A century of progress and service
Chairing the meeting was Ed Corbeau , a well-known Regina businessman and manager of the city ’ s Great West Motors , which sold Maxwell , Chalmers and Scripps-Booth models . The Leader newspaper proclaimed him “ the dean of motorists in Saskatchewan .”
At the meeting , Corbeau stated that the provincial government was deeply interested in the question of good highways and the league was working with the same object in view . While the war had precipitated a halt to the club ’ s development , he added , the time was ripe for renewed activities .
Leonard Calder , head of the Saskatoon Auto Club , also spoke . He underlined how attitudes towards car owners were changing : “ When we first organized in the north , the farmer looked upon us as pleasure seekers ,” he said . “ Today the farmer realizes that the auto is a necessity in all lines of business . We must put our shoulders to the wheel and cooperate with the government , the town and city councils , and the rural municipalities in this matter for only that way can we be assured of a system of good roads in the province .”
Circumstances and attitudes had indeed changed in those years since the Great War . In 1917 , more than 33,000 vehicles were registered in
1914 Members of community car clubs meet in Regina to establish a provincial motor league ; plans are halted due to the outbreak of WWI
Saskatchewan — doubling the amount from the previous year , and four times the 1914 number .
By far , the most popular car in the province — and , indeed , the world — was Henry Ford ’ s Model T . Of the 9,884 vehicles registered in 1915 , 6,096 ( more than 60 percent ) were Fords , followed by McLaughlin ( 1,048 ), Overland ( 560 ), Maxwell ( 215 ) and Studebaker ( 194 ).
While oWning an automobile was becoming popular , it was still out of
1917 The Saskatchewan Motor League is formed to push for better roads
$ 3,000 to $ 11,000 . R . H . Williams department store sold ladies hats for $ 1.39 , men ’ s shirts from $ 1.50 and a three-pound bag of carrots for 25 cents . Admission to the latest Charlie Chaplin flick was 15 cents .
The least-expensive new car in Saskatchewan in 1917 was the Model T at $ 495 . A new Chevrolet would set you back $ 750 and Studebakers came with hefty price tags between $ 1,375 and $ 3,430 .
As more people owned cars or knew someone who did , they recognized
By 1917 , there were some 33,000 vehicles in a province of more than 600,000 residents — that ’ s about one car for every 18 people
reach for most Saskatchewanians at the time . By 1917 , there were some 33,000 vehicles in a province with 600,000 residents — that ’ s about one car for every 18 people . ( Today , the number of vehicles in Saskatchewan is almost equal to the population .)
Back then , cars cost more than most people could afford . For example , teachers earned between $ 780 and $ 1,200 annually . What could you buy with that kind of money in those days ? Homes ranged from the benefits of improved roads . The widespread attitudes of just a few years earlier — that cars were noisy , dangerous and evil — were fading . The car was evolving from a plaything for the rich to a necessity for the masses .
Having a car meant a farmer could more easily visit neighbours or go to a town market . The business community also saw the benefits of improved transportation . Even the Royal North West Mounted Police , forerunner of today ’ s RCMP , had taken to cars .
CAA Saskatchewan
A century of progress and service
1931 The Saskatchewan Motor Club publishes Northern Summers , a booklet of activities for people visiting northern Saskatchewan
1906 : AToMIC / ALAMy
1906 Saskatchewan ’ s 22 automobiles require registration for the first time
1944 At its annual meeting , the Saskatchewan Motor Club is reported to be financially sound after the hardships of the 1930s
30 summer 2017 CAA sAsKATCHeWAN