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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 85

Industrial Enterprise

Industrial Enterprise.

A walk through the Canadian Courts will convey the impression that Canada is not saying, "See, English brothers, what the Dominion will produce," but, "See what we Canadians can do."

"Look at our machinery, our furniture, our sewing machines, musical instruments; see all our contrivances for ventilation, sanitation, heating, cooking; notice our carriages, carts, waggons, harness; admire our silversmiths' work, our jewellery, baskets, brushes, and fancy articles.

"We can build good ships and boats, we can send you canned vegetables and fruits, salmon and lobster, evaporated squash, turnips, carrots, cabbages, and onions; and please you with sugar, confectionery, and condiments.

"In photography, book-binding, and even sculpture and engraving we can compete with you; and do you not think that our men, women and children should be satisfied with our efforts to dress them?

"As for Education, our Normal Schools, our High Schools, our Art Schools, Colleges of Agriculture, and Veterinary Science, show you what we can do in that direction."

The Exhibits illustrating Education and Instruction require thirty pages of the Official Catalogue. Possibly among the most interesting exhibits are those representing the work done in the Canadian Schools.

Contrast the agricultural implements of the Indian Economical Court with those in the Canadian Machinery Court. Also the Art Ware Courts with the Canadian Central Court.

Notice the excellence, the variety, and the price of the respective Canadian industrial exhibits, and do not forget that the manufactures of Canada are still in their infancy.

Will Canada become a smaller purchaser of British Manufactures than she now is?

Will Canadian manufactures ever enter into competition with British manufactures in the markets of the world? What lesson does the following extract from the letter of a Pekin correspondent to the Times teach?

"A Canadian told me of his vain attempts to get things made in England as his customers required them. One of his articles, I remember, was axes, of which he sent drawings and wooden models till he was tired, but could never get the pig-headed makers to vary their traditional form. All the explanation he could get in reply to his complaints was, that, 'that was the way to make an axe.'"

page 30

There is yet time for the English workman to retain his supremacy, as the following will show.

Taking the exports of the Canadian mines at 10, fisheries will stand at 22 forest products at 58, animals and their products at 69, other agricultural products at 39, and the manufactures at the bottom of the lists 9.

For many years hence, therefore, Canada should find her greatest profit by developing her natural resources and exchanging them for British manufactures.