793 EDMONTON DAILY
OCT 5, 1907

TATE, Philip
McDOUGLAL, Rev.
CHRISTIE, Wm. (William)
McTAVISH, Donald
HARDISTY, Senator
SMITH, Geo. (George)
HAMILTON, Robert M.

Among the pioneers of this country none are more interesting than Alberta 
Tate, son of the late Philip Tate.

He came to the country in 1865. In fact he was born in the west and in his time 
has met or worked under the late Senator Hardisty, Wm. Christie, Donald 
McTavish and Geo. Smith, Lord Stratcona and Robert M. Hamilton and many 
other notable men.

"The were tough days," said Mr. Tate, "and a man lived hard. For instance a 
man in charge of a Hudson's Bay Co. post, with a family was allowed 200 
pounds flour, 200 pounds sugar, 20 pounds raisins, 10 pounds currants, 20 
pounds rice, two pounds pepper, 2 pounds mustard, 1 pound spice, 10 pounds 
tea and 10 pounds coffee. I might mention that the tea was the best that could 
be bought, and would probably sell for two or three dollars a pound in 
Edmonton today. A man in subordinate position had accordingly less down to 
twenty-five pounds of flour, etc., a year. It may be remarked that there was no 
salt mentioned in the supplies. There is no question but that these pioneers 
were worth their salt, and it is not an omission, because there was lots of salt in 
the country. 

"I remember one time we were given a holiday by the company on condition that 
we cut six cords of wood and were supplied with ammunition to go shooting. 
The men thought it a great event, but it finally turned out that the provisions 
had run low, and each man was really fighting for his life. That winter many 
Indians died from starvation. Some got down to catching shaggnapp, the raw 
hide used to bind their horses and dogs. The buffalo had migrated to the south 
country and could not be followed on account of the scarcity of fuel. A great 
deal of pemmican, a prepared hash, used very much nowadays for Arctic 
expeditions, was used then and the supply ran short. All these provisions came 
from England and were packed to the different forts. 

"Then again at times where there was a dearth of provisions and the Indians 
easily forgetting their hardships wantonly killed buffalo and game by the score.

It is an interesting point how Pakan got its name. About 1865 Vicotira - More to 
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