The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-15
AMERICAN IS BEST
Immigrants to the Canadian North
west Compared by Former Con ].
gresham F. W. Eddy.
Reciprocity, Says Mr.. Eddy, Would
Mean $1,ooo,ooo a Month
to Winnipeg.

The unftness of English farmers for
settlement in the Canadian west is illus
trated by the remark of one of the Barr
colonists made to Former Congressman
Frank M. Eddy of Minnesota. HE told
me- said Mr. Eddy, who is in Mime
apolis to-day, after a trip in western Can
ada, shat he considered that the prin-
cipal drawback to the location of the col
ony 165 miles from a railroad was the
great cost of transporting fertilizers. He
did not, realize that on the fertile soil
where his farm will be he will not need
any fertilizer for twenty or thirty years.
Most of this interesting colony which Rev.
Mr.. Barr brought oyer from England are
desirable so far as physique and lcharac 1
ter go, but they are not adapted to- from
| tier agricultural conditions, and 4 think
! many Of them will fail, tho the stronger
ly succeed after period of hardship.
"The best colonists western Canada is
getting now are farmers from eastern Can
ada, Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas.
Nebraska and northern Iowa. These men
know good land when they see 1t. They
are not deceived by q mere pleasant SUI
perficial aspect, as are the Englishmen,
who seem to- think that any fiat land is
good land.
Land Business Active
Western Canada continues to enjoy
is active; but think the period Of large
transactions is gone by, as most of the
large tracts have now been sold and the
present business, while larger than ever
! in the aggregate Is, for the most part,
i made up of sales to actual settlers. Amer
4 lean immigration will continue to grow,
and, tho SO far this year more British
than Americans have gone into western
Canada, in the long run the Americans
will outnumber the British. There is no
doubt that there are millions and millions
Of acres of excellent land in western Can
ada, and it is not to be supposed that our
restless, mobile American population will
neglect it.
Reciprocity.
II am a, strong believer in reciprocity
with Canada The only great objection
that that can be raised on this side of the
line with free trade with Canada is as
to Canadian fish and lumber, and as q
matter Of fact, the cheaper our people car
get those products the better. On the
other hand think that the most of the
Canadian people, especially in the west
u would welcome reciprocity with the Unite6
States. The development Of western Can.
ada would be vastly accelerated II we. hat
/! reciprocity, and will be irnpeded until reel
procity is realized. have not the leas
: doubt in the world that reciprocity Woult
be mutually beneficial alike to the peopl,
b Of the American and the Canadian west
d It would be Of great benefit to our north
western wholesalers and manufacturer
because it would add a vast region to .thei
territory, and new region at that, which
always requires more supplies in proper
J ton to the population than an old region
On the other hand, reciprocity would b
of tremendous benefit to Winnipeg AM
5, tributary: country. In fact should esti
t mate that reciprocity would be worth {
r million dollars "a month to Winnipeg alone
!. Her wholesalers would profit greatly b,
. Fit and at the same time a great man.
9 classes of goods could be sold mucl
r cheaper to the Canadian consumer.