The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-07-08
MORMON SETTLERS IN ALBERTA =
CELEBRATE CANADAS GREAT DAY

Raymond, Alberta, July 4.-The Nor
mon communities of. southern Alberta
have made it rule to themselves to
celebrate with the greatest possible
pcmp the anniversary. Of the birth OF
the Dominion. which falls on the first
! of July. Their leaders esteem it good
policy to make on that day a couspic-
uous display Of their loyalty TO their
new country. but this year the propi-
, tiOus weather. seconded by old assoCia-
( tons Of idea, has caused the series Of
1 festivities TO be extended 10 the old
Fourth of July. The occasion has been
one which no doubt caused many an
i American settler in the Dominion to
/ look backward in order to compare his
former with his present situation, and
I the various gatherings have offered ex-
cellent opportunities for an observer
I to study the progress Of the newcom-
ers. the influence which they are hay
ing on the country and that which the
country has upon them.
Southern Alberta has always been
more or less American since the days
Of the Oregon boundary controversy.
It's first settlers, when they did not
start from some point in the United
states. had as a rule TO come in by way
OF the Fort Benton route. Fort Benton
wEs for a long time the base Of supply
and the postofFice for this district. But
the Engiishmen who came into the
country to engage in ranching were
very English Their notion was to
make the land great pasture reserve
from which they would supply the old
country with beef in exchange for Eng
fish 'bacco. Scotch whisky. checkered
tweeds and other essentials which
America can never hope TO produce.
The first Mormon immigrant, fifteen
years ago. was instrumental in derang-
ing these plans by demonstrating that
the country could be successfully cub
tivated. But these MOrmons. who we're
leaving Uncle Sans domain mostly on
account of incompatibility of hUmor
with the old gentleman, took care to
pTopitiate their new neighbOrs by pay
ing demonstrative homage to British
institutions Other American settlers
who have since followed in great num-
bers have so generally been satisfied
with Canadian laws that they have fol-
lowed the lead, so that although half /
OF the people in southern Alberta have
been at one time or another residents
of the United States, there is no place
in Canada where Dominion day is more /
generally observed.
If the duration of the festivities h4s 4
been extended to the Fourth of july 4
this year, the cause Is TO be found in 4
local interests rather than in any desire
to celebrate the Declaration Of hide /
pendence.
And here it is TO be noted that the
Mormon immigrants to Canada, while
bound by the community Of creed. are
not less eager than others to attract
business to their own particular stand.
The new town Of Raymond. with its
sugar factory and other advantages.
has assumed during the last two VEN
the leadership Of the Mormon com
munides, and this has aroused no little
Jealousy among the older communities
Of CardstOn, Magrath and Sterling.
whose inhabitants claim the honor and
superiority over the RaymOndites OF
being pioneers who came here at the
call Of the church. not vulgar in1mi-
grants IL search of wealth. So that /
when Raymond took the lead to ceIe- /
brate Dominion day this year. Ma
gTath, twelve miles away, promptly
entered protest, and declared its in
-entton Of having d celebration of its
ov-n- Then Csrdston went all others
better by announcing three great
lays 10 include the Fourth of July
The general result has been to dimin-
sh the general ecIat of the demonstra-
ion. Outside the regular bail games
lnd other sports, the feature at Ma !