HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1915-6-24, Page 74
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What Good Roads Mean to Canada
The attendaruce to the rural
meeting place is dem niehing; the
attendance to the schoolhouse to
dwindling; friendsnhip is being sev-
axed with itte neighbor Giving a
Short distance away, as 'well as
with the person to wlloen, you regu-
larly send a letter, and the village
preacher is being discouraged.
What is the reason for this? Im-
passable roatd% and nothing else.
Country communities are not going
to wade through mud to post a let-
ter, to go to school, to go to ohuroh
or to visit a friend, neither will'
they suffer their horses to attempt
it.. They will not bei pestered with
doctor's bills because the roadis
transformed into: e. quagmire, Ru-
ral inhabitants are being degraded'
educationally, Jsoeially and morally.
Country folk are not migrating •` to
citifies bletaauase they don't like aural
life, but ,because the roads, if they
may be so tallest, are impassable.
'These people are intelligent enough
to see that all the discomfort and
prevention of soolal enjoyenent is
•due: to the lack of good roads. You
-cannot estimate in dollars and
cents the national loss entailed by
tete oonetan•t withdrawal of labor
trout Wens, and by the -fading away
of the iniluenoe of the Oliaraoter-
building institutions of the noun-
try.
A great thinker says "If new
ideas Tiro abroad, new hopes: /brie-
ing, you wild seeit by the roads
that ,are building." Simultaneous-
ly with the movement for the need
of good roads ariseie one far-reach-
ing idea, even, er one profound than
the enhancing of land values, It is
the social betteernent•lfethe world.
Canada is playing a distinguished
past in the uplift of the world. '
Now turn to the meaning of roads
in elle economic sphere. • Itis `a
good businees''poliey. Canada's
manufacturers, ,men of commerce
and business, admit that .Canada
needs' .such a policy, but because
they cannot -see any solid, unre-
efi-toted and available gain that
would aoorne, they don't care. The
cost of a biealrtaet roll would be
trifling did it not oast the farmer
eighteen cents a bushel more to
transport wireiae nine miles to a
railway station than it did from
New York to Liverpool, a distance
of three thousand one hundiied.
miles.
THE RETURN OF PROS► ERIY
.]REPRESENTATIVE BUSINESS
MEN EXPRESS THEIR VI.EWS.
3f the 1915 Harvest Is Up to Expec-
tations Domestic Business Will Be
Satisfactory in All Provinces.
Trade in Canada has passed the
period of greatest depression, and al-
ready exhibits signs of a sound revi-
val in many lines, is the opinion of
eche majorityof representative busi-
ness men throughout the Dominion
-who have contributed their views to a
comprehensive survey of conditions
which has just been completed by the
Canadian Northern Railway. Less
than ten per cent. of those respond-
ing; confess to a gloomy outlook;
ti more than ninety per cent., numbering
more than two thousand, report them-
selves as optimistic as far as the im-
mediate future is concerned.' Practi-
<cahy all are agreed that trade condi-
tions will rapidly return to normal
after the restoration of peace. A
large number are convinced that if the
beevest of 1915 is up to expectation,
domestic business will be satisfactory
in all the provinces.
In the survey, all classes of enter-
prise as defined by the last Dominion
Census are, reported upon. The pro-
vinces have furnished the latest in-
formation regarding the 1915 produc-
tion of the agricultural, mining, fish-
ing and lumbering industries. Coun-
try towns and villages as well as the,
large commercial and industrial cen-
tres have been covered, and officials
of the C.N.R. are inclined to accept
p
the views reported as frank state-
=ants of present trade and its future
prospects. • •
The reports indicate that business
in the Dominion, as a whole, is from
15 to 20 per cent. below the normal
of one year ago. Exactly two-thirds
of the informants report a volume of
trade as good, or better, than it was
last autumn, while 12.03 per cent.
state they can not compare present
business and last autumn business be-
cause trade is always brisker with
themat one season than during the
other. Apparently trade in the Mari-
time Provinces is affected least. In
the Prairie Provinces it is not nearly
0 as brisk as it was last year,, but opti-
mism is reviving under the influence
of excellent crop prospects. Business
ie Quebec is slow, but aparently im-
proving, and in Ontario it is gradual-
ly returning to normal. Broadly
considered, the reports show that
business in the towns and villages lo-
cated in well-settled, fertile agricul-
tural districts is practically normal.
Dealers in all lines report that col-
lections in such centres are generally
normal, and that activities have not
been curtailed to any extent. The
chief falling off has been in the large
industrial centres. When reductions
in staff were made by manufacturers
and by business houses last autumn,
retailers were forced to curtail cre-
dits to customers thrown out of
work, and in turn wholesalers were
obliged to scrutinizecarefully all
credits extended to retailers. The
people generally continued to pur-
chaea necessary lines of food -stuffs
and essentials in other branches of
trade as well, but dealers discovered
that goods not falling within that
classification were in danger of be-
coming dead -stock upon their
shelves; however, as Canadiane ar-
rived at n• better understanding of
actual conditions, a certain amount
of confidence returned, and retail sales
were gradually extended to take in
the usual lines of goods. The distri-
bution of orders for war materials
also exerted a favorable influence
where it brought about a renewal of
employment in several of the Indus-
tries in the large cities, and trade
credits relaxed to a proportionate ex -
tont. Collections, despite the alter-
ed eonditiohs, appear to have con
tinued fairly good in the large cen-
tres, and seem to be steadily improv-
ing,
The strong position in which the
farmers of the Dominion were placed,
with the exception of 'those in the
drought -stricken areas in the south-
ern portions of the Prairie Provinces,
as a result of the marketing at ex-
cellent prices of their farm produce;-.
particularly .grains and cheese —. has
worked out apparently to the ad-
vantage of the groups of manufactur-
ers whose products' are 'distributed,
wholly or in part, in the 'agricultur-
el districts. It is clearly shownthat
purchases by the farmers have, con
tributed very -largely to the mainten-
ance of output in many lines. They
have continued buying their regular
supplies and necessary farm " imple-
ments; and they have also' been
devoting a portion of their surplus
fund to the improvement of their.
farm properties. When the call came,
to extend, wherever possible, the!
acreage of important cereals, they,'
apparently, exhibited no hesitation in
making the necessary outlays for ad-
ditional facilities. Meanwhile they
seem to have proceeded with building
plans, and dealers in cement, paints,
building materials of various descrip-
tions, db not hesitate to pay tribute
OYAL
YEAST CAKES
WThe best
yeast in
the world.
Makes
perfect
bread.
V OCR. 41., . ro .
LONDON'S WOMEN VOLUNTEER RESERVES.
The picture shows. Colonel Charlesworth (mounted) riding along the lines of her "Khaki Girls," as the
Members of the Women's Volunteer Reserves, are called, at Ealing, England. The volunteer movement is
gaining in strength, and numbers daily, and their drills are as strenuous as those of the recruits of Kitchen-
er's army:
The value of the mineral produc-
tion in Canada this year will not like-
ly be as great as in 1914, when it to-
talled $128,475,499, a decrease of $17,-
159,313 or 11.8 per cent. from that of
-1913, the •record year. The world-'
wide depression in trade during 1914
would probably have been the means
of reducing the output of minerals in
Canada even if war had not been de-
clared. Hostilities have had the ef-
feet of stimulating the production of
nickel however, and it is expected. that
the mines of Sudbury district will
show greater activity this year than
ever before. They have also acceler-
ated the production of lead. Coal
mining appears to be almost as usual,
although the large companies report a
shortage of ships to carry the pro-
ducts. Even while operating under
that handicap, shipments from Nova
Scotia, the largest producer of coal
of any of the provinces to points on
the St. Lawrence River, notably Mont -
to the manner in which the farmer real, show a considerable improve -
has stimulated .their marketings and pent' in March over that month in
helped to take up the shrinkage in 1914:
business. The farmer seems to have It is evident from the reports sub -
been in the market for automobiles mittedto the C. N. R. that the large
of a popular price on a scale greater manufacturing plants which in nor -
than ever before. mal times producedmachinery, loco -
Keener perception by all classes motives; engines, boilers, structural
of the importance which' agriculture steel, •and so .on, were adversely of
occupies in the business life of Can- fected when war was declared and
ada is also noted. Thele•irs evidence that they have been called away from
of a disposition to lean neon the' regular work and are now engaged; in
crops of 1915; and to qualify optimism enttnufatturing innunitions• of war for
regarding the future with the. re- .the armies of Great Britain -and,. her
mark that the crop es the determfn- allies. In some cases the entireplant
ing factor." Special reports sent in has been turned oyer to this - new
by .the various' Departments of Agri- work, while in others the equipment
culture, forecast a good yield on a is installed in part. Orders for muni --
largely increased acreage throughout tions of war from Gi eat Britain alone
the Dominion. With the incentive of amountingin value to . $158,000,000
high prices, farmers ' have devoted have already been. given in ; Canada.
more time and care to cultivation, and Although'the effects are not yet fully
have used seed of higher germinating felt, because the output is but 10,000
quality than ever before; it seems shells a day, there is scarcelyany
safe to assume that if only an aver- doubt that in a month it will be 50;000
age crop per acre is harvested, the• a day, and': that employment will be
total output will be larger than in normal or abnormal in'the plants en -
any year since the growing of grain gaged upon these Government .con -
was commenced in the Western Pro- tracts. Orders have been distributed
vines. The acreage in British Col- throughout the entire country, and
umbia is said.. to have been more their influence ought tobe felt in all
than doubled, and in the Proem Pro- provinces of the Dominion.
vinesit averages twenty-two per Wholesale hardware men, manufac-
turers of plumbers' supplies, and re-
tailers handling hardware, appear to
be agreed that their decrease in busi-
cent. In Ontario the acreage is re-
ported tq.have been increased mater-
ially. A similar condition obtains in
the Maritime Provinces. In Quebec
the normal, acreage is indicated. -
The collapse of the building trades
has been the cause of a substantial
reduction in sales of Canadian lum-
ber, and the belief is expressed that
the domestic market cannot peraneut-'
ly improve until construction becomes
general again in the principal centres.
The export trade, however, appeaiis
to be standing the strain splendidly,
the chief worry being in connection
with th availability of ships to carry
the forest products of British Colum-
bia, the Maritime Provinces and Que-
bec. Ontario exports chiefly to the
United States.
Practically all of the woodwor•]cing
nese from last year may be accounted
for by the collapse in the building
trades. But they add also, that manu-
fact,rers with businesses: not special-
ly active, are not inclined to purchase
supplies of hardware in quantities in
excess of immediate requirements. It
is expected that good crops through-
out the country will -partially revive
the building trades and to a propor-
tionate,extent will increase the sales
of their goods, and their outlook ac-
cordingly is not Mean gloomy.
In automobiles there appears to be
an undiminished domestic demand for
machines of a popular price, but in
the case of the more expensive makes
that condition does not prevail. For-
eign goods appear to be out of favor,
and makers of Canadian cars, accor-
dingly, are generally optimistic re-
garding the future. The farmer as a
class seems to have been in the mar-
ket since last autumn to a greater ex-
tent than was formerly the case, and
war orders have been a considerable
factor. •
In the fisheries industry, the catch
promises to be quite up to the aver-
age of other years. The closing of
the German markets has adversely af-
fected some of the exporters on the
Atlantic coastbut it seems that the
deficit from that cause is expected to
be offset by larger shipments to the
Old Country, whose North Sea fishing
fleets have bean reduced' by the. Ad-
miralty requisitioning a large number
of trawler's to facilitate naval opera-
tions. With the possible exception of
the canned lobster trade, the markets
upon which the east coast fishermen
chiefly rely; the United States, Latin
countries . of Europe, South America,
and the West Indies, have not been
seriously afftcted. Preparations are
for a larger pack than last year of
canned salmon in British Columbia
and a'home and foreign demand suffi-
ciently strong as to absorb the sup-
plies is reported from the west coast
dealers. The catch and the market-
ings of the inland fisheries are appar-
ently almost' normal.. — A total of
71,776 were employed in the fishing
operations and 26,893 were engaged
in the canneries, freezers, fish -houses,
etc., on shore. Of course these work-
ers were employed only during the
fishing season.
The distribution of food products
• The War and the Cattle Trade
Mr. 'Randolph Bruce, 'a well,
known rancher in' Western Canada,
has just returned from Europe with
many interesting. opinions as to the
effect that the war will have on the
Canadian farmer. The - immenee
slaughter of cattle for the armies
in the field will, he -thinks, cause
a ,groat increase in -the price of
beef, and those farmers who are
raising cattle will make more 'mo -
plants which are large users of lum- ney even than those who are rais-
ber in Canada are operating at re- ing wheat at a dollar -fifty per bu-
duced speed. Furniture and piano shel. Every effort should be made
manufacturers report a trade as .be- to raise cattle for rho market in as
low normal, although it seems to be
improving. Makers of woodenware
are in much the same position. Sash
and door firms, and manufacturers of
building material confess. to a de-
pressed state of trade in accordance
with the districts in which they are ing to note that fattening ;roung
placed. Business with these is away steak is becoming very popular in
off where dependence is largely upon the United t5eates where the wnr-
building operations in the large cen
ties; in the country conditions are ket for beef is increasing so rapid -
much better. Tho shipping of "muni- 1Y that more study has been paid to
tions of war manufactured in this tnetlrods of increasing production.
country is etimuhiting the business of In the early days cattle were
makers of packing cases, . On the 15551 on the ranges from three to
whole; —however, there appears to be live years. Experience,. however,
cant hope of a revival in the wood- has shown that the use - of thor-
worlcing industry until after the crop ough--bred bulls and the cense-
s harvested and a revival in earnest queue improvement in the quality
ntil the war is over. When that and tttaturingability of market
time comes all the wood -working
laths expect to regain quickly their
large quantities and as quiokly as
possible. Mr. Bruce is a great be-
liever in alfalfa as the most satis-
factory food for the rapid raising
of cattle for 'beef.
In this connection it is interest-,
s
u
former position of activity.
cattle, together with heavier grain
feeding, has made ie possible to put
just as much ;beef on the market at
from 13 to 20 months. old. Experts
are of the opinion that with the
continued improvement of breed
stock it 'wi11 be possible to market
ab an even earlier elate. Among
the advantages ,of earlier finishing
of cattle, the following are men-
tioned by some of the leading cat-
tle men ; Firstly, younger cattle
make heaiver gains of beef on a
similar amount of feed than old
cattle; secondly, the money invest-
ed is turned fester, being turned
over in eighteen snonehs, where
formerly � it took from three to.five
years; thirdly, heifers under two
years old sell as readily as steers
and finish more rapidly.
As the census statistics prove
without shadow of doubt, the value
of 'beef cattle in Canada is steadily
increasing. In 1901.there were
3,167,741 valued at $54,197,341, or
an average of $17.12, taking the
good with the bad, In 1911 there
were 3,939,257, valued at 586,278,-
490, or an average of $21.00, an in-
crease of $4.78 per head. Mr. H.
S. Arkell, Aesistant Live Stook
-Commissioner for the Dominion
Got,ernment, Bays that never in our
statistical history have prices at-
tained- so high a figure either for
cattle on the hoof or for meat in
the butcher shop as to -day. What
it will be next year when the, full
effect of the war is felt no ono can
tell,
throughout the country appears to
have proceeded in normal volume with
the possible exception of luxuries and
canned goods; however, dealers say
that the decrease in the latter which
followed the closing down of railway
construction camps and the slackening
in -the demands from the Western Pro.
vinces, has been offset to a certain ex-
tent by a demand for military' re-
quirements. It is apparent that while
purchases of sugar y the people
throughout Canada have been some-
what erratic, the' total business is
about equal to that of last year, and
production is proceeding steadily.
Sales in'the ordinary staples give no
signs of curtailment, although prices
have advanced in many lines.
Manufacturers of drugs, chemicals,
and patent medicines unanimously re-
port a decrease in profits in their
business. The volume of trade is
standing up fairly well, but they state
that the increase in cost of raw ma-
terial and the impossibility. of secur-
ing further supplies from Germany,
Moe increased their manufacturing
costs and. their difficulties generally.
The leather goods business is also
somewhat abnormal in character.
Tanners and thosemanufacturing
leather into supplies for the armies of
Great Britain and her allies report a
larger business than they have hither-
to enjoyed. Costs of stock have ad-
vanced' materially. Boot and shoe
manufacturers are inclined to the
,, Giliolln\ T of p YUMflE
MADE
IN
CANADA,
•
EW.GILLETT COMPANY LIMITED
TORONTO,0NT.
WINNIPEG MONTREAL
opinion that the total business 'is less
than it was a yearago, although the
demand appears to be improving..
Prices have advanced materially in
nearly all lines, and the increase is
attributed to scarcity of raw material
induced` by the demands of the mili-
tary upon the available supplies.
Makers of travelling bags and trunks
generally report a decreased business.
In the textile industry, where mili-
tary requirements are being filled,
manufacturers report a trade consid-
erably above normal, but where the
reverse is the case, the trade appears
to be somewhat less than It was a
year ago. The supplies of raw ma-
terials from Great Britain have be-
come difficult to secure even at higher
prices, and although there appears to
be a movement in the Old Country to
allow of a certain number of mills
devoting their output for civilian pur-
poses, there is an expectation that a
scarcity will prevail during the com-
ing autumn and winter, and where
possible, retail dealers seem to be
putting in their stocks for the trade
now. .
In cotton goods, conditions are de-
scribed generally as almost normal,
indeed, the prices which are now be-
ing quoted by salesmen throughout
the Maritime Provinces are back to
the scale which prevailed before the
outbreak of war, at which time a de-
cline was recorded. As a matter of
fact the distribution of cotton goods
is said to have astonished even those
prominent in the industry, that state-
ment, of course, refers to the general
trade, and there are some lines which
appear to be waiting upon the crop
for a revival of activity. No doubt
the activity in local mills is due to
the closing off of supplies from for-
eign countries which have been
affected by the war.
s< .
Fine Cut.
"I certainly like the way our new
cook prepares spaghetti."
"How's that?"
"She runs it through the meat
chopper first."
Napoleon's handwriting was so
bad- that often he could notdecipher
it. himself.
Teo
Pure
Icy Cre
for the C�
� ren
Include plenty of City Dairy Ice Cream in the
children's diet. In the summer time there is no-
thing that can take its place—it's cooling --it's a •
food and the child craves its sweetness.. Give
them all the Ice Cream they can eat but be sure
it's made by City Dairy because "If it's City
Dairy, it's :Pure, that's Sure".
Per Selo by disoi•Imi„te5/ng Shopkeepers eyerywhore.
•
Look
for
the Sign.
TORONTO.
We went Hui tegene M. every town.
GERMANY'S JOY HAS IMMO
THE 'TEUTONS EXPECTED A
SHORT WAR.
Correspondent st Amsterdam Pae
per Discovers Signs- of Fore-
boding In Germany.
Instructive glimpses into the
condition of feeling among the
people of Southern Germany ars
provided in an artiole contributed
to the "Handelablad,” of.Amster-
dam, by au special coi'reepondenk
who appears to have been favored
with special opportunities for ob-
servation. It seems hardly likely .
that the article has passed the
German censor, for it ooneaine
some pleasant truths, whioh would
he unpleasant in Berlin. Possibly
it was written when the write
was safely ,back in his own eoun•
try,
He points out how very deceptive
is the "window-dressing" which la
universally practised nowadays in
Germany, but he was able to get
to the heart of things as they ars
cinilass. the ranks of the. ehopkeepere"
and business people of the middle
"A Good Time Coming."
When the war broke out he was
told, these people had been con-
vinced that in a very short time the
trouble would end, and a solid
golden age would dawn. for them.
Now all such anticipations have
been given up, and a listlessness,
indifference, bee taken possession
of very many. With deep bitter-
ness one such tradesman remarked
that "'only Army contractors and
parasites" were having the good
time that was promised to all.
The comparative success of the
first German war loan, floated
when the spirits of the people were
still high, was secured by the aid
of a vast newspaper campaign in
which the subscriptions were look;
ed on as loans soon to be repaid
with heavy interest by Germany's
enemies who were about to be con-
quered and "squeezed." The
same argument has lost its power
long ago. Instead, it is now
shouted from the housetops that
Germany has not needed a. more,
torium. But as no money process
can be taken against Wren undea
arms or men doing military work
of any kind, and as practically
every able-bodied man is so en-
gaged, the whole population is, in
effect, under cover of the strongest
possible moratorium.
Somebody's Opportunity..
Only the Army contractor flour.
ishes. He appears in various
forms, often only as middleman
anxious to get his profit out of the
State, Indeed, the writer hints
that the people are beginning to
scent some pretty high scandals in
this direction. Goode often pass
through several hands, each time
at an enhanced price, before they
actually become the property of
the nation—at the highest price of
all.
The famous "machine" jams
now and then, it would seem,
when profits :and commissions re-
place the oil of patriotism.
The suppression of critical
voices is becoming almost impossi-
ble. Intense indignation is felt by
ery large bodies of men who, on
returning home for short periods
f rest, have been disgusted at the
Caney provision allowed by the
tate to their wives and families.
Fearful of Future.
Lastly, there are many who are
looking forward and are trying to
acture the condition of the wi-
ows, orphans and incapacitated
men when the fighting is done.
here are plenty of people who
ave some knowledge of the con-
itious in which such people exist-
ed after the war of 1870, and many
are quietly expressing their fear-
ul anticipations, If people in
hese -circumstances were badly ne-
lected after 1871 when compare-
ively small numbers were involy,
d, what will be the fate of him -
reds of thousands when this vast
t•ruggle is finished i
v
0
S
p
T
d
t
e
d
1+
Bessie Promised.
When a young lady who was about
to be married visited an old friend
naturally the coming event was the
topic of much of the conversation.
The young woman, whose plans were
not yet made public, thought it wise
to pledge the little four-year-old
daughter of the house to secrecy.
Accordingly site called little Bessie
to her, told her that soon she and
Mr. Britton were to be nsnreied, and
asked her to promise that site would
keep the secret. Little Bessie pro-
mised, and went back to her play
with an air of great importance,
while her mother and the visitor re-
sumed their conversation, Some tett
minutes later Bessie returned and
whispered to the prospective bride
with great caution, "Miss Jones, does
Mr. Brinton know anything about it
yet?"
•
The workmen's compensation law
doesn't entitle a man to damoim f;r
the accident of birth,
1+