EDMONTON 131 



It was close on midnight when I reached my 

 destination. Rate of travel, three miles in two 

 hours ! 



Edmonton is situated on the Saskatchewan River, 

 well raised above its banks, and commanding an 

 imposing view. The population is nearly 25,000, 

 almost double the total of the 1906 census. It is the 

 seat of government and the official place of residence 

 of the Lieutenant-Governor. The Alberta College 

 has its headquarters there, with 400 students 

 attached. The educational system is admirable. 

 Large elementary schools have sprung up in a few 

 years, and a high school for advanced knowledge 

 and university preparation. The property is valued 

 at over ;^ 100,000 ; all public requisites — water, 

 electric light, telephones and tramways — are 

 municipalized. The system of taxation makes no 

 distinction between prairie land and land built upon. 

 A vacant lot is assessed at exactly the same valua- 

 tion as one with a five-storied building or factory on 

 it. There is also a business tax determined by floor 

 space and nature of the industry. 



There are twenty-four churches, and twenty-one 

 drinking saloons. The Secretary of the Board of 

 Trade, in commenting on this, said : " Churches are 

 allowed an unlimited margin of growth, but drinking 

 saloons cannot be increased." The proportion in 

 some of the provinces is one to a thousand of 

 population. 



