LU EOYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 



THE PEOGEESS AND TEEND OF SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION IN CANADA. 



In a society formed to include as for as possible representatives of all branches of literature 

 and of science, it appears to be most appropiiate that the president for the time being should 

 devote the address which it is his privilege to deliver, to some specific topic, or to the consideration 

 of such matters of interest or importance as may lie particularly in his own line of woik or thought. 

 At the last meeting of the Society, Dr. Bourinot presented a masterly essay under the title of 

 " Canada's Intellectual Strength and Weakness," dealing principally though not exclusively with the 

 literary, artistic and political development of the country. It may now be of some interest and 

 service to supplement this essay by a very general and very brief review of what has been accom- 

 plished, and what I'emains to be accomplished in Canada, by various scientific agencies working in the 

 investigation of the natural features and towards the development of the natural resources of the 

 countr3^ 



We find ourselves possessed in Canada of a country vast in its dimensions, but of which the popu- 

 lation is as yet comparatively small. If, therefore, we have good reason to believe that the natural 

 resources of our teriitory are in any respect commensurate with its are:i, we may look forward with 

 confidence to a great future. But in order that this may be realized properly and soon, we must 

 devote ourselves to the exploration and definition of our latent wealth, and to the solution of the 

 problems which inevitably arise in the course of its utilization under circumstances which are often 

 more or less entirely novel. For this purpose, we are j)rovided at the present day with methods, 

 appliances and an amount of accumulated knowledge not previously thought of, but which we must 

 be prepared to enlist in our sei-vice if our purpose is to be achieved. 



It is unsatisfactory to read, as we often may, the statement that Canada is possessed of " unlim- 

 ited natural resources," for such a statement means little more than that we have been unable to 

 make even a reasonably complete inventory of these resources. In order intelligently to guide the 

 work of those endeavouring to utilize the benefits given to us by nature in the rough, and to attract 

 population and cajiital for this end, it is necessary to be much more specific. It is true that great 

 regions of Canada still remain very imperfectly or almost altogether unexplored, but we are never- 

 theless already in a position to form some general estimate of the importance and character of the 

 products which the country as a whole is best capable of yielding. Thus, in respect to mineral 

 wealth, I believe we are justified in assuming that Canada is equally rich with any known area of the 

 earth's surface of comparable dimensions. So, in regard to products of the sea, these, relatively to 

 our length of coast line — and this is vevj great — are probably at least as valuable as those of any other 

 similar length of coast. Of arable and pastoral land, because of the rigorous climate of the northern 

 portions of the geographical area of Canada, the extent is not commensurate with that of the country, 

 but it is practically so great that we may be pardoned if describing it at present as "unlimited." As 

 to the natural wealth represented by our forests, it is probably correct to state that Canada is still 

 capable of affording more timber than any other country in the northern hemisphere; but of this, 

 with the constant and increasing drafts upon it, we can already begin to see the end, unless some 

 effective measures shall be taken, and that soon, towards its conservation and reproduction. We have, 

 in fact, yet to learn to regard a forest as a special kind of farm, in which, if we do not sow, we cannot 

 hope to reap perennially. 



It is not, however, mj purpose to enter into any details respecting the natural wealth of the 

 country, but rather to point out as bi-iefly as may be what has been done and what still remains to be 

 accomplished by means of the vai-ious scientific organizations and associations of Canada, in aid of the 

 utilization of these resources, in the matter of making them known to the world at large, and toward 



