Dave Humphrey
1905
FINK BROS. … Have you seen those straw hats? These warm days remind you. Nobby styles and prices remarkably low. Put that Christie away and buy a nice, cool straw and be happy.
PAY ROLLS MAKE TOWNS … Marysville has the payroll. It is the Smelter City and the Gateway to rich St. Marys Valley. Marysville property today is the best kind of an investment. The smelter is completed and the town will grow. Write for plans, prices, and particulars to E. J.Clayton, sole agent.
DISTINGUISHED JOURNALISTS … The Washington correspondents spend a short time in Cranbrook. About ten o’clock Tuesday morning a special train with the Washington correspondents who are makings a tour of Canada as the guests of the Western Canadian Immigration association, arrived at the station in this city. The visitors were met by G. T. Rogers and T. M. Roberts, president and secretary of the Cranbrook Board of Trade, and a large number of the business men. The time of the visit was limited as the party was anxious to make the whole trip over the Crow in daylight. It had been arranged for the train to stop at Cranbrook, Fernie, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, where their car will be attached to the Imperial Limited. The men composing the party are among the brightest newspaper men on the American continent, and are located at Washington all the time, where they represent the big dailies of the States and Canada in gathering the news of national and international importance. The tour is under the management of Theodore M. Knappen, secretary of the Western Canadian Immigration association, and a newspaper man who formerly lived in Minneapolis, and the C.P.R. is represented by D. T. Ham, who is commissioner of publicity for that company, and a prince to have charge of the details of a great trip of that kind. The business delegation who met the visitors mingled with the members of the party and took a walk over the town giving information about the country, its resources and possibilities in answer to the many questions asked. To facilitate matters a neat card printed by the Herald, containing the following information, was given to each of the visitors CRANBROOK THE HUB OF EAST KOOTENAY. Cranbrook is the headquarters of the Crows Nest Pass Railway. Cranbrook is the business headquarters of the lumber industry of the district, and more than 25 saw mills are within a radius of 25 miles, with a daily capacity of 1,000,000 feet. Cranbrook is the business headquarters of the mining industry of the district. The St. Eugene, North Star and Sullivan silver-lead mines, the Marysville smelter, the historic Perry Creek, Wild Horse and Bull River placers, the Baker Mountain, Bull River and other rich ore deposits, are all within 25 miles of Cranbrook. Cranbrook is the government headquarters of the district. Cranbrook has fine agricultural lands to the north, south, east and west. Cranbrook’s post office business is exceeded by only five cities in British Columbia. Cranbrook has more fine houses than any other town in the district. Cranbrook is not a Washington but it is the largest town of its size in Canada, with a people who abhor a boom but appreciate a permanent, steady growth. The journalists were very much pleased with the appearance of Cranbrook and especially impressed with the magnificent townsite. As one of them remarked, “It is the first place we have seen for several days where there is room to build a town.”
THE BIGGEST YET ... Captain Gore, superintendent of the C. P. R. Co.’s steamers in Kootenay has received instructions to build a new steamer to ply between Nelson and Kootenay Landing, which for speed and equipment will surpass any fresh water steamer in British Columbia. The captain, who will have entire charge of the construction, says provision will be made to sleep 75 first-class passengers, which means that the boat will be much larger than the Rossland, now plying on the Arrow lakes between West Robson and Arrowhead. The specifications call for a speed of 18 miles an hour. This will cut down the present schedule time from Nelson to Kootenay Landing from five hours to three. Indeed, Captain Gore says she will be able to make it in two hours and three-quarters. As a result, passengers will be able to sleep in Nelson and leave at least two hours later than at present. The cost of the new steamer is not definitely stated, but it will run up into six figures.
TAXES & MORE TAXES … Have you people of Cranbrook figured up your taxes for this year? Have you noted the increase? When you get them figured up and strike a total, take a sheet of paper and figure up what the public improvements in Cranbrook have cost the past year. Who have built the sidewalks? The people by private subscription. Who has fixed the streets and repaired the sidewalks this year? No one. Who has cleared the streets on the hill where property has been sold and handsome homes erected? No one. What do the people of Cranbrook want? Do they desire to pay out taxes and increased taxes and get little or nothing in return, or do they want a square deal? There is something coming from the government and there is something coming from the townsite company. He who asketh nothing in this world getteth mighty little as he is classified as easy and passed up like a white chip. So long as the people of Cranbrook are satisfied with paying increased taxes each year and getting nothing back in the way of improvements just so long will they have to keep it up. And just so long as the property owners are satisfied with going down in their pockets when anything is done to help the town just that long will they have to do it. What is more, if the people are pleased with existing conditions the Herald can stand it. It has stood it for a long time and can do so longer. But, perhaps there are a few people who, when they scan their tax receipts and figure in their own mind as to what benefits they have received, might object. If there are, the columns of the Herald are open to any fair communication on the subject. This is not a question of politics or personal spleen. It is a simple question of cold business.
LOG DRIVE … The Crows Nest Pass Lumber Company of Wardner are making a big drive of logs down the Kootenay River this week. There was quite a jam at the Fort Steele bridge for a few days.
ASSAULT AND BATTERY … The Victoria Times has the following article on some trouble that took place a t the resort of J. R. Downe’s, formerly proprietor of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in this city. In the interests of law and order the Times feels itself in duty bound to sound a solemn note of warning to the rambunctious animal which seems to reign over the purlieus of the Gold Stream Hotel. The attention of the provincial police has not yet been officially drawn to its indiscretions, but sooner or later the hand of the law will be heavily laid upon it. On Sunday last it was the cause of a most unfortunate episode which can find a parallel in only the comic supplements of the big journals. It appears that a lady and gentleman — husband and wife — drove to Goldstream and partook of luncheon at the hotel. After it was over the lady entered into an animated conversation with a rather well-informed parrot that was unloading some interesting ideas on summer outing costumes and political economy upon the open air. As the lady listened, enchanted by the eloquence of the fashionably garbed bird she was totally oblivious to the danger that threatened her. Behind her stood in menacing attitude the animal whose truculence is here deplored. It was a ram, one of the most athletic proportions, with a splendidly shaped head, superbly bulwarked by an unusual frontal development. In his eye there glowed the fire of the bitterest resentment and malevolent intent. Gathering himself together he gave a sharp run, and launched himself like a thunderbolt from Olympus full at the target. His aim was true and over went the lady with a shriek, while the ram contemplated the havoc he had wrought in haughty triumph. The lady’s screams brought her better half to the scene on the double White with rage at the indignity heaped upon his family, he picked up a stone and smote the four-footed aggressor full on the snout. It was a mighty blow, and with his wounds bleeding the ram Kouropatkined away. With all the tenderness in the world the husband stooped to raise his startled spouse, comforting her with the assurance that her wrong had been deeply avenged. But, alas, while he was bending over her, the sky suddenly grew black, the sun fell into the sea, the earth rocked and opened out, stars played tag in their firmament, and the husband felt himself describing a parabola several feet from the earth. When he landed he gazed terrified around, and saw — not a volcano nor Mount Ararat, not a lambent streak of chain lightning, not a battery of Japanese 11-inch howitzers, no, not one of these, but the ram. Proudly it stood surveying him and then, scenting trouble in the rush of onlookers who struggling with hysteria ran towards him, he scampered off. One hack driver was so overcome by the spectacle that he nearly fell from his seat and his horses were within an ace of getting away from him. It is said that the ram will be proceeded against for assault and battery.
MARYSVILLE BEATS CRANBROOK … Last Saturday a football team made up from Cranbrook players went to Marysville and there at last they met their Waterloo. The game was called at a few minutes after 7 o’clock, and there was a big crowd present. Twice have the kickers of the pigskin of these two towns met and each time the game has resulted in a tie. Last Saturday the Marysville boys were determined to break the spell if possible, and they played like demons. The Cranbrook boys did all in their power to uphold the honor of the town and the reputation of the team, but without avail. Time and again the ball would be forced to the Marysville goal and a score seemed sure, but the quick work of the Marysville crowd prevented victory when it seemed almost assured. And by the way the Marysville town has got a bunch of strong players. They play well together and are in good trim, and the Herald hopes that a game can be arranged between Cranbrook and that town on Labor Day. The score resulted in one to nothing in favor of Marysville, and when time was called there was great rejoicing in the Smelter City. The game was clean throughout and each man played like a gentleman.
CANDY STORE … Charles E. Buck and D. R. Tait have opened a candy kitchen on Armstrong Avenue that is attracting a great deal of attention. It is clean and pleasing in appearance and the candies are fresh and appetizing. Have you seen the place? If not you should drop in and enjoy it. These gentlemen are desirous of giving the people of Cranbrook the benefit of fresh, homemade candies, and they are going about it in a manner that will win them custom.
LABOR DAY … On Friday evening at 8 o’clock there will be a public meeting at Wentworth hall for the purpose of making the preliminary arrangements for celebrating Labor Day. This day has been recognized as the big event for Cranbrook and this year it is the intention of those in charge to make the celebration the best one that has yet been given in the district if money and work will accomplish it. A cordial invitation is extended to the people to be present that evening and give an expression to their ideas.
MISTAKEN ARREST … Martin Rappez, a Slav living at Michel thought that his landlady had skipped out with $700 of his money. The latter's arrest and the clearing up of the mystery cost Rappez enough to make him think twice before jumping at conclusions in the future. Rappez came to Fernie from the celebration with his landlady Paulina Surinna and $700 which he had saved for a trip to his old home. The lady in the meantime had planned a trip on her own account to Philadelphia and before leaving Michel she left the money in the keeping of Rappez’s son. The father in Fernie learned of the lady’s sudden departure and thinking it was a clear case of theft had the authorities detain her at Regina. Subsequent investigation revealed the facts as related and the lady went on her way.
ON A TRIP … A.C. Bowness left Wednesday for an extended trip to the haunts of childhood on Prince Edward Island, accompanied by his son. Before he left he had a recapitulation with E. H. Small as to all of their cousins, uncles and aunts and it will take him at least two weeks to make the rounds of the relatives in that far off country where beer is unknown and whiskey is indulged in to keep out the dampness of the atmosphere from the system.
A MAGNIFICENT CUP ... Messrs. Hoggarth and Rollins, of the Cranbrook hotel, have given a challenge cup for the lacrosse clubs of the southern country, which includes the clubs of the Territories, Crows Nest Pass and southern British Columbia. The cup will cost about $125 and will be a handsome trophy, and there will be all kinds of hard work all along the line to secure it. Trustees will be to hold the cup and the rules will be ready for publication next week.
JAMES GILL OF THIS CITY ARRESTED FOR APPROPRIATING FINDS ... For several days it has been rumored that James Gill, confidential clerk for Hyde Baker, and bookkeeper for the Standard Lumber company was short in his accounts, but there was nothing definite publicly stated. On Monday it was openly stated that Mr. Gill had gone to Elko with the idea of getting across the boundary line into the States, A warrant was issued and he was placed under arrest in Elko but afterward succeeded in getting away. Constable Morris, of Cranbrook, and Constable Dow, of Wardner, were directed by Chief McMullin to take up the chase. They drove from Elko and on the road learned that Gill had gotten a man by the name of Derosier to drive him across the boundary to a farm house near a little town in the state of Montana. There the officers found Gill, who had shaved off his beard and was apparently endeavoring to escape detection. When found he consented at once to come to Canada without extradition papers and was driven to Elko and taken by train to Fernie where he was placed in jail, to await prosecution. The trouble in which Mr. Gill has gotten has aroused a lot of sympathy on account of the unfortunate family who are now in Vancouver. It is alleged that the shortage is in the neighborhood of $1,500 extending over several years of time. Mr. Baker is at present in West Kootenay and nothing will be done until his return.
CRANBROOK’S BRIGHT PUPILS … Thu report of the examinations taken in Cranbrook by Superintendent Wilson have been received from Victoria, and it shows that the seven who took the examinations all passed. Following is the standing : Florence Welsh, 688; William E. Greer, 644; Edith Duncan, 624; Dora J. Reid, 609; Milton J. Cory, 593; Florence M. Hickenbotham, 587; Enid M. Barnhardt, 571.