A WONDER CITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 215, 9 March 1912, Page 8

A WONDER CITY.

CAPITAL OR SASKATCHEWAN,

Statistics prove that nowhere in the British Empire has any other city at» tained the rapid growth of Saskatoon, the central city of Saskatchewan. In 1903 the population of Saskatoon was 113, with a total assessment of 110.000 dollars. As a matter of fact, the first contract let by the city in mil for the laying of concrete sidewalks amounted to more than 110 per cent, of the city's assessment eight years ago. At. that time the sidewalks of the place consisted of two or three hundred feet of board walk. The contracts for this seaeon, when completed, will bring the total mileage of concrete sidewalks up to nearly twelve miles, without taking cognisance of the many streets that as yet are served with only board walks. This lias been further supplemented by an order from the council for the city engineer to call for tenders for the complete paving of a large section of the streets in the business section. For the first six months of 1911 the building permits issued in Saskatoon were per capita the greatest of any Canadian city, being nearly 20 per cent, greater than Regina, her nearest competitor. Of course, there are reasons for this state of things—viz., aside from the fact that Saskatoon is the geographical centre of the finest area of wheat-growing land in the world, it is beautifully situated on both sides of the mighty Saskatchewan river; it is the divisional point for three lines of railroad and several branch lines; it is the site of the Provincial University, for the building of which 000.000 dollars has been voted by the Provincial Government as a preliminary estimate; and by .no means the least reason is Hint the city is. practically composed of young men in the prime, whose energy, virility and manliness are alwa'/s brought into play to further any cause which may redound to the welfare of their chosen city. One might, perhaps, imagine that this marvellous installation of miles of sewers, miles of waterworks, miles of sidewalks, miles of fine streets, and miles of trees and boulevards, was a hardship and burden to her citizens. However, this is not the case, for the total rate of assessment for including general rate, water rate and' school rate, is only 18 -millions.