IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) signifie "A SUIVRE", Ie aymboie V signifie "FIN". Lee cartas, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent itre filmte i dea taux de reduction diff«rents. Lorsque Ie document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un soul clich*, il est film« i partir de I'angle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche h droita. at de haut en baa, an prenant la nombre d'images nicessaira. Las diagrammes suivants illuatront la m^thodo. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 »/^ l/^ •/^ ^v ^t^ ^^ Sduveiiir I8f/ SrWv. f Vi Some Vkw$ IN AND AROUND THE TOWN OF Oi0cii Sound .# THE CAPITAL OF THE COUNTY OF GREY. IN THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO. DOMINION OF CANADA. WITH A SHORT WRITE-UP OF THE MANY ADVAN. TAGES TO BE DERIVED THROUGH LIVING. AND DOING BUSINESS. THERE - ITS PAST, PRESENT. AND BRIGHT FUTURE XXXX OWCN SOUND rncs* or JNo. nuTHinrono's «ons o RIO. RK >•«< g*« g«- Il^ n HHSi^ i9MS9HHHl POULE.TT 51. vosT, tx.jTsiot. POULETT 51. LOOKING NORTH. POULETT 5T LOOKfNG SOUTH. POULETTSI.jwTHMJTsirt. ■■•> ,'l the toipn of Omen Sound AC :3v ^fTN a young country like Canada, the development of commerce II is rapid, and thriving communities spring up where but a few short years before the primeval forest spread its shade, or the virgin prairie lay clothed in its natural bloom. The whole continent of America is dotted with teeming cities, thriving towns, and well settled agricultural communities, that are essentially the products of the nineteenth century, and reflect in their progressive- ness ;md enterprise the spirit of this practical, bustling, inventive age. It is not long since the Province ot Ontario was an unpene- trated wilderness. Even the oldest and best settled portions can date back no further than the end of the last century. Yet, compared with these, the town of Owen Sound and the districts surrounding it are of very recent origin. As one scans the views shown in this little booklet, giving every evidence as they do of wealth, progress, and a high degree of culture and civilization, one feels it almost impossible to believe that all this is the product of little more than fifty years of labor. Where now the substantial stores, the huge factories, the elegant churches and the beautiful schools of Owen Sound raise aloft their splendid proportions, dismal swamps and dark forests but five decades since stretched in gloomy monotony, and the red man roved with bow and arrow in search of game, or sought with death-dealing tomahawk the life-blood of his enemy. Settlement It was early in the forties that the rich farming lands of what are now the prosperous townships of Derby and Sydenham were first thrown open for settlement, having been surveyed for the Government by the late Charles Rankin. From that time forward settlers continued to arrive, slowly at first, then more and more numerously, in this wild northern country, which was shut off from all communication with the highways of commerce and the centres of civilization. Of the toils and hardships of those early pioneers it is unnecessary here to speak at any len^^th. Slowly they cleared away the j^'-rowths ot centuries; toilsomely they sowed and reaped the first meagre harvests of their little clearinj^s; bravely they faced the dan^^ers and privations of life in the backwoods ; nobly and well they per- formed every duty in their path. All honor to them! The task was gigantic, but they brought to it honest hearts, active minds and strong hands. From each of the British Isles came sturdy, honest worth and unsullied virtue, to lay the foundations of the new Dominion, and the strength, grace and beauty of thistle, rose and shamrock were combined as a chaplet for Young Canada's brow. The purpose of this booklet is not, however, to give an ac- count of Owen Sound's history, but rather to sketch its present prosperity and indicate its bright prospects ; and the settlement of this region is referred to merely in order to give the reader a true conception of the mighty strides that have marked the progress ot our town nnd countv. Ilncorporation Tntil icS^h Owen Sound was known as the villai^e of Sydenham, having- been named after Lord Sydenham, one of the early j^overnors of Canada, The previous year appHcation had been made for a special Act of Incor- poration as a town, and notwithstanding^ that the population was under the statutory requirement by several hundreds, the Act was obtained. The first town council was elected in January, i-es, natural and acquired, which j;-ive to Owen Sound its pre-eminence, and justify the hopes entertained for its future. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ V^vi^a^Wf First, a word as to the present condition of the (Tn fsit'n ^'■^^^■'"' 'Ti'^^ ^^ appropriate. Owen Sound is the VlOnOUlOn ^.oupty town of the lari,^e a,id wealthy County of (irey, and the metropolis and recoi^nized centre of trade tor ilie •r-r T^T" ])iy1SI0N £1. LOUKiNGEAST. ' « WflTER^ST. LOOKmq NORTH BflKtR &T.NOKTH SIDE. ' BflKEHSriOtlKlNu EA J "> t ..1 "r. ••V' m .■■ •A.' f"^- A-.t ';y >' ■ (!>• •v?-- ■ K^ ' ' " ^* .-v •. >n -JV \ entire Georgian Bay district. The total value of assessed property is $2,959,693; and the population, according to the 1897 assess- ment, is 7800, or, counting the western suburb of Brooke, about 8500. Owen Sound does a large mercantile business with the surrounding country. Its markets are the centre tor the extensive trade in live stock, grain, dairy produce, and general agricultural products, of a number of rich and populous townships. Its mer- chants supply the people of the farming community with the manufactured goods they require, and this trade alone is sufficient to support a prosperous town. But in addition to this we have several extensive manufactories, employing a large number of skilled mechanics and giving support to their families, besides an immense shipping trade during the season of navigation. ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ Referring to manufactures, it is of interest to note that, according to Census Bulletin No. 12, this town has made gigantic y>trides in its manufacturing interests. In 1881 Owen Sound manufactured to the extent of $420, 249; in 1891 the figure had risen to $1,529,564, nDanutacturtna progtese or nearly quadrupled. This shows a rate of increase far in excess of most places in the Dominion; and inasmuch as the fij^ures for 1891 were compiled before the advent ot the North American Bent Chair Co. , one of the larj^-est manufacturint;;- concerns in Ontario. it is natural to suppose that the next census (1901) will show a still g-reater leap forward on the part of this town. \'et, extensive as our manufactures now are, Owen Sound has not nearly as many factories as her unequalled position as a shipping point should have entitled her to, and there is room for unlimited development aloni,^ this line. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ C;hfnnin/1 '^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ shipping-, it will suffice here to say that S^l^lf- ♦• "»y notwithstanding the depressed condition of the car- rvint'' trade for some vears back, the Canadian Pacific Railway's returns show a large increase in the amount of freight handled by their steamers last year (1896) over previous seasons. The pros- pects for Owen Sound's shipping interests are at present of the brightest character, owing to increased facilities for the handling of grain, flour, etc., now being furnished, and the harbor works under way and in contemplation. .GHRi^D TRUNK RAILWAY Y/^RD. CRKIiDlflN PACIFIC RfllLW/^YYflRP, I No town in Ontario has a more advan- taireous location than Owen Sound. Situated on the hii^-hway of trailic from Bs a IRailwa^ Centre anO Bistributino IPoint ocean to ocean over the i^i^reat Canadian Pacific Railway, and at the very g-ateway to the vast mining- and grain-raising regions of Canada, Owen Sound might well inspire the envy of other places, had she only these advantages as a dis- tributing centre to rely upon. But the advent of the Grand Trunk Railway in 1894 gave the town direct communication with the whole western peninsula of Ontario, and all the benefits accruing from connection with the two great competing lines of Canadian railway. A glance at the accompanying map will afford to the reader an ocular demonstration of the unique and commanding position of Owen Sound in this respect. Only one link remains to be supplied in order to make this town the great railway centre, which it is obviously destined to become, and that is the extension of the Grand Trunk line from Meaford on the east. This short branch, which is certain to be built at an early date in response to the ever growing demands of trade, will give Ow^en Sound railway connection from every side, and must contribute materially to the Stcamebtp lltnce building- up o( a larijfe and prosperous city. Owen Sound is now the only town on the Geor^-jan Bay having- two lines of railway, and her manifest destiny is to continue to draw to herself other lines, till she becomes the chief distributing point north of Toronto. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ Running- in connection with the railways arc a number of steamship lines, which afford frequent and rapid transit for both freig-ht and passengers between Owen Soui ,1 and other points on the northern hikes. First of these in importance is the Canadian Pacific Steamship I Jne, whose three mag-nificent steel steamers, Alberta, Athabasca and Manitoba, are acknowledged to be unsurpassed on fresh waters. The two former were built in (ilasgow, and are 270 feet long, with a registered tonnage o\' 2300 tons. The last named is a product of Owen Sound's ship yards, and is 305 feet lonj^, with a reg-istered tonnage of 2600 tons. These steamers ply between Owen Sound and Fort William thrice weekly, carrying: westward the merchan- dise that supplies the farmers, mechanics and miners of prairie and mountain, and bringing back from the g-olden west the grain, flour and other products of that reg-ion. L . K»V' (_,)tSM HKf ^»''' ■' '•^""'Kf^^EJy,.^,,^^^ Also running- in connection with tlu C.P. R. is the new Glad- stone line, established only this season, and as yet but an earnest of greater things in store. One of the steamers of this line, the Alice Stafford, is shown in the accompanying views of the harbor. She makes trips twice w-eekly between Gladstone, Mich., and Owen Sound, with an occasional trip from Chicago, and carries to this port flour, grain, sugar, glucose, meal, etc., from the western States, with general merchandise, hides from South America, etc., for her return cargoes. Other vessels, it is expected, will shortly be placed upon this route, and doubtless an immense trade is awaiting development. The steamers of the White and Black lines (Cireat Xorthern Transit Co. and North Shore Navigation Co. respectively) ply to Manitoulin and North Shore ports, as far as the Soo, making almost dailv trips. In the months ot Jul\ and August they do a large lourist trathc between this port and the Island oi' Mackinac. All the above mentioned vessels are palatial steamers, speedy, strong and seaworthy, trim and beautiful, as their pictures show; and in addition well oflicered and well manned. Many oi them were built in Owen Sound. There is also a large trade in and out of this port In tramp vessels, which leave a great deal of money in town. Irtcw Elevators anD .If lour SbcDs The extent o( the shippini4- interests o\ Owen Sound can be fairly judg-ed iVom the accompanying- illustrations, which show scenes that would be no discredit to the greatest ports in the world. Vet even more splendid things are in store. The C. r. R. has this vear completed additional Hour sheds, aggregating ()t)o feet long by from 40 to 50 feet deep. That company has also in course o\' erection an elevator of Soo, 000 bushels capacity, on the site marked with a cross on the large picture o\' the town. This elevator, together with the one now standing, will give a capacity for the storage oi' 1,050,000 bushels o\' grain. Satisfactory ar- rangements have also been concluded with the Ci.T. R. for the erection by a joint stock company ol' an elevator o\' 500,000 bushels capacity on the west side of the river the railway company guaranteeing a traffic o\' 1.500,000 bushels per year through the same. The completion of these elevators will make Owen Sound one of the chief points for the storage of grain on the lakes. .A large number oi' vessels will be brought annually to Owen Sound, and great benefit must be derived by the business men o\ the tt>wn as a result. Oioen Sound Ontario's Great Lake T rX and Railway Centres the natural outlet to the scabo /anerican Northwests. Chicago, Gladstone. Sault Stc, Marie. Duluth. Fort William Has the most magnificent harbor and finest line of steel st '&. I OiDcn Sound : natural outlet to the seaboard for all traffic to and trom tk Canadian and , Marie, Duluth, Fort William, and all Lake Superior and Lake iV. chigan Ports, or and finest line of steel steimships on the Great Lakes. 1 J I 1 1 TTU IK h ^^^ harbor o( Owen Sound Is commodious, safe, &DC iDarDOr ^^^ capable ot being dredged to any required depth. Situated at the end of an arm of the Georgian Bay, twenty miles in length, it is protected in all weather, and shipping is absolutely safe from harm when once in the harbor of Owen Sound. Another great advantage is that the harbor, though well protected, is extremely easy of access, the sound being deep, straight, and free of rocks, islands or dangerous shoals. Though Owen Sound has at present dry-dock S)ri?*&OCft accommodation for all but the largest class of BCCOmmODatiOn ^,^^^^y^ j^ |^ ^renerally recognized that this port requires a graving dock of substantial build and large proportions; and it is altogether likely that, with assistance from the Dominion government, one will be constructed ere long in the interests ot Canadian shipping. This may reasonably be expected in fulfilment of the policy which dictated the building of the Canadian Sault canal, and which aims to make Canada independent of the American republic in all matters affecting the traffic of the lakes. I he ^i,'overnment has undertaken extensive improvements of the harbor of Owen Sound. These improvements are now under way, and when completed will add ^^reatly to its commodiousness and safety. ' ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ /©anufacturhiG Untcrests Recog-nizini,^ the unequalled shipping" facilities of Owen Sound, some of the largest manufac- turing firms in the Dominion oi' Canada have located here. The buildings of a few of these are pictured in the accompanying illustrations. The following- are among the most important manufacturers in Owen Sound: North American Bent Chair Co. -various kinds of chairs. James McLauchlan & Sons - biscuits and confectionerv. The Wm. Kennedy it Sons (Limited) -turbine water wheels, machmery for water power purposes, propeller wheels. John Harrison lumber, sash and doors, butchers' skewers. Maitland, Rixon & Co. luml.er. The Eaton Bros. Brewing Co. (Limited) -ale, porter and mall. Taylor & Pringle -ginger ale, soft drinks, vinegar and pickles. John Wright cS: Sons flour and oatmeal. ss^SSSsarrra George McQuay — leather. Lloyd & Scully — produce merchants. Mrs. Sarah Harrison —flour, Llankets and woolen goods. W. A. Inglis — flour. Pickard & Rowan — lumber. J. Benner & Sons — blankets and woolen goods. Geo. Corbet & Sons — engines and boilers. G. S. Schmidt & Co. — wire mattresses. Oliver C. Brown — lime. White Bros. — brick. Owen Sound Portland Cement Co. (Limited)— portland cement, "Sampson" brand. Owen Sound Stone Co. (Limited) — stone for bridges and heavy masonry. Owen Sound Oil Works — coal oil and machine oils. W. Schwan — lager beer. T. B. Dowsley — gears and carriages. W. A. McClean & Co. cured pork. Geo. C. Brignell — cured pork. Wm. Dunn boats. Abbey Bros. bt)ai.s. J. S. Jolms barrels. I). Clialmers -buiklinj^- stone. John Lemon pottery. C')\ven Sound Soap Co. soap. I lornini;- (Ji: Branseonibe potterv. An important industry which has been talked oi' for e^wen Sound for a considerable lenplh oi' time, is the manufaclurins' ol' beet root suijar. There is now a \ery fair prospect that a factor)- will shortly be built for this purpose. MooC>cn /IDanutacturc5 ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ Owen Sound is well adapted for almost all kinds of manufacturiui^- industries, but partic- ularly for those that use wood, either hard or soft, as their raw material. There is an abundance of fine timber within a short distance oi' Owen Sound, and, with cheap IranspcM't- ation, it can be obtained at a much smaller cost than in older portions of the Province. This will ci>ntinue io be the case, because ihe supply oi' timber about the (iei^r^ian Ha\ is practicalK in- exhaustible, and loi^s can always be lowed to Owen Sound at a verv small outlax. WURCCCKS^^'-'^'"- The town is well protected from fire, there jfirC protection, ^gj^, larjre volunteer fire brigade, a system etc !-> r-> CT . ^ of electric alarm operated in connection with the telephone plant, and one of the best waterworks systems in the Dominion; besides a steam fire engine, with a complete outfit ot hose, a hook and ladder waggon, and other fire-fighting apparatus. Building materials lumber, stone and brick are all produced within the town, and are remarkably cheap. Owen Sound enjoys a good banking service, having, in addition to several private banks, branches of three of the leading chartered banks of Canada the Molsons, Merchants, and Bank of Hamilton. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ One of the most striking features of Owen ©wen Sound's ^^^^^^^^j ;^ .^^ beautiful homes. Attracted by IDOnieS ^^^ superb situation of the town, its many beauties, and its advantages as an educational centre, persons possessed of wealth and leisure, who have made their money here or elsewhere, have chosen to locate their homes in Owen Sound, and have built here many substantial and beautiful residences. The j^reat majority n( the streets are well shaded with splendid trees. The town is well lig-hted, and by nis^dit as well as by day presents an attractive appearance. Bcautv an& Ibcaltbtulncss ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ It is no wonder that Owen Sound, in its resi- dential portions, contains so many proofs oj its own attractiveness as a home centre, in the first place it may be stated without fear of contradiction that its natural situation is one of the most charminif imat,nnable. On three sides south, east and west -arise mii<-hty limestone cliti's, above oreen terraces of hills, banked by thick growths of beech and maple. To the north is the picturesque bay, stretchini^ away to the outer waters of the blue CJeorj^ian. Throuijh the valley run two small but beautiful rivers, the Sydenham and Pottawattamie. By its favorable situation, Owen Sound is sheltered from storms, and in summer is cooled by the invij^oratins^- breezes from (ieor^ian i>a\. The pixnailinj^- winds are from the west and north-west, and havini,'- crossed Lakes Superior and Huron, a stretcli of 400 miles of water, are laden with life-i,'-i\ iui,*- o/one from the pure and bracitii;- I J '4i ■ ;- , • • ■ ■ , - . '- • :"■-■.■ '■''''' \ ' = ■ ■ ■ ; , r - V ' - - -J t • 't. ' i 4 ^«|: '„v ■ i-l ijtfl! \; atmosphere of the regions they liave traversed. Kor this reason Owen Sound and vicinity are noted for their healthfuhiess. The water is as g-ood as any in Canada. It gushes in crystalline springs, practically inexhaustible 'n their capacity, from the rocks to the south of the town, and a drink of it is a treat which those accus- tomed to inferior drinking water can hardly imagine. The corpor- ation owns the waterworks system, and an abundant supply for domestic purposes is to be had at a nominal rate. The figures compiled by the government meteorological ob- server, and based on observations extending over a period of years, show what a delightfully cool and equable climate this section is blessed with. The average mid-day temperature for the months of June, July, August and September is between 65 and 77 degrees, while the nights generally are cool, the average midnight temper- ature for the same months being 51 degrees. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ The scenery about the entire Hys|)ect the town is certainly une(|ualled, excepting by the largest cities. The majoi'ity of the hotels occupy large, substantial buildings, and are excellently managed. At least two of them enjoy a Provincial repu- tation. The rates are from 81.U0 to SiMlO per day, according to accommodation, with special rates for families and tourists. Owen Sound is noted for its large and well kept stores, in which almost every necessary and luxury can be obtained. Ill tlu' itreci'tliii^; paf^fes tlu' writer liiis iittcmptt'd to set before the public the'J^on'n of Owen Sound as it is to-day, with its brief but stirring record of growth and development; its many advantages commercially over the average Ontario town; its beauties, natui-al and artificial; the flourisliing condition of its public institutions; the ])rosperity of its chief business houses, and its more tlian brilliant prospects for a futu.'e that shall fuliill the promise of the i)ast. ]:}ut in the limited si)ace available it has been impossible to do more than merely touch upon the various topics dealt with, and if this book should fall into the hands of any who have never visited the town of Owen Sound, and who are interested in it only from what is here i»resented, to such an invitation is extended to come and see for themselves. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ Anyone interested in Owen Sound can obtain further information by writing to Mr. T. I. Thomson, Mayor; Mr, B. Allen, President of the Board of Trade: or Mr. Thomas Gordon, Town Clerk, >i , 5IVIM0N 5' fflLSBrTl^l^K^liVi tOKiRUilTIOKfiLtiiOFXH 5CWFE ST.WtTKOOIJTCHJRJ" ,— R«?1CS ON syDtNHftM — INGLIS.FfttLS «,.~'f. —