The First Modern Exhibition 



The first modern exhibition was held in 1756 

 at London by the Society of Arts, which offered 

 prizes for improvements in the manufacture of 

 tapestry, carpets and porcelain. In 1761, the 

 same Society made a display of agricultural 

 machinery. In all manufacturing countries, the 

 nineteenth century witnessed the rapid evolution 

 of the national and international exposition. 

 The latter had its origin at Hyde Park, London, 

 in 1851. It was open for five and a half months, 

 and attracted more than six million visitors. 



There were 14,000 exhibitors, Great Britain 

 contributing about 7,000, the British Colonies 

 500, and the remainder foreign countries. In 

 later years important expositions have been 

 held at Glasgow, Paris (1900), Buffalo, New 

 York (1901), St. Louis (1904), Liege (1905), 

 Milan (1906), Dublin (1907), London (Franco- 

 British) (1908), the remarkable Panama-Pacific 

 Exposition at San Francisco in 1915 which was 

 open from January to December, nearly nine- 

 teen million people attending, and Lyons 

 (1919-1920). 



The growth in the attendances and number 

 of exhibitors at recent World's Fairs emphasizes 

 the wonderfully improved transportation facili- 

 ties rendered by the development of railways and 

 steamship lines. 



Records show that Canada's development 

 has been represented at international expositions 

 by the increasing attractiveness and quality of 

 her exhibits. The success of her efforts in this 

 direction at the Panama-Pacific Exposition was 

 phenomenal. 



The important place that the exhibition now 

 holds in public life is seen in the annual events 

 which are held all over Canada, and notably at 

 Toronto. The exhibition grounds here cover an 

 area of 264 acres and extend along the lake 

 shore for over a mile. Splendid permanent 

 buildings valued at $2,500,000 are filled annually 

 with exhibits of a utilitarian nature which 

 attract well over a million people. Then there 

 are, of course, the "side shows" and special 

 entertainments which make a pleasing addition 

 to the holiday atmosphere which prevails at 

 "exhibition time." 



Exhibitors' Part a Strenuous One 



Prodigious effort on the part of exhibition 

 managers and exhibitors is necessary for the 

 consummation of carefully laid plans, which 

 must be made months ahead. To attend to the 

 many needs of the exhibitors, all demanding 

 attention at the same time, the exhibition staff 

 must be possessed of much tact and patience, 

 and able to make decisions on the spot concerning 

 the requirements of one exhibitor without 

 encroaching on the rights of another. To be 

 "open on time" is the objective of every 

 exhibitor. The arrangement of the exhibit in 



the most effective manner entails much work 

 and affords much scope for ingenuity. But 

 labor troubles, a hitch in the Customs, and 

 train delays constitute problems which often 

 call for the exercise of the greatest patience and 

 determination, and the effect is seen in many 

 instances with the exhibitor working in feverish 

 anxiety up to the last moment in order that the 

 public may not be disappointed. But in the 

 triumph of the hour when the exhibition is 

 thrown open and visitors troop in to view, with 

 evident appreciation, the instructive and artistic 

 spectacle prepared for them, all worries are 

 forgotten and enthusiasm reigns. 



The Canadian Pacific Railway in its work of 

 national development has always realized the 

 personal appeal which exhibitions make to the 

 individual. In its efforts, both at home and 

 abroad, to attract attention to the vast resources 

 of Canada, it takes part in many exhibitions and 

 has permanent exhibit cases installed in different 

 parts of the world. These contain, amongst 

 other things, grain, fruit, game, animal, fish and 

 mineral exhibits which are replaced periodically. 



There is no reason to doubt that the exhibi- 

 tion idea will continue to grow. Behind the 

 magnificent results which have been achieved in 

 this direction in recent years lies the force which 

 prevails in all spheres of human endeavor. It 

 is the Spirit of Progress. 



The Labor Situation 



A review of the labor situation for the month 

 of January discloses a slight increase in the 

 average amount of employment as compared 

 with the previous month, but a somewhat 

 greater loss of time from industrial disputes. 

 There is a further gratifying, decline in the cost 

 of the weekly family budget, and a drop in the 

 index number of wholesale prices. 



The general decline noted in December con- 

 tinued throughout Canada in the first week of 

 January, but in the second week a fairly strong 

 recovery was evident in all provinces. In 

 metals, machinery and conveyances groups, gains 

 were recorded in iron and steel fabrication, and 

 in the crude rolled, forged, and sheet metal 

 divisions. Employment also showed an improve- 

 ment in railway car shops and iron shipyards, 

 and in brass, bronze and copper production. In 

 the food, drink and tobacco groups some gains 

 were recorded in sugar refining; abattoirs showed 

 a decline in the eastern provinces but gains in 

 the prairie provinces; confectionery and biscuit 

 makers experienced the usual reaction following 

 the holiday season, but conditions improved later 

 in the month. The flour milling industry was 

 active in Quebec and Ontario, but cereal factories 

 were generally less active. The tobacco industry 

 made marked gains during the month. Textile 

 and clothing picked up remarkably, and some 



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