River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1898-12-15
THE HOPE OF THE CONTINENT.
western Canada the "Bread-Basl1et
of the Empire"

of the Empire"
The attention directed to the wheat
fields Of y estern Canada during the past
wear has caused thousands of settlers
from different parts of the United
States to make their homes there dur
ing the past few months They report
thattheir experience corTOborates what
bad been told them of that wonderful
country. and they are sending back 10
their friends most favorable reports.
During the past summer number OF
Wisconsin and Michigan and Minnesota
editors visited western Canada, and the
following extracts are from n very fiat
tering letter written to the Germania
of Milwaukee 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. sufficient
ly indicate that the chief industry is
the growing Of wheat. Atthe village of
Indian Head. more than 900, 900 bush
els of wheat were marketed last year.
This was but a 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 10 harvest his third crop of
wheat from the farm upon one blowing
given it the fall of 1895; the crops of the
current year and of last year having
been sown upon the stubble of the pre-
ceding crop. This farmer expected a
yield of not less than 40 bushels 10 I &c
acre. The farms are very large. The
absence of hills and rocks contributes
to making farming on large scale an
easy matter. There was an abundance
of evidence that the country surround
ing the cities named above is an extern
sive region of fertile lands furnishing
as great an opportunity foI cattle rails
ing and dairying as for the growing of
wheat"
I'VE were surprised TO find here rich
growth of nearly every species Of cul-
tivable 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 a more promis-
ing growth Of wheat, oats and garden
vegetables than was observed here.
The experimental farm of Wisconsin,
located at Madison, produces nothing
better"
''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 500
miles farther north. wheat and other
agricultural products were cultivated
with success. The inhabitants do not
depend solely upon the growing Of
wheat, but utilize vast acres in raising
cattle. The growing grain and vege-
tables 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 Edmon-
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
HIAdibtE Il li'4 20 Ian Ailts - ai'' i''A
lowed This valley seems to be favored
with sufficient rainfall to produce a
luxuriant growth of grain and yege-
tables The soil is very fertile and tim
Der is abundant. Fields of wheat were
observed that promise a yield of 40
bushels per acre. The many good
farmhouses 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 from for the Yukon.
ii being about 500 miles from Dawson
City"
The members of the association
made the acquaintance of the Cana
dams 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-
ricutural products. We learned that
the northwest territory of Canada. in
stead of being barren waste as taught
by our Biographies of quarter of a
century ago is capable of sustaining an
empire Of 5o,OOo,ooo people"