PROCEEDINGS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 75 



Canadian Surveys and Museums and the Need of Increased Expendi- 

 ture Thereon. President's Address. By B. E. Walker, Esq., F.G.S. 



(Read nth No-vember, i8gg.) 



We find ourselves possessed in Canada of a country vast in its dimensions, but of which the population is as 

 yet comparatively small. If, therefore, we have good reason to believe that the natural resources of our 

 territory are in any respect commensurate with its area, 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 pro- 

 vided 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 service if our purpose is to be achieved.— George 

 M. Dawson, CM G., etc., Director Geological Survey of Canada. Presidential Address, Royal Society of 

 Canada, 1804. 



It is my intention to confine my address to the subject of national surveys and 

 museums. If a private individual were to become the owner of five or ten thousand 

 acres of diversified virgin territory he would, presuming that he was what we call 

 a practical person, make or have made a careful examination of his estate in order 

 to know its resources and possibilities. He would keenly examine the various soils 

 as to their suitability for agriculture, the timber as to its immediate or prospective 

 value, the clays and sedimentary rocks as to po.ssibilities of building materials ; or 

 if his estate lay in a mineral area he would look eagerly for an Eldorado. He 

 would consider the lakes and streams and the water powers and watersheds of his 

 property, and the nature of the drainage or the necessity of artificial drainage. In 

 a word, he would take stock of his purchase just as a merchant or manufacturer 

 would of his goods. Now, a new country is but an enlargement of this diversified 

 five or ten thousand acres, and tlie people of anew country are but an enlargement 

 of this practical individual. If they are as able to recognize their interest in the 

 national problem as he is in the individual problem, they will wish to know of 

 what the national domain consists, what are its resources audits future possibilities. 

 Clearly, they will wish to know what can in any particular part of the douuiin be 

 first aiid most profitably marketed or put to use in manufacture as raw material. 

 Just as clearly they will want to know what raw material they po.ssess which 

 although not marketable now will eventually help to build up the national wealth. 

 Also if they are reasonably intelligent they will desire to know the extent of the 

 so-called waste places which have apparently no present or prospective use or 

 value measured by money. I need not tell you that at this moment I cannot stop 

 to discuss the enormous value to man of the wa.ste places of mother earth, so dear 

 to the artist, the .sportsman, the naturalist, and the truly intelligent man of any 

 class. I have purposely begun by making a bald statement in defence of national 

 surveys which will be admitted by all because it is based on economic grounds 

 which are recognized by all, aiul itwill be a surprise to many to be told tliat clear 



