The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1898-12-22
rHE HOPE OF THE CONTINENT.
Western Canada the "Bread Basket
Of the Em pireS

" c0yefn Aou0O0 INC DFe0u fSdokGt
Of the Em mpire."
The attention directed to the wheat
fields of Western Canada during the
past year has caused thousands of set
tiers from diffsrent parts of the United
States to make their homes there during
the past few months. They report that
their experience corroborates what had
been told them of that wonderful cOun-
try. and they are sending back to their
friends most favorable reports. During
the past summer Il number of WiscOn-
sin and Michigan and Minnesota editors
visited Western Canada. and the follow
ing extracts are from very flattering
letter written by the Germania of Mil
waukee by its able contributor, Prof.
Sheridan.
"The numerous elevators along the
line. towering so far above the sur
rounding country that they may be seen
for many miles distant, sufficiently in
dicate that the chief industry is the
growing of wheat. At the village of
Indian Head more than million bush
els of wheat was marketed last year.
This was but fraction of the amount
of the same product marketed at the
larger cities Of Brandon and Regina.
At Indian Head the representative OF
the Germania was told by farmer that
he was about to harvest his third crop
of wheat from the farm upon one
plowing given it the fall of 1895; the
crops Of the current year and of last
year having been sOwn upon the stubble
of the preceding crop. This farmer ex-
pected yield of not less than forty
bushels to the acre. The farms are very
large. The absence of hills and rocks
contributes to making farming on a
large scale an easy matter. There was
an abundance of evidence that the cOun-
try surrounding the cities named above
is an extensive region of fertile lands
furnishing as great an opportunity for
cattle raising and dairying as for the
growing Of wheat"
I'VE were surprised to find here
rich growth of nearly every species Of
cultivable plant known in Wisconsin.
Various species of trees were growing.
showing that its soil and its climate are
favorable to the growth Of forests. The
writer had never seen more promising
growth Of wheat, oats and garden vege
tables than was observed here. The
Experimental Farm of Wisconsin. To-
Gated at Madison, produces nothing bet
ter
'The people along the line of the rail
road. however. assured us that we were
still far distant from the northern limit
Of the wheat-growing belt, and that five
hundred miles farther north wheat and
other agricultural products were culti-
vated with success. The inhabitants
do not depend solely upon the growing
of wheat, but utilize vast acres in rails
ing cattle. The growing grain and veg
etables showed that a plentiful supply
of rain had fallen during the current
year.
"From this city Calgary our party
was taken north 200 miles to Edmcn-
ton, town Of 5000 people, situated on
the north Saskatchewan river. The
country at this point is beautiful, pre-
senting very much the appearance of
many sections in central and southern
Wisconsin. The people are engaged in
mining for gold, and in raising wheat,
potatoes and cattle. Dairying is also
followed This valley seems to be fav-
ored with sufficient rain fall 10 produce
n luyuriant growth of grain and vege-
tables. The soil is very fertile and tim
ber is abundant. Fields of wheat were
observed that promise yield of forty
bushels per acre. The many good
farm houses seen from the railway are
evidence of the prosperity of the set
tiers. Edmonton is the terminus of the
road and the place where the overland
expeditions start frcm for the Yukon,
it being about 800 miles from Dawson
City"
1.-The members of the association
made the acquaintance of the Cana
dians of the Northwest and learned
something of the vast extent of their
territory and Of its great resources.
which are destined to make it our most
formidable commercial competitor in
the worlds markets for the sale of ag-
ricultural products. We learned that
the Northwest Territory of Canada, in
stead Of being barren waste as taught
by our biographies of a quarter of
century ago. is capable of sustaining an
empire of fifty millions Of people,