buildings have been erected side-by-side, it is a 100-to-one shot that the third will be built in an absolutely different style and materials in a way to shock and pain every artistic sensibility.

It appears the Standard Oil monopoly will receive its quietus not from the courts of justice, which it has so long laughed at, but from alcohol. January next, the United States will abolish the sales tax on denatured alcohol. This will permit manufacturers to produce the new fuel in direct and free competition with oil. The result will be a tremendous blow to Rockefeller and his band of law breakers.

This session will be remembered for many things other than the legislation accomplished. It was a year of exposure. More scandals have been brought to light during this session than in any other since the union of the provinces.

July 25, 1913 – The Lacombe
Guardian

During the last year, the Grain Grower’s Association has made a thorough investigation into the ever-returning binder twine question. Each year a shortage tends to send the price skyward while there never seems to be a reason for the price to decline. R. McKenzie, Secretary of the Grain Grower’s stated, “this alleged monopoly in raw products for the manufacture of binder twine is a very serious matter for the western farmer. Very few can imagine it if they themselves have never been on a farm. There simply must be found a remedy, and the only effective one under the present circumstances is to find something to take the place of the twine as now manufactured.”

A large gathering was seen in front of the Lacombe Drug Company store on Tuesday morning. The attraction was a plate glass window that had been smashed in a most inconceivable manner. A two-by-four was driven through the glass, causing it to crack in every direction without a single piece coming out. Two Mounties were on scene a short time after, but it was later discovered to be a marketing gimmick to let everyone know the price of popular copyright books, usually sold for $1-$1.25, had been smashed to 55 cents.

Dr. Paul Walden, a famous Russian chemist, has declared the production of artificial eggs will be the next feat of chemistry.