The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-13
''Will yet maintain population Of go
0(() 600 IL ord Selkirk

''will yet maintain a population Of 3d.
000 900. Lord Selklrk.
Western Canada is country practically
unknown to a great many who have not
had their attention directed to it. In
sact it is not long since a great American
writer, in article on the Wheat Supply
Of Europe and America" made the state
nent that to the north Of the international
boundary there is only narrow fringe
OF land capable Of producing wheat In
replying to this. another writer. better
Informed as to facts, said that wheat could
be successfully grown at Fort Simpson.
Hudsons Bay company's post lying at the
Junction Of the Laird and Mackenzie
rivers, near the intersection of longitude
122 degrees west and latitude 81 degrees
north, or nearly 500 miles north OF the
boundary line between the United States
and Canada, and as far northwest of
Winnipeg (the metropolis of western Can
ada) as Winnipeg Is northwest of New
York. Not only. is it possible to raise
wheat at this degree Of latitude, and that
of better quality than 1t is possible to
grow in any other country. but 200 miles
north of that point. rye and oats are
grown; whilst 200 miles still farther north
barley and potatoes are successfully pro-
duced.
$4,000 Square Miles.
In speaking of the extent of the country
referred to in these pages, one writer
says: Leaving out the 100000 square
miles Of Keewatin, the $4,000 square
miles of British Columbia, with its untold
wealth Of forests, fisheries and mines, and
Athabasca, with it's area of 122, 900 square
miles, we have left, then, Manitoba and
the districts of Assiniboia, Alberta and
Saskatchewan. extending 400 miles north
and SOUTH and 900 miles east and west,
and embracing an area Of 35sOoO square
miles. If we draw a line through Harper
Ferry, from the northern boundary or
PENNSYLVANIA to the southern line Of Vir-
ginia, and take all west Of that line to
the Missouri river, embracing part OF the
states named and all of West Virginia,
Ohio Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois. Missouri
and Iowa, we shall have an American ter
rttory equal in extent and area, and In no
wise superior in agricultural resources,
to the Canadian territory under consldera-
tion!"
A recent writer, resident in. Sweden.
Kives an idea Of the size of Canada by
making the following comparison: Can
ada is, in brief, as large as the Whole OF
Europe"
In Canada there are 279, 900 square miles
If land not surpassed in fertility by any
area of similar size on the face OF the
slobe, most of which is embraced In what
is here described as western Canada.
Railways
= Railways nowadays are prime es-
sential to good grain market. The sew
eral systems of railways operating IN
western Canada supply a. service that Is
e reallv excellent Nearly every farming
district is within easy access Of one OF the
lines of railway, while branches are be-
ing extended as the conditions OF settle-
ment demand. It is estimated that WIN
the projected lines and branches OF the
Canadian Pacific, the Manitoba q North
tla IL,
and Canadian Northern through the Sas-
katchewan river belt, and when at an
early date will become second trans
continental line through that great coun-
trv. Calgary and Edmonton, Regina,
Prince Albert and Long Lake, the neces-
stiles of new settlers are we'll met mere
fore while it is possible, in some cases,
that in order to secure the advantage Oh
free homesteads it may be necessary 70
go some little distance from the railway
the policv of the government and rallrodos
&c to push forward the construction OF
colonization lines, so that In very SNORT
time even these new settlements Will nave
the advantage of railway fac1lltles. CoHi-
petition between the different lines IS re-
lied unon to improve rates from time to
+in,e and in some cases rates are regu-
lated by act Of parliament. The extern
sion Of railways in western CANADA our
ing the past few years has been one OIL Tie
most strongly marked features OF tne
0e.A->NNc
Pacific railway crosses this country VIII
Ira iron belt, running through to the "a
cific ocean, the prairies of Manitoba, AS
= siniboia Alberta and saskatchewan pelllS
a great fertile link connecting easter,
Canada with the rich Province OF brl.ls.
Columbia with it's mines ana untolc
..,ea1tb in lumber and fisheries, as we'll al
Considerable stretches of excellent asrl
cultural lands, while the Canadian North
ern. as previously intimated, Will nave :
svstem practically parallel1ng II throusl
one of the most fertile gram ana ela@ 4,.e
Sintrio+s IN the continent These and tho
cther railways mentioned have opened W
large tract of fertile land in Manltoos
and the northwest, ready for the pro"
and considered to be the largest "hea
growing area in the Worlo.
The splendid Saskatchewan Valley ma
heen opened recently by two ne" l1hes
others are projected, including one IN TN
direction of Hudson's bay, IN alitlc!pa .ioi
~ the route between Hudsons strats DIV
LIVERPOOL becoming aVal!aole. nc S ~;
odian Pacific railways lines IN souther'
TSa1;+oba and eastern Assiniboia nav
40 heen extended. securing the open1i'
~ the Souris coal fields and an unll1li1 n1S
sunply of cheap fuel to the se.'lels. -
nv have the people Of Manitoba comet
ton with the Pacific ocean ocean anu ur;t w.,
40 stern Canada through British territory
and access to the great lakes, puC tlier
80 a1so three lines running to the Onlte
States boundary, joining there the Amer
loan system Of railways.
Forests.
,rhe forests of Canada are rich with
.reat variety of trees which are user
sor lumber Of many kinds, Tor oulioln
r,,rnoses for furniture and In man
parts Of Canada for fuel. Among the va
rieties are the maple, elm. ash, Dougia
Is Ar, Alaska cedar, spruce, balsam, re
cedar. hemlock. walnut, oak, butternu
hasswood, poplar, chestnut, mountain asi
willow. black and white birch and others
Resides the large tracts OF Forest, DOT
n and adjacent to Manitoba, there ar
coal areas within and contiguous to tn
nroyince Of such extent as to be PRACTICAL
fnexhaustible. It has been discovered tha
between Red river and the Rocky Mour
tains there are some $4,000 square mile
81 coal bearing strata. The princip'
farming districts of western Canada al
within easy reach of hrewood while tt
farmer Of Alberta, Assiniboia,, and Sas
katchewan is specially favored. on az
count of his y : able to go to the banl
Of the rivers d from there get all tt
coal he requires in some cases at the bal
cost of handling and hauling it home. e.
tensive colieries are now operated at Cal