Timeline: October 1917

October 1, 1917 – Port Arthur

Port Arthur City Council had received this letter requesting further funds for the 52^nd Battalion, began discussing it on June 4, and had referred it to their Finance Committee. This request was a different case as the 52^nd Battalion was already overseas. Port Arthur City Council has decided to grant the 52^nd Battalion $250 to be sent to a bank in London, England. The Council also wishes to “express to Lieut. Col. Evans the pride this community has felt in following their history and that we look forward to their glorious homecoming at the conclusion of the war which we hope will be at an early date.”

October 1, 1917 – Port Arthur

On August 13 the Port Arthur City Council received a letter from the Canadian Aviation Fund requesting the donation of one or more machines. In many cases, the City Councils of Port Arthur and Fort William were asked to donate items pertaining to the war effort, such as machinery. The Port Arthur City Council agreed to this and sent funds to purchase aircraft.

October 9, 1917 – Fort William

Fort William City Council also decided to grant the 52nd Battalion $250 of regiment funding. Council congratulated them on the “great part, that they are, and have taken in this great world wide conflict and that we hope for the return of many of the members of the regiment at the conclusion of the war.” Between the two cities, the 52^nd was granted $500, or just over $8000 in today’s dollars.

October 9, 1917 – Port Arthur

Port Arthur City Council had given the Great War Veterans Association the use of the old city hall on July 9^th and agreed to grant $200 to furnish the rooms September 4^th.  They also then decided to pay the bill for chairs and other furniture purchased from I.L. Matthews Co. of Port Arthur. The $40 cost is equivalent to $652.50 in today’s dollar.

October 9, 1917 – Port Arthur

Within Report 12 of the Finance Committee from October 5, 1917, Port Arthur City Council authorized the purchase of 5% Greater Winnipeg bonds with a total amount of $25,000, and the purchase of 6% bonds with a total amount of $4,075. War bonds were an important way to fund the war effort. Port Arthur City Council authorized purchasing a total $29,075 worth of bonds, $474,285.94 in today’s dollar.

In September, Port Arthur City Council authorized the transfer of some funds from the 1917 Patriotic Levy to the Patriotic Fund. Here we can see the distribution of the rest of the levy to the other patriotic charities. The note beside the British Red Cross Appeal says “amended by Res 4788 increased to $1000”, see the entry on Oct 15^th below. The 1917 Patriotic Levy was for 1 mill tax rate and (once all taxes had been collected) raised an estimated $26,429.63, or $431,133.34 in today’s dollar, more than half of which went to the Canadian Patriotic Fund.

October 15, 1917 – Port Arthur

Port Arthur approved the grant of $500.00 or $8,156.25 in Canadian Dollars today to the British Red Cross (above) but was asked to increase the amount that they were willing to grant them from $500 to $1000 or the equivalent to $16,312.50 today.  They agreed to the increase in funds, but declined to conduct a full fundraising campaign for the organization, deeming it “inadvisable”.

October 23, 1917 – Fort William

Fort William also received a request from the British Red Cross Committee asking for $500 which they referred to their Finance Committee.

Fort William City Council was asked if they would allow the War Veterans association to hold Sunday concerts with the profits being given to the War Veterans Association. They have not made a decision and have decided to lay it over until later.

The Fort William City Council was asked by the Women’s Canadian Club if they would allow them free use of the auditorium on October 31. This request was granted to them.

October 29, 1917 – Port Arthur

On August 14^th, Fort William City Council granted a 10% war bonus to an employee in a Superintendent position.  It is still unclear as to exactly what a “war bonus” was, but it may have been a bonus for staying with the City in an essential service when he could have left and enlisted in the war.  Here the employees of the City of Port Arthur have petitioned for a 5% war bonus.  It has been referred to the Finance Committee for further discussion.

October 29, 1917 – Port Arthur

Here Port Arthur City Council gives the Red Cross Society $1000.  This was the Canadian organization, paid from the general City funds, and not the British Red Cross whom they were funding from the Patriotic Levy (October 15, above).

October 29, 1917 – Port Arthur

It appears the Patriotic Levy was distributed successfully.  Here, Mr. W.G. Ross, the President of the British Sailors Relief Fund is writing to thank the Port Arthur City Council for their contribution to the fund.