The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-08-03
HORSE OWNER OF CANADA
James Riley of Calgary, Alberta,
Brings a Fleet Racer to the
Butte Track

James Riley. we'll known stock
grower and hotel owner of Calgary, AL
berta. is at the Finlen in company with
several friends from his own city, for a
few days attendance at the races. He
brought the runner Lee Metford, which
was entered yesterday in one of the
races, and made great race. Said he:
"A great many Americans are COM
ing up into Calgary. Alberta and Assini-
boine, looking for homes. We have an
empire of the finest land in the whole
world. for either stock or mixed agri-
culture. Down near the United States
boundary. it is better for grazing, as
1T is Just across the line. But farther
north are the great grain fields. where
We raise without irrigation the same
kind Of grain you have in your best ir-
rigated valleys in Montana. There are
many thousands Of square miles Of land
still open for settlement. Some of it
is owned by the Canadian Pacific road
while the government has immense tracts
as Well. Prices for grazing lands range
from IS per acre upwards. Farming land
is somewhat more valuable, and all is
increasing with astonishing rapidity.
The warm Chinook winds keep the
prairie clear of snow in the winter and
Alberta was the great winter feeding
ground of the vast buffalo herds that
used to cover the plains. When l went
to Calgary. twenty years ago. the buffalo
We're still there in great numbers. Then
we used to freight across from Fort Ben
ton all our goods coming up the Mis-
souri, and then overland.
Alberta is being settled by a great
many foreign colonies, Swedes. Doukho-
bors and others from various parts OF
Europe. But the country is the natural
outlet of the United States. and it is from
these that our large number as we'll as
our best immigrants come. They did not
form colonies as the foreigners, but en-
ter into the general affairs of the gov
eminent. Coming from prairie states as
most of them do they are better fit
ted to drop into the ways of the country,
without having to be taught everything.
What we need most of all is a rail-
road outlet to the United States. The
present railroad communication with this
country is very defective. The territory
of Alberta is working hard for a road
direct to the United States line, with
the firm belief that the Great Northern
or some other great system would meet
it and connect us with one or more of
the transcontinental lines through this
country. We are on the line of the Can
adian Pacific. which has persistently
fought all other competition. But we
shall win some day. 1t is the oppoSi-
ton of the Canadian Pacific which has
driven the territories to ask and work
for the provincial system. which will
give us some measure of sef-contrOl
We have vast territory that would be
benefited by having better railroad COM
| munication with the east and south, and
| some day we shall win.
Calgary Is town of 5000 Inhabitants
| and built almost entirely of sandstone
whence the name the sandstone city, II
!; is growing rapidly.
Cattle are already beginning to be
| shipped east. fat as butter. The ranges
! are overgrown with rich feed, with not
| enough stock to eat it. The cattle fat.
| ten earlier there than here. and live bet.
ter through the winter. Kentucky blue
| grass thrives at Edmonton. two hundred
miles north of Calgary, and the feed is
! almost as good as grain. We have the
| natural beef supply of the world, ant
| want men to come in and help care fol-
the herds"
Mr.. Riley was one of the principal &C.
| tors in the building of the 300 mile roat
| running from Mcleod, 100 miles south O
Calgary up through to Edmonton, to tn,
/ north. There is but 40 miles between Nc
Leod to the United States line. and effort
are now being made to build down to tn,
| line, to make connection with the Grea
| Northern.