The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-05-01
AN EMPIRE WAKING
Geo. F. Piper Enthusiastic Over
Opportunities in Canadian NV.
HE HAS INSPECTED THE COUNTRY
Town Bonds for Elevators Will Help
to Handle the Grain
Situation. ..

George F. Piper, of the chamber of COM
merce, is back from trip through Mani
toba and Assiniboia, and is brim full of
enthusiasm over the future of the great
Canadian northwest. The developme
of this country is on a scale of surprising
magnitude. The resources of the cOun-
try and it's possibilities in the light of
twenty years of future development are
great even beyond what is ordinarily be-
lieved: Mr.. Piper views the: Canadian
mort Invest as a mighty empire just in the
infancy of development and affording the
greatest conceivable opportunities for the
poor man, or the ambitious young man
with the right stuff in him All through
the country enthusiasm lis running high,
the people are all busy, and prosperity.
is general.
Thousands of acres of new land will be
opened by the new Canadian Northern
railroad which will cross Assiniboia's
north central part and penetrate Alberta,
and ultimately will strike the coast. York
town in Assiniboia is the center of a dis
trict settled in good part by Minnesotans.
Lands in this vicinity are selling from SO
to $3.50 an acre. The yields of wheat
per acre averaged phenomenally high last
year, in exceptional instances running as
high as forty-f1ve bushels. Indian Head, a
little town on the Canadian Pacific road,
between Winnipeg and Regina sprang into
one of the most important wheat receiv-
Ing primary points in the world. 81
More Acreage in Flax.
The flax acreage this year, Mr. Piper
believes, will be increased by nearly 400
per cent. In some districts five or six
times as much flax will be planted as last
year on the new breakings. The Cana
dian northwest will be more important
than ever this year in its relation to the
total flax production. Edmonton has long
been looked upon as the very outpost of
the northwest, yet Mr.. Piper was shown a
sample of flax that came off land fifty
eight miles north of Edmonton, and this
flax in oil producing qualities, was worth
II to Is cents bushel more than the av
erage North Dakota or Minnesota.
Waking Empire.
This vast empire said Mr.. Piper sis
just waking. Take the territory from
Winnipeg west to and including Alberta,
and 1 believe this territory contains more
arabic land than all of Minnesota and
North Dakota. There are the same OPP
portunities there that there were in Mime
sofa twenty-five years ago. I did not find
the question of reciprocity live one. The
| merchants, farmers and business men of
all kinds are too busy to give the subject
much attention now. Ultimately, believe
the influx of immigrants from the older
American states will produce a strong
leaven with natural American sympathies,
and this will be working force for ulti-
mate reciprocal relationship. Some COM
plant is heard from farmers as to the
inadequate railroad facilities and the diff
Guilty Of getting grain to market promptly,
but this, it is hoped, will be remeded by
later building. BY a recent law passed
to meet stringent situation, the towns
are allowed to bond themselves to linn
tied extent to erect elevators. Some
towns have already awaited themselves of
this privilege, and large elevator will
| be erected at Indian Head. This will re-
| lieve the pressure in good part and make
| the facilities for marketing grain very
much better than last year