I SO#TENIR£ Hi Historic|Pictoi|Coonty And
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m INDl2STRI$EL I SO#TENIR£ Hi HIstoric|Pictoi|Coonty and I^P'Wpffille^teSIartoiK jj|Ne$c:Clasgoig' and I}I J i Gn Account of Meeting /of-iWnion |;i§i^a' Scotia Municipalities,, held ps|§|]New4||*Iasgow, 'No^&Mfaffjf^ 111 August 1915 'ZZZM1 it NDUSTRIAL SOUVENIR OF I HISTORIC PICTOU I I COUNTYI 5 I THE FREE LANCE PRINT Westville, N. S. Introduction This booklet is issued in appreciation of the Tenth Annual Convention of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, held I New Glasgow, August 25th, 26th, and 27th, 1915. It is intended to suggest in a manner, the industrial and manufacturing progress of the several towns and the Munici pality, which constitute the County of Pictou,—a County which is rich in historical worth; of premier importance in all Canada, from an educational standpoint, and a County whose commercial prosperity has kept pace with the life of an energetic new country. During their stay, the members of the Union, are parti cularly invited to observe the many interests at work building for a great future, and in visiting as many as possible of the industries measure for themselves, the value of the activity to the Province as a whole. Special arrangements "will be made to enable the visitors to inspect works not on the direct electric line, such as the Standard Clay Products—in which Municipal and Civic offi cers are especially interested—and the Nova Scotia Woollen Mills at Eureka. Industrial Souvenir of Pictou County Program WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25th. 9.00 a.m.—Meeting of the Executive at the Town Hall. 9.30 a.m.—Delegates will register name and address. Introductions and Informal Reception. 10.00 a.m.—Addresses of Welcome. His Worship, Mayor Grant, of New Glasgow. His Honor, Warden Thompson, Pictou County. His Worship, Mayor Primrose, of Pictou. His Worship, Mayor McDonald, of Stellarton. His Worship, Mayor Munro, of Westville. His Worship, Mayor Strickland, of Trenton. Replies on behalf of the delegates. / Presidential Address. J. W .McKay, Deputy Warden, Pictou, Presi dent Union Nova Scotia Municipalities. Financial Report. Arthur Roberts, K. C, Treasurer. Report of the Executive. Arthur Roberts, K. C, Secretary. "Labor Problems and the Municipality." John T. Joy, Vice-President Trades and Labor Congress of Canada, Halifax, N. S. Appointment of Committee on Resolutions. Notices of Resolutions. Suggestions. Industrial Souvenir of Pictou County Program—Continued 2.00 p.m.—Sail down the East River to Pictou, and return by '^ motor car via West River Valley and Green Hill. 8.00 p.m.—"The Education of the Blind and Municipal Re sponsibility." •Sir C." Frederick Eraser, D. C. L.. Superintendent School for the Blind, Halifax, N. S. "Child Welfare, Municipal Responsibility and Opportunity." Miss Mary Ritchie, Vice-President Halifax Playground Commission. THURSDAY, AUGUST 26th. 10.00 a.m.—Unfinished Business Notices of Resolutions. I ' ; Reports of Special Committees. "Municipal Insurance." F. W. W. Doane, C. E., City Engineer, Halifax, N. S. * The Nova Scotia "Town Planning Act, 1915." Thomas Adams, of the Conservation Commis sion of Canada, Ottawa. "The Municipality and the Conservation of the Forests." F. C. Whitman, President Canadian Forestry Association, Annapolis Royal, N. S. A. J. Bannerman, Kenzieville, Picton County. "The Finger Print System of Identification." Inspector Foster, of the Canadian Criminal Identification Bureau, Ottawa. Industrial Souvenir of Pictou County Program—Continued "Munitions of War." Major R. Earnest Johnson, Ammunition In spector of Canada, New Glasgow, N. S. Open discussion. Questions and Answers. 1.00 p.m.—Assemble for photo group of delegates. 3.C0 p.m.—Visit by tram car to the Towns of Stellarton, Westville and Trenton. 8.00 p.m.—Band Concert, West Side Park. FRIDAY, AUGUST 27TH. 9.30 a.m.—Meeting of Committee on Resolutions. 10.00 a.m.—Unfinished Business. "Road Making." James W. McKenzie, C. E., Late Assistant Road Commissioner of Nova Scotia, Kenzieville, Pictou County. "The Town Council." James A. Fraser, Ex-Mayor of New Glasgow. "Motor Fire Apparatus." F. M. Walters, of American La France Fire En gine Company, Elmira, N. Y., and Toronto, Ont. "The Ticket-of-Leave Man." W. P. Archibald, Dominion Parole Officer, Ottawa. Open Discussion.. Questions and Answers. Appointment of Committee on Nominations. Industrial Souvenir of Pictou County Program — Continued 2.00 p.m.—Meeting of Committee on Resolutions. Meeting of Committee on Nominations. "German National and Municipal Ideals." Dr. H. D. Brunt, Principal of Bloomfield Pligh School, Halifax, N. S. • "British National and Municipal Ideals." Reginald V. Harris, Ex-Controller, Halifax, N. S. Unfinished Business. Report of Committee on Resolutions. Next Place of Meeting. Election of Officers and Executive. 8.00 p.m.—Banquet in honor of the delegates. I At" •k 9 1 o1 S 7 o R .•p.*** Industrial Souvenir of Pictou County Municipality of Pictou When first visited by the white man, Pictou County was inhabited by the Micmac Indians, whose tradition is that when at peace they were comfortable and happy, and when at war, brave and victorious. The few French settlements made in the county were abandoned at or before the signing of the treaty of peace at Paris, in 1763. The history of the County really begins with the landing of the brig "Hope" at Pictou, June 10th, 1767, with six families from the New England States. In 1769, the population was 84. Induced by the representations of the agent of the grantees of lands in Pictou County, thirty-three families and* twenty-five unmarried men sailed from Scotland in July 1773 and arrived in Pictou on the 15th September, in the ship Hector. The Hector's passengers were really the pioneers in the effective settlement of the County by Scottish immi grants. At the close of the revolutionary war in 1783 large tracts of land were granted to disbanded British soldiers, nearly all of those who settled on their lots were Highland Scotch. The first minister, James Lyons, came to the County about the year 1765, sent by "The Philadelphia Company" which had a large tract of land here. He lived for some years at Lyon's Brook. After his departure, occasional services were held by ministers settled in Colchester County and by itinerant preachers until the Rev. James MacGregor arrived in 1786, and here fixed his abode. He died in 1830. In 1787 the first two churches were built, one on the west side of the East River, near New Glasgow, and the other at Loch Broom, at the head of Pictou Harbor. James Davidson of Edinburg was the first schoolmaster. He taught six days in the week, and on the seventh, had Sun day school in his residence at Lyon's Brook, probably the first Sunday school in the British dominions. Coal was discovered at the East River in 1798, and in order to faciliate its shipment, a railroad was begun in 1836, and opened in 1839, from the coal mine to Pictou Harbour, a distance of six miles. 10" Industrial Souvenir of Pictou County In January, 1871, the first agricultural society—"The West River Farming Society"—was organized and one of the rules adopted by the society is a fair index of the morality and business acumen of the rural population—"if any member shall curse or swear, or use any indecent language, or intro duce any subect inconsistent with the business of the society, he shall be fined five shillings." The society held a ploughing match in 1818. The population of the Municipality, not including towns, according to the census of 1911, was 16,220. The greatest industry of the Municipality is agriculture, but other industries contribute largely to its wealth. The following statistics from the census returns of 1911 indicate some of the more important products, namely:— Live Stock $1,444,756.00 Grains 541,259.UO Dairy Products 421,333.00 Brick Tile and Pottery 74,500.00 Logs and Lumber 412,615.00 Fish, preserved 141,315.00 Leather 386.000.00 Roots 502,734 bushels Hay 60,650 tons m Z a o in & e 3 O O 3 O O 12 Industrial Souvenir of Pictou County Pictou Situation.—Pictou is situated on a hillside on the north shore of Pictou Harbor, (which is on the Northumberland Strait) giving it a commanding and beautiful view of the harbor, rivers and countryside. It is the only seaport town of importance with a good harbor for the long stretch of seacoast on the Strait of Northumberland and the Gulf of St. Lawrence between the Strait of Canso and the Miramichi River, 'and is the entrepot for all commerce flowing to and from this sea- coast,, from Prince Edward Island, the Magdalen Islands and Cape Breton. Population and Municipal Advantages.—Pictou has a population of 3,300, according to the census of 1911. It has great educational advantages, being the seat of Pictou Aca demy, the most famous preparatory school in Canada, whose graduates hold leading positions in all walks of life the world over. It owns its own water system and electric light system, and both are considered models, the water being of the purest, from deep artesian wells, while no other town in the provinces has its streets as well lighted. Its leading streets have per manent sidewalks. It has five churches, two banks, two tele- gra'ph lines, express service, and in fact all the conveniences of a city for business and residential life, with the advantage of being an ideal Summer town. Surrounding Country.—Country surrounding Pictou offers great opportunities for general farming, dairy and mar ket gardening. Land is rolling near the sea, becoming hilly inland with rich intervals along the rivers and brooks.