The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-25
BETS FOR CANADA
Canadian Pacifc's New Arid Lands
Near Calgary Adapted for
Raising Sugar Beets.
Irrigation System to Be Put In So
That Canada May Raise
Her Own Sugar.
FROM a Staff Correspondent.

Ottawa, Aug. 25.-An interesting sug-
Kestion has been made here, indicating the
purpose of the Canadian Pacific railway,
in selecting a large body of land east or
Calgary, in the semiarid region or the
northwest, for the satisfaction of It's pub
lie land grant, when it might just as we'll
have selected arabic land in the best agr1-
cultural section Of the country. Investi-
cations made by scientists Of Canada have
shown that the land selected by the Cana
dian Pacific has a very high value for beet
sugar purposes, and 1t Is said to be the
design Of the company to irrigate the land
with particular reference to sugar beet
culture. Officials of the railway are I'M
derstood to have gone the question
carefully with the scientific investigators,
with view to determining whether it
would be we'll to undertake the develop
ment of the semard regions for this pur-
pose. The final selection Of the land to
the east of Calgary Is assumed to mean
that the company is entirely satisfied with
the findings of the scientists, and purposes
to promote sugar beet culture. on a large
scale. Such proceeding, of course, If
carried forward to success, would mean
that Canada had taken another step In
the direction of commercial independence.
Canada Wants to "Go Self
This spirit of mmercial independence
the Dominion. While not jealous of the
United States or Of other powers-Canada
Is not yet large or rich enough to entertain
q feeling of jealousy seriously-she has a
burning desire to be Independent Of them,
30 far as trade is concerned, and to pro-
duce within her own borders so far as
possible, what she consumes. This feel
ing has enabled the liberal party to bring
down it's Grand Trunk Pacific railway bill
with the certainty that it could be passed
and the reasonable hope that an appeal
to the country because of 1t would give
another liberal victory. 1t explains, also,
the growing desire of Canada for a high
protective tariff, especially as against the
United States. Here, as In the cases just
cited, the moving impulse Is not jealousy,
altho there Is considerable surface talk
that might lead a careless observer to
think so, but a patriotic desire, with vi
sions Of a larger, more closely united and
self-contained Canada behind 1t, which Is
bringing the people to understand that the
country's greatest development will come
under the system which since the civil war
has made the United States the greatest
manufacturing and exporting nation of
the world. With people representing the
same blood strains, having similar i'm
pulses and ambitions, and similar
destiny In the long run, many Canadians
want to know why a high protective tariff
will not yield proportionately, and in an
equal length of time, the same results as
in the United States.
Revision or Reciprocity?
While the liberal government has not
spoken officially, 1t Is we'll known that the
ministry Is impregnated with protection
IDEAS, and the belief Is entertained in
well-informed circles that the liberals, as
soon as they can see their way clear, will
consider the bringing down of tariff bill
The conservatives already are high pro-
tecttontsts, and protection sentiment
grows In the country, 1t is believed that
liberals will be compelled to meet 1t. Sir
Wilfred Laurier does not believe that the
present moment Is opportune for the an
nouncement Of protection policy. He has
evaded the question rather skilfuly, say
Ing that other questions, which he pro-
ceeds to enumerate, are of more lmmedi-
ate Importance. He points out, also, thai
to undertake to revise portions of the ex.
listing tariff, sections which involve Cana.
dian trade with the United States would
result In the opening up of the entire tariff
subject. He does not say, however, thai
the government will not consider the
question in the comparatively near future
A part of Sir Wilfred's dissemination tt
make the tariff an issue at this particular
time Is believed to be due to his desire tt
possible for the liberal party to carry GU
Its traditional policy Of closer trade relA
tions with the United States in oertair
commodities. If revision comes first, 1
will shut the other out permanently
Therefore, before oonsenting to make tn,
tariff an issue. 1t Is believed that he II
willing to ascertain whether the United
States really Is sincere In its oft-repeatet
desire for closer trade relationship This
of course, means a session Of the Join
high commission at the close Of the pres
ent session of parliament, If the Crane
Trunk Pacific bill does not lead to an i'm
mediate appeal to the country Th
situation in the United States Is we'll un
derstood here and the liberal ministr,
knows full we'll that II anything is to b.
accomplished along reciprocity lines, /
must be undertaken promptly. TIL
American presidential campaign Will carr,
the joint high commission over two lon,
years, and many things may happen II
that time on both sides the line to max
reciprocity out Of the question.
< w. W. Jermane