Address by Major James Dawson

1923

TO FRANCIS HECTOR CLERGUE, ESQUIRE

It was with unbounded satisfaction that our citizens learned that you had arranged to pay a visit to our city to assist us in celebrating Discovery Week.

This is indeed Discovery Week in a double sense owing to your presence here.

We celebrate the day centuries ago that Brule that intrepid French Explorer first set his eyes on this then unknown part of the world to all but the native Red Man.

We also celebrate that momentous day nearly thirty years ago when you, with that far-seeing vision which has been such a predominant characteristic with you on a chance visit to what was then but a rambling village on the shores of the St. Mary’s Rapids, saw the vast possibilities lying latent in the rush of waters past our doors from the vast expanse of Lake Superior as a mill pond, and discerned as clearly as the possibility of the development of the unlimited natural resources of the vast areas lying to our north.

You, Sir, not only saw the great future ahead of this community from the development of this power and these resources, but had the unique gift of enlisting the active co-operation of your business associates in harnessing the power then running aimlessly past our door and developing the unlimited resources of the virgin territory contiguous to this community with such success that we now see here the greatest steel and paper industries in Canada, firmly established as prosperous enterprises ever growing and expanding.

It must be to you a source of great personal gratification that the development of power from the rapids and the expansion of the pulp and paper industry as well as the marvelous growth of the iron and steel production here have largely followed the constructive lines evolved by you at the inception of these wonderful basic industries so essential to the growth of any country.

In common with all other large undertakings, they have undergone periods of depression and prosperity but now, after all such vicissitudes they have emerged to their present state of permanence and stability, and the weaving of dreams has been followed by the miraculous growth not only of these industries but by that of our community and the District tributary thereto.

Although your visits here have been all too few, we have always regarded you as our first citizen and have followed your progress with ever increasing interest as the years roll by.

Is it too much to hope that you may return with your brother and sisters and again establish your residence at Montfermier which you have retained throughout all these years, when you find it possible to seek cessation from your arduous pursuits and become again our foremost citizen both in name and actuality?

Signed on behalf of the citizens of Sault Ste. Marie this Fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twenty-three.

James Dawson

Mayor