May I express at the outset my appreciation of the honour you have done me in inviting me to address the members and friends of The Franklin Institute, an institutionwhich has had a long and distinguished record among the scientific institutions of the world.
When Dr. Allen invited me to address The Franklin Institute I foundmyself in a quandary because any Canadianis today very much restricted in the subjects he may discuss, and very rightly so, because of the dangers of giving aid and comfort to the enemy. War makes a great differ~neeqn this respect.
However, as more than half of my life has been devoted to the Public Service of Canada and all Of that has been concerned with the mineral industry, I thought that a page out of Canada's mining history, dealing with what I consider a most interesting and romantic phase, would be of interest to you.
We have had in Canada a number of interesting events in our mining history; for example, the Cariboo gold rush of 186o following shortly after the discovery of gold in California; then, thirty-five or fortyyearslater, the greatKlondyke stampede, an eventwhich was heralded as one of outstanding romance, but which, in my own experience, had far more of tragedy in it than romance; the Cobalt silver discoveries in 19o2, which gave a tremendous fillip to Canadianmining, and the influenceof whichstillremains; and later still, the opening up of the great gold belt extending across northernOntario and Quebec, which is now providing more than 75 per cent. of Canada's gold output.
Thesewere all milestones in Canada's mining history; but * Presented at the Stated Meeting held Wednesday, October 15, I94 I.