The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1899-08-17

spending to the house OF representa-
tives at Washington, has general SUI
pervision and is elected by direct vote of
the people for a term of five years. Each
province has legislature correspond
ing to the legislatures of the different
states in the American union. 1t deals
with matters that are purely provincial.
They are elected for four years. Mu-
nicipal or purely local matters are man
aged by municipal councils elected an
nually. The franchise is so broad that
the voting power is practically con-
ferred upon almost every male person
over the age of 81 years.
In educational matters, Western Cam
ada is up-to-date. The system is equal
to any on the continent. Rural schools
are about three miles apart in the set
tied districts, and they are free. The
government makes an annual grant 10
each school, and all expenses, the sal
airy of the teachers included, are paid
out of this grant and the proceeds of
a general tax on the land in the school
district, whether occupied or not. One
eighteenth part of the entire fertile
belt from Pembina on the border
south of Winnipeg to the Saskatche-
wan, and beyond is set apart for the
provision indeed. The schools are non
sectarian and national in character.
In connection with education ex-
perimental farms have been established
in Manitoba and the territories, where
all the different kinds of grain, seed,
roots, vegetables, grasses, fruits, trees
and shrubs that ii is sought to grow in
the country are sown on the varied soils
of the farm and the results published in
the newspapers for the information and
guidance of the farming communities.
In addition, travelling schools of dairy
instructors are sent around. These
give lectures, accompanied by practical
operations in all the arts OF raising cat
tie, butter and cheese making, etc, that
the best methods known may be taught
the settlers without the loss of time and
money that would be required were
they left to their own resources in such
important matters. Again, farmers in
stitutes are held at regular intervals at
important points. Those present make
known their most successful methods
of farming and interchange eXperi-
ences.
The climate is one of the best to be
found anywhere. 1t was said at one
time that the cold weather prevented
successful farming, but these allega-
tions have been completely falsitied by
the experiences of those who have lived
there for years and by the success that
farming has met with. On the point of
climate it may be said that the town of
Edmunton, in latitude SO degrees 90
minutes north, much farther north
than the city of Winnipeg, is ass miles
farther south than St. Petersburg, the
capital of Russia, farther south than
any part of either Scotland, Denmark,
Norway or Sweden, and as far south as
Dublin, Ireland, Liverpool in England,
or Hamburg in Germany, and yet these
cities are not considered as being by
any means in the frozen regions of the
north. In fact the climate of Western
Canada is described by those who have
lived there for years as very agreeable
and preferred to that of the east
Disease is little known, epidemics are
unheard of. Spring commences early
in April. Sometimes the snow entirely
disappears early in that month. Spring
is soon followed by summer. Daylight
at this latitude is two hours longer
he,
line. The result is better quality of
wheat, owing to the almost perpetual
sunshine, than any place south. Au-
tumn is a delightful season. 1t extends
into the month of December, the snow
not falling until late in December, thus
giving the farmer the opportunity to
finish his threshing, complete the mar
keting of his thousands of bushels of
wheat, and leaving plenty of time to
put his land in condition for the crops
of the following year.
The district of Alberta, Immediately
east of British Columbia and reaching
the boundary lines on the south, has
total length of 430 miles from south to
north, and $50 miles from east to west.
1t contains an area of 100000 square
miles. The district is generally spoken
of as Northern Alberta" and South
ern Alberta" because of the different
character of the two portions. South
ern Alberta is prominently ranching
and dairying country and offers op-
portunities in that direction that are
unequaled. 1t is composed of high
open plains broken by the valleys of
numerous rivers. These valleys and the
bench lands produce most luxuriantly
most nutritious growth of native
grasses, in which the cattle feed up to
their loins. Profits are large, steers
selling on the ranches for $35 and S45,
which had cost their owner only the
interest on the price of the land, on the
original investment in stocking the
range, and in his share of the annual
roundup.
Northern Alberta comprises that
great fertile valley stretching about &C
miles north of Calgary on for 200 miles
or more. 1t is well wooded as well as
well watered. For 25 cents. if he has
no timber on his land the settler can
get government permit to cut as much
timber as he may require to put up his
buildings, supply of firewood and fence