$15,000,000. making a grand total of slightly 

 over $30,000,000, or an expenditure of ap- 

 proximately .003 cents for each letter, package 

 and newspaper carried by the Post Office De- 

 partment of Canada. 



To offset this huge expenditure the sale 

 of stamps nearly equals the amount of expen- 

 diture, being estimated at $28,350,000. In 

 addition, the Department derived a considerable 

 amount of revenue from the sale of postal notes 

 and money orders, which enables it to operate 

 without expense to the people of Canada, and 

 in addition leaves a fair surplus on hand after 

 all expenses have been paid. The Department 

 has been active in promoting a campaign for the 

 more general saving of money by the public, 

 and the Post Office Savings Bank, under the 

 direct supervision of the Post Office Department, 

 now has several thousand customers and deposits 

 totalling over $25,000,000. 



Industrial Outlook in Western Canada 



By John Sweeting, Industrial Agent, Western Lints, 

 C.P.R., Winnipeg 



Looking back over the year which is now nearly at its 

 close, it is pertinent that a steadily increasing betterment 

 of conditions is the main outstanding fact. In the early 

 part of the year there appeared to be some justification 

 for more active development than has actually taken 

 place, but the small influx of new people and the disin- 

 clination on the part of capital to invest in new enterprises 

 has had a retarding effect, and yet this, in some respects, 

 has perhaps been of material benefit in enabling general 

 financial and trading conditions to obtain a more per- 

 manent basis. It can confidently be stated that trading 

 conditions have shown a consistent upward movement 

 and that manufacturing and other industries throughout 

 the year have been operating under favorable conditions 

 with good orders and promising outlook. 



British Columbia has had an active year. In mining, 

 gold, silver and lead will generally show large increased 

 production but a falling off in copper; very active develop- 

 ment work has been carried on, old properties being re- 

 opened with much prospecting of new properties and new 

 areas. In Southern British Columbia this is very notice- 

 able, as is also the case in the Cariboo district. There has 

 been a large amount of work on mining plants, such as the 

 new concentrator at the Sullivan Mine and entire new 

 plant at Britannia Beach. General construction work 

 has been better; electrical development has shown activity, 

 and recently the Britannia Mining & Smelting Co. has 

 signed a contract with the B.C. Electric to build a power 

 line from Lake Buntzen to Britannia Beach, a distance of 

 some 30 miles, for the new plant. Extension of lines in the 

 south has linked up additional towns with power and 

 light. Lumber has shown steady increase both at coast 

 and interior mills with larger export orders. Pulp and 

 paper mills have acquired good business with new pulp 

 plants and additions to existing ones in sight. Fruit and 

 produce industry has been fair, prices somewhat low, but 

 good crops. Shipping has been active throughout the 

 year. Coal mining normal. 



Improving Conditions Consistent and Noticeable 



Alberta has secured a good grain crop, which was 

 harvested with little difficulty. Activity has been shown in 

 pushing to completion the various irrigation works under 

 construction. The coal mines during the fall months 

 have shown a large and increasing output, though a mild 

 fall and late winter have restricted consumption. Building 



fairly active, with much yet to be done. Prospecting oil 

 areas and sinking of new wells is being actively carried on. 

 Some valuable work has been done by the Government 

 and private interests in connection with development of 

 the tar sand areas of the North. In the Peace River and 

 Grand Prairie country there has been steady development 

 and fair crops. The fishing industry has been good with a 

 steady improved output. 



Saskatchewan continues to produce its huge wheat 

 and other grain crops. There have been many adverse 

 factors to deal with throughout the year, but the pro- 

 vince has maintained a good level and is getting into first 

 class condition with bettering prospects in view all the 

 time. The lumber industry is showing improvement with 

 a good deal of winter work. Investigations have been 

 made by the Government of various potentially valuable 

 natural resources. Coal mining in the south is active and 

 experiments in briquetting at the big plant at Bienfait are 

 being carried on. Industries have been active. Dairy 

 products show an increase. Little activity at the sodium 

 sulphate lakes, with two or three shipping, but a better 

 outlook for next year. 



Expressed Confidence in Western Future 



In Manitoba, active building operations, mostly 

 dwellings and public and office buildings, with improving 

 prospects. A good crop, active dairying and produce. 

 Some work done in the mineral areas, more especially at 

 Rice Lake and Bird Lake, where copper ore of value is 

 claimed. Lumbering industry is increasing in production, 

 and program for winter work is calling for much additional 

 help. Power developments on the Winnipeg River have 

 been steadily progressing with the new plant at Great 

 Falls ready next year, adding a large amount of cheap 

 power available to the province. Industries will show a 

 fair year with improving prospects. 



At the Lake ports, Fort William and Port Arthur, 

 industries have been active with pulp mills constructing 

 large additions for paper mills and new elevators and 

 enlargements. Ship building and repairs show a good 

 season, and the heavy grain crop, though taxing the 

 elevator capacity and shipping, has been handled expedi- 

 tiously and without a halt. 



Between the Lakes and the Manitoba boundary there 

 has been a year of steady development in agriculture and 

 lumber industries, with the pulp and paper plant at Dryden 

 active and the first unit of the new pulp plant at Kenora 

 nearing completion. 



It may even yet be a couple of years until the West can 

 claim definitely prosperous conditions, but it is patent 

 that improvements are consistent and noticeable. Build- 

 ing up again slowly but strongly. With gradual payment 

 of outstanding debts, stabilizing of prices, more settlement 

 and capital showing an interest in Western resources and 

 production, the situation of to-day will rapidly change. 

 There is no question of want of confidence in the Western 

 future, but a little impatience at the somewhat longer 

 delayed turning of the corner than has been generally 

 anticipated. 



Canada's New Buffalo Herd 



Some 5,000 American bison are ranging, 

 free and unhampered, in the uncharted areas of 

 Nothern Alberta, between the Peace and Slave 

 Rivers and the Great Slave Lake. It was 

 generally believed that the buffalo herd of the 

 Dominion Government in Wainwright Park, 

 were the sole survivors of that mighty race, which 

 once roamed the prairies in countless numbers 

 before the advent of the white man. The 

 Government, however, has received notes of the 

 finding of this new herd in the North and 

 arrangements are being made as quickly as 



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