310 TBANSACTIOSS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [YOL. II. 



the United States, under a more vigorous iron policy, they are advancing 

 with marvellous strides, and to-day are the greatest iron and steel pro- 

 ducing country in the world, having at last outstripped Great Britain. 



The following figures speak for themselves. Those of Canada have 

 only been available for the last few years. 



PRODUCTION OF PIG IRON IN THE UNITED STATES. 



Net Tons. 

 i860 919,770. 



1873 <•-•• 2,868,278. 



1882 5,178,122. 



1890 10,307,028. 



PRODUCTION OF PIG IRON IN CANADA. 



Net Tons. 



1887 24,827. 



1 888 21 ,799. 



1889 25,921. 



In the United States they produce "164 of a ton of pig iron per capita 

 of the population. In Canada we produce "003 of a ton of pig iron per 

 capita of our population. 



In the United States they produce ^00 times as much pig iron as zve 

 produce in Canada, and yet tJieir population is only tzvelve times that of the 

 Dominion. Or in the United States each person has 5^ times as much pig 

 iron manufactured for him in his own country as he would have if he 

 lived in Canada. 



This comparison is drawn not for the purpose of belittling the efforts 

 of those among us who are striving to build up our metallurgical 

 industries, but to invite attention to the disparity which is exhibited in 

 the working results and which no one can believe legitimately exists in 

 the possibilities of the two countries. 



I boldly make the assertion that Canada's greatest deficiency lies in 

 not producing her own iron and steel. 



We have built magnificient railroad systems, have created splendid 

 steamship lines and are constantly projecting others. These may be 

 said to be our greatest works, but what are they but Iron and Steel ? 



What if we had produced it all in Canada, and were now manu- 

 facturing that which will be used in all the newly projected railroads 

 and steamships lines, to say nothing of all the multitudinous require- 



