1928 - Annual Convention

              F O U R T E E N T H A N N U A L C O N V E N T I ON 41
Canadian Coal Committee, explained the relations of prosperous conditions
to immigration. We assisted temporarily in the campaign of the Canadian
Coal Committee by the forming of resolutions to bring to bear on the
Dominion Government the matter of a competitive coal rate, and are proud
to say that due to the vision and promptitude of our president, Mrs. Welling­ton
Huyck, and the members of the board, the Alberta Women's Institutes
were the first organization to return completed resolutions.
F r om Cochrane comes a report radiating enthusiasm and filled with
valuable information concerning A l b e r t a and its many phases of agriculture
and industrial life. The report states that a special meeting was held and
papers given r e l a t i n g to the subject, as well as an essay competition. Gala­had,
Edmonton, Wetaskiwin, Medicine Hat, Sedgewick and Delia also sent
i n reports t e l l i n g of their work along buy- at- home lines. From other parts
of the province come similar stories of progress.
A suggested programme for procedure, with accompanying letters, was
sent out and acknowledged, and over 500 copies of the women's shopping-lists
were mailed and distributed.
We know that 14 per cent, of the world's supply of coal is i n our province.
The future growth of the coal industry and securing of markets w i l l be a big
factor i n b r i n g i n g prosperity to the west and greatly aid i n a t t r a c t i n g indus­t
r i a l plants. Iron ore has been mined on the shores of Lake Athabasca.
There is also gas and petroleum in vast quantities, and daily we hear of new
wells being brought in. In the north there are 3,000 miles of tar sands
which when treated are capable of paving practically the whole North
American continent. There is a salt well at McMurray from which salt
has already been transported, and this industry will grow as soon as rail
facilities are provided. Clay and shales used i n the manufacture of pottery
are found in large quantities around Medicine Hat, making it possible for
t h r i v i n g industries to produce high grade pottery, bricks and glass. Silica, a
f i ne sand used in the manufacture of glass, is also to be found i n this
province. With the discovery of bentonite, a medicated clay, which is found
near Edson, Alberta, a very fine hair shampoo and face cleanser or clay
pack is now being made, and is being used almost entirely by the beauty
parlors throughout the province. In the city of Calgary is located the
Royal Crown Soap Works, where numbers of soaps, washing powders, oils,
greases, furniture polishes and creams are manufactured, and there are
several refineries now operating in the province. Other industries include
the garment factories, one of which turns out a variety of women's wear,
i n c l u d i n g dresses for every occasion, well made, and under the best condi­tions.
Work clothes, mackinaws, shirts, hats and men's wear are also made
in the factories of the larger centres. The sugar beet industry, so close to
you, needs no introduction; the quality of its products is of a high order.
Brooms, boots and shoes, extracts, cereals, flour, macaroni, yeast, candies,
biscuits, and vinegar are also manufactured in this province.
The packing plants occupy a prominent place in the industrial life of our
province, as also does the new canning factory located at Edmonton. The
A l b e r t a soil produces the finest quality peas, beans, carrots, beets, spinach,
and because of this new factory we shall now be able to produce Alberta
canned vegetables. Alberta clover honey is second to none in flavor.
There are many other smaller industries rising up around us whose
future too is dependent on our custom. Our province, on account of its
natural resources, offers a wide field for manufacturing enterprises.
Up to the present time agriculture has held first place, but we cannot all
f o l l ow the plow; therefore, industry is growing apace, and thereby providing
our youth with other sources of employment. Industrial research is occupy­i
n g a more important place in our universities, and rightly so, i n a world
where competition is a vital factor and where science and discovery has
raised industry to a high plane.
Our motto is " F o r Home and Country," and ladies, there is no greater
way to serve them than by supporting home industries. I may leave this
thought with you—" What A l b e r t a makes, makes A l b e r t a . " Let us bring to
our f a i r Dominion, by our interest and support, that measure of prosperity
that is r i g h t f u l l y its own.