100 Years ago

The News certified Medicine Hat as the “Milling centre of the west” in a huge headline on Oct. 4, 1917, following an address by A.F. Andrews, the new manager of the Ogilvie’s Flour Mill.

He estimated the several mills in Medicine Hat ground 20,000 bushells of wheat per day into flour — making 6 million bushels per year, or about one sixth of Alberta’s harvest at the time.

Andrews did intrigue a business audience however, by stating the city had been shortsighted giving gas rights to the mills to fire boilers at individual mills. A better system for manufacturers would have been to subsidize power from the city’s plant, said Andrews.

In other business news, the Medicine Hat Brass and Pump Co. announced it was” an opportune time” to get into the windmill manufacturing business and would invest $15,000 in a special workshop.

As medical examination boards were set to convene, the national convention of the Trades and Labour council asked that members uphold the recently passed conscription law and end protests.

Premier Arthur Sifton toured the Maritimes in support of Union government in parliament.

The “Next of Kin” association officially requested that the city extend gas and water service at no charge to the families of servicemen.

Collin Gallant covers city politics and a variety of topics for the News. Reach him at 403-528-5664 or via email at cgallant@medicinehatnews.com