TRANSCRIPT

The Fort Saskatchewan Arguement as documented by Sergeant Major Samuel Steele

'Another mail came in during the winter with orders from the Commissioner for our commanding officer to prepare to build barracks for us on a site selected between the present fort and Sturgeon Creek, some 25 miles east. These instructions were soon known and a deputation of the people of the settlement came to Inspector Jarvis with blood in their eyes to interview him and demand that the barracks should be built at Edmonton. They did not use much tact, and they were trying to coerce the wrong man. Our O.C. was of a fiery temperament and would carry out his orders as he pleased, and was the last man to let himself be browbeaten. I have no doubt that if the settlers had let him alone he would have built the new post on the opposite side of the river. As it was, he chose a position 20 miles east, where he thought there would be a good railway crossing.'

Narrated by Edwin Wityshyn