Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1898-07-28
The Official Report. |

rythlng American, cordially to
their Am erican cousins and kindly
feeling almost beyond belief, is found
all through the dominion. or at least
all through Western Canada. This was
the political lesson learned by the Min
nesota editors who took the recent trip
half way across the continent from
Winnipeg to Victoria. 1t was a mag
nificent trip and full of surprises, but
this was the most significant fact of
the journey and the most unexpected.
A Most Cordial Reception.
The journey of nearly 1900 miles was
rendered the editors of Minnesota by
the Canadian Pacific Railroad COM
pany, at the suggestion and through
the request of the Hon. Clifford Sifton,
minister of the interior, who, since he
has taken control of that department,
has enthused great spirit into the de-.
velopment of Western Canada. He is
a man of great RESPONSIBILITIES and
has adopted new methods and progress
sive ideas for the conduct of the de-
partment.
The excursionists nun bered 1856 the
largest in the history of the Editorial
association. They were personally
cared for by Mr.. Will J. White,
press representative of the land
department Of the Canadian
government. We were taken to
Winnipeg by the Northern Pacific
road and there our long journey prac-
tiCally began with a most cordial re.
ception by the officials. and board of
trade Of that city. For the first time
in our lives we were foreigners, but
it was impossible. to realize it. Our
Canadian cousins use our language.
look like US, dress. like us, and
though they speak English with a
slight "brogue," are readily for
given that by Uncle Sans boys
and girls. Indeed: there was
absolutely nothing to show that we
were not at homesexcept that nowhere
in our own country did we ever have
quite so delightful and so cordial re.
ception as here, and that we were un-
der the English flag which, however,
was everywhere joined with "Old
Glory" just as every where We're played
by the bands or sung, our national airs
with GOD Save the Queen" while
cheers for the president OF the United
States mingled with cheers: For Her
Majesty.
Extent of Western Canada.
Starting from Winnipeg we travelled
to the Rocky mountains over mag.
nificent prairie country, through the
southern part of the provinces OF Mani
toba, Assiniboa and Alberta. North
Of the last two are the provinces of
Saskatchewan, Athabasca and Yukon,
which five form the Northwest Terri
tory. This section, which is as large
as the Northwestern states, includes a
vast amount of desirable land :; for
ranching and general farming. For
900 miles west from Winnipeg and 500
miles north from the American line is
arabic soil. It is a great territory,
capable of sustaining tens OF millions
of population, while the total popula-
ton today is but about 10000 1t is
not all vast prairie, as so many think,
though much Of Manitoba and of the
southern stretch of boundary land is
treeless like the Red river valley and in
cludes some Of the richest and most fer
tile lands to be found on this Continent
North Of the Canadian Pacific it is
moro varied and a splendid country is
just being opened to settlement and
railroads are being pushed through to
give the new settlers market. In all
these provinces named, a home
stead law is in operation which is SIM
liar to that OF the United States; it is,
in fact, modelled after it. At the end
of only three years, however, he can
prove up, the expense being but $l0
Vast amounts of this best land is thus
subject to the homestead law, even in
Manitoba and in the southern counties
OF the Northwest Territory where sub.
stantial towns afford near and reli.
able market.
The Question of Market.
This question of market is an impor.
tant one, but when the traveller sees
from two to twelve elevators at such
towns as Portage Ia Prairie, Carberry,
Brandon. Virden, Griswold, Moose
Jaw and at dozens of other stations,
they are the certain evidence of strong
local markets. An examination of
them develops resources, also shows
where much of the wheat and of the
immense shipments of cattle go, while
the surplus goes to En- gland, which nat
urally prefers the products of its own
colony. In this regard, moreover, the
source of the early settlement Of the
country is important. AS is well known
England is the richest country in the
world. 1t has practically endless cap.