OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14916, 14 March 1914, Page 3

OUR CANADIAN LETTER.

(FBO-M OCX OWX COBBESPOXDEXT.) TORONTO. February 13

HYDRO-ELECTiUC DEVELOPMENTS.

Expenditures approximating between two and three million dollars aro involved in the construction programme of the Hydro-Electric Power Commissi6n of Ontario for this rear. In addition to duplicating tho trunk line of the .Niagara system from Dundas (near Hamilton) to Niagara Falls, costing about 700,000 dollars., a 4G,0C0-volt line from the Falls to Weiland of extra heavy construction is to be immediately constructed at a cost of 400,000 dollars. Tho proposed development of power at Eugenia Falls for Grey and Bruce counties will furnish a number o f towns, and at a- prico ranging from 23 dollars to 43 dollars per horsepower on an estimated development of 40CO or 5000 horse-power. Another circuit is to be established from Diindas to London and St. Thomas, serving the western peninsula, thus giving three complete circuits to aupply the municipalities in the London district. The maximum lead on the Niagara system will probably before tho present year is out bo over 8-0,000 horse-power. Tho cry has come for hydro power for Northern Ontario also, and the power possibilities of tho Magnet-wan river will be investigated. In Eastern Ontario also somo powers are to bo developed.

CANADA'S TRADE. The total trade of Canada during the year 1913, exclusive of coin and bullion, amounted to 1,119,578,117 dollars, an increase over 1912 of 121,022,9.56 dollars. Of this increase :3,-IG9.—A) dollars was in imports, and £'4,237,18-5 dollars in exports. Agricultural products exported gained n arly 66 million dollars, and manufactured goods about 13 millions, many of the latter now being on the free list ii tho United States. In 1912 the total trade increase was 200,346,019 dollars; in imports 132,048.430 dollars, md in exports of domostic produce '.2,531 006 dollars. While, therefore, h.Ts been a 50 per cent, increase in the growth of exports in 1913 over 1912, as compared with the gain in 1912 over 1911, the imports aud the total trade have not increased so much b'* tar as last year. This checking of the rate of increase is much more appnrent in the first nine months of the piosent fiscal year as compared with the corr spending period last yea", the figures being respectively about 72i millions and l<33i millions, the total trade for the first nine months of the rresent fiscal year being 865 337,137 dol'ars. There* wns a ma: ked decrease in the exports of Canadian cheese and butter to Great B.itain last year.

MONTREAL NEWSPAPERS. j Tho newspaper situation in Montreal during the past few months has been decidedly complicated, and equally interesting. Tho "Daily Witness," which, under its founder, the late John Dougall, and his son John R. Dougall, has for many years been a power in Canada because of its strong independent stand for all that is best in public morality, and withal a good newspaper, "had such a struggle for existence, that in spite of special on°™ s made a couplo of years ago to rehabil) | tato it financially and increase its circulation very largely, it was forced to cease publication. A new paper was started the "Daily Telegraph, to take its place. It was a L:bcral paper., and tho Hon. W. S. Fielding, former Minister of Finance in the Launor Cabinet, was secured as editor and president of the company. (Mr Field-li-o- had for years been a newspaper man in Halifax before entering politics •v his own province, from wkidi lie was drawn into the Federal field.) Then, a few weeks ago, the Montreal "Herald" and the "Telegraph" were merged, tho name being, not as was first announced the itness, but the "Herald-Telegraph." But certain details of the amalgamation were kept secret, and even Mr Fielding could not find out who wero really behind certain agreements which ho was asked to enter into It was suspected and openly stated that ba Hugh Graham was at the bottom of it all—-"the Canadian Northchffe" as ho is called, who owns the "Star" and controls some other papers. Sir Hugft stated that he had somo interest but not a controlling share in tho "Telegraph" as in a number of other parties, but that it was purely in a business way in order to secure a sufficient demand for news print of a uniform size to tako the entire output of ono of the largest pulp mills in tl» country, and thus secure a paper supply at a reasonable price. He positively denied control of the policy of tho "Telegraph" or any ather paper outside of tho "Star." However, Mr Fielding would not continue in his new position with the secrecy over the agreement, and resigned the career upon which he had entered with bright prospects and much encouragement from his Liberal friends. Tho staffs of the two amalgamated papers were dismissed, as a formal matter, but a number either chose not to re-enter or were not taken back into their service. Tho real ownership of tho "Herald" has not yet been disclosed.

BRITISH MOTOR-CARS IN I CANADA. Ac-cording to Canadian Trade Commissioner J. E. Ray at Glasgow, British manufacturers of motor-cars are not, despite the preferential tariff, getting anything like a proper share of the Canadian trade in motor vehicles. At present, British cars sold in Canada are only 8$ per cent, in value, and 2 2-3 rd per cent, in number, of the total Canadian trade. With a vicl.v to promoting the trade of British manufacturers the Secretary of the Chamber of Commerce in London, reporting on tho whole question, has recommended a co-operative scheme for the establishment of depots or branch office? and assembling 'actories at various Canadian centres. He suggests depote at Montreal. Toronto, Winniw?, Rogina or Saskatoon. Calgary or Edmonton, and Vancouver t>r Victoria, or at all of those places. The Chamber's suggestion is that small groups of motor manufacturers, each specialising in a distinct and different typo of vehicle, should between them arrange for the flotation of a subsidiary company in Canada. This specialisation and joint interest would tend to economy, and would tend ./.o keep the makers in closer touch with tho needs of tho Canadian market.

CIVIC SURVEY. The Civic Survey Committee's experts have found, on investigation of the Works Department, that Toronto is mortgaging its assets to pay for repairs to roadways, that a large part of the 1.884,420 dollars expended on track allowance pavements in the past five years has been absolutely wasted, that continuanco of present methods of construction will require half a million a year to keep the streets even in passable condition, that the present condition of the railroad area is a disgrace to the city,, that Toronto pays 39.198 cents per square yard for maintaining f-tone block pavements, while tho borough of Manhattan in New York City paid only 12.1 cents, and Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company paid less than 8 cents for the entire year 1913.

As a result of the startling disclosures made by the New York experts of the Civic Survey CommTctco investigating Toronto's municipal housekeeping, this city is to have a permanent Municipal Research Bureau of its own. A number of business men are co-operat-ing in its formation, and two hundred citizens will contribute 100 dollars each per annum for live years, with the

object of securing efficiency in tho administration of tho city'svbusiness. MrJohn I. Sntcliffe, secretary of the Municipal Improvement Association, a neworganisation, which, by the way, has a membership of twelve hundred, and did effective work in tho last municipal elections hy bringing out some good men, of tried business experience and established stnnding, for tbe Council, and securing the election of some of them, has gone to New York to study the Bureau thsro with a view to adapting suitable features here. Reorganisation of the Fire Department, introduction of better methods of accounting, the correction of defects found in the management of the Works Department, and probably the investigation of departments in the City Hall that the representatives of the Now York Bureau have not touched, will likely be among the first things that Toronto a new Bureau will ask the City Council to tackle. A social survey, including study of housing and labour conditions, child welfare, and other problems, will also be undertaken. THE PAPER INDUSTRY. An indication of the growth of the paper manufacturing industry in Ontario is tho fact that tho Ontario paper mills at Tliorold, erected only a year ago, have one machine which transforms more than 120 cords of pulp-wood every day into paper. The company has a pyramid containing more than 12,000 cords of pulp-wood, all brought from Anticosti, held in reserve for winter use, when transportation is difficult after tho close of navigation. This last season the Glenfoyle, an ocean steamer, brought a cargo of sulphite for tho mills from Sweden, thus making Thorold. which is on the Welland Canal, practically an open port. Another vessel brought to the same port a cargo from Denmark.