23o HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

The farmers, it may be remarked, have made a great success in dairying since first that industry came into existence in this Province. Since then thirty-two cheese factories and some creameries have been established throughout the country.

In November this year, Commissioner Robertson, at Ottawa, received a report of the work of the factories in the Island, of which he says:

“The total output exceeds in value $800,000. This shows a great increase over the output of the previous year.

There are now thirty-two factories in successful operation in summer, and nineteen creameries in winter.”

It is also pleasing to notice an important supplement that was established here as a pork factory, by Messrs. B. & M. Rattenbury, of Charlottetown, during this year; they having erected a large packing house with a capacity for handling 250,000 hogs a year. The raising of swine, therefore, the people seem determined to make as great a success of, as they have done by dairying.

The structure above alluded to, is fitted with all modern appliances for the slaughter of swine and the curing, packing, smoking and complete preparation of pork and its by-products for markets in Great Britain, the neighboring Provinces of Canada, and elsewhere. Means has therefore been afl'orded our farmers for disposing of three or four times as many hogs as have been sold in the years of the past. The factory was opened for business on the 24th November, since which it has given employment to over 100 men.

In addition to the above, there are three large machine shops, with accompany foundries, a smaller for repairing guns, sewing machines, etc., and for electroplating ; several furniture and tobacco factories, two high class cloth factories of con- siderable capacity, a boot and shoe factory, two large wood- working factories, and numerous other minor industries, all in full employment, and a “roller process” flour mill, with a capacity of 80 barrels per day, has been erected near Water Street.

Among the notable events of this year was the opening for divine service of the new Roman Catholic Cathedral by His . Lordship the Right Rev. Charles McDonald, Bishop of Char- lottetown, which interesting ceremony took place at midnight, on Christmas Eve, by the celebration of Mass and Feast of the