CANADIAN NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 February 1931, Page 6

CANADIAN NOTES

CONSTRUCTION RJECO RDS. OTTA \VA, J amia ry 12. Contract awards for construction in Canada in December, 1930, a seasonally slack month, amounted to 24,542,300 dollars. Of this total 8,387,000 dollars, or 34.2 per cent, is credited to Ontario, which leads all Canada. The total for Quebec amounted to 7,014,100 dollars, or 28.6 per cent.; for British Columbia 4,033,400 dollars or 16.4 per cent. ; for the Prairie Province!; 3,997,400 dollars or 16.3 per cent.; and for the -Maritime Provinces 1,110,400 dollars or 4.5 per cent. For the whole of the year 1930, construction contracts issued had a total estimated value of 456,999,600 dollars. Though this amount is considerably less than the record figure of 576,651,800 dollars attained in 1929, and slightly lower than the 1928 figure of 472,032,600 dollars, it exceeds, with these exceptions by substantial amounts the respective totals for each, of the past twelve years. In actual dollar value, the decline in the value of contracts for 1930 was only 20.7 per cent, less than 1929. As part of this is accounted for by lower prices for building materials, it is evident that construction in Canada held up well, particularly in view ol the world-wide business slump. SHIPBUILDING RECORD.

The Canadian Pacific has spent 100,000,000 dollars for new steamships in the past ten years. New vessels launched during that time numbered fifteen, and, in addition, the company built several fine ships lor its coastal trade. Canada’s growing importance as a maritime nation is indicated by the fad, that a Canadian company has just completed the greatest shipbuilding programme ever instituted l>v a private company, with the construction of 198,500 tons of ocean-going shipping in three years. The most recent, addition to the Canadian Pacific fleet is the 42,500-ton Empress of Britain, which was launched in June, 1930. It will be much the largest liner in the Canadian service; and, the. fact that it ranks in size and speed among the .first ten ol the passenger giants of the sea, emphasises tin' increasing importance of the St. Lawrence route to Europe. The Empress of Britain was designed for a speed of twenty-four knots per hour, which it- is likely to exceed in actual performance. NATURAL GAS FRANCHISE.

Saskatoon City Council has approved with the exception of a lew clauses, the draft of a proposed franchise granting rights lor twenty years to the Tri-Cities Utilities, Limited, to serve consumers in the city with natural gas. It is provided that a natural gas system is to be ready for operation not later than June 30, 1932.

Saskatoon, like Regina and other Saskatchewan cities, at present has no gas service, either of artificial or natural gas. The Tri-Cities lli 1 i ties, Limited, proposes to spend many millions of dollars in tapping an Alberta source of supply and bringing this commodity within reach oi householders ns well as industrial concerns in the principle centres ot population. If granted franchises the company would immediately proceed with construction. Gas would be brought from the Wainwright-Kinsella field, a proven gas area, in Alberta. It is generally understood that in laying the main pipe lines and city distribution systems from 15,000,000 dollars to 20,000,000 dollars would be expended over a period of years, r l he plan contemplate,s supplying natural gas to Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and other cities and towns in the province of Saskatchewan. Regina has had a franchise drafted and has given it preliminary study. I„ the propsed franchise now before the Saskatoon City Council, the TriCities Utilities, Limited, agrees to start work on a city distribution s.vs-j tern within forty days after co.ifirma- ; tion of the agreement by the Saskat- i chowiin Legislature. 'Hie company, agrees to spend not less than 200,000 j dollars by tin: end of 10JI on the ! portion of the system within the city. ,