The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-24
IMPROVING THE TINE
All Of Western Canada Stirred by
the Land Grabbing Coun-
tenanced at Ottawa.
/! Country on the Eve Of Fierce Po-
itical Struggle Some Late
Irrigation Grants.
Special TO The Journal.

Special 70 The Journal.
Winnipeg. Man, Feb. 24.-While there
is no lack of evidence that the members
of the dominion government are conscious
of a loosening In their grip on the control
OF the country just as surely as the time
for dissolution slowly approaches. they
are not going to lose any opportunities
that are open to them while their term of
office continues. 1t was thought that dis
sensions in the cabinet would lead to an
early appeal to the country, but that idea
has few Supporters now Instead, the time
is being made to serve to prepare for the
greatest political struggle this country
has ever seen.
Instead Of Free trade they have it
in England Mr.. Sifton and other min
listers are advocating a greater measure
Of protection" to assure the support Of the
manufacturers, and the grafters are get
ting in some of their most artistic work
to gram as much Of the public domain as
they can while their friends are In power
and able to control the giving Of it. This.
at least, is the view taken by people Of
oil shades of political opinion In western
Canada.
Subsidies for Roads.
Now that the excitement attending the
announcement of the vast railroad
schemes that have lately been exploited
In the newspape has subsidized, people are
BEGINNING to count what they would cost
and compare the prospective advantages
that are proposed.
The trans Canadian people had evident
ly been lying low in order to seize the
best possible opportunity for enforcing
their demands. Their hands were probab-
ly forced by the Grand Trunk manage
nlent proposing to go over the same route
IN the west. The former now come out
boldly and say they expect a subsidy OF
r6400 and 10000 acres Of land for every
mile and one-half. Hays has given out
the statement that he expects both cash
end land graft for the latter. 1t is safe to
predict that he has made himself toler-
ably sure of Obtain ming all or nearly all he
intends to ask before giving the snap
away. f.,... . ...-
Land Grants Come Easy
The case with which land grants may
now be obtained at Ottawa is illustrated
by the recommendation that was made in
favor of the Northwest Irrigation com
pany at the beginning Of the present
month. This corporation already owned
something like a million acres in Alberta
and Is to be allowed to acquire 5000
acres more. The price is set at SO ar
acre. This looks reasonable enough, anC
fair. But when the conditions Of sale are
looked into the deal bears a somewhat diff.
ferent complexion. In the first place the
company is to be allowed 81 an acre to i'm
possession without paying single cent
Then the payment of the remaining 81 al
acre-the real purchase price-is to b
spread over ten years, and the first in
stalplent only to be payable on Dec. 1
1907. This is an enterprise that is GER
tainly receiving enough encouragement
from the government.
Another Irrigation Scheme.
The Canadian Pacific railroad has ais
an irrigation scheme for Northern Albert
which it Is expected will greatly benefi
the companys lands. and incidentally tn
public. On account of the latter con
tingency the public is asked to bear tn
cost. The proposal is that the compan
be granted the even sections Chat is tn
land reserved for homesteaders) in the re
gions where it has arid lands, and an agi
tation has actually been engineered in tn
west to boom this scheme.
There are millions OF acres Of valuabl
land in Canada yet to be disposed Of
lands bearing timber gold, iron. coal an
other valuable deposits, apart from the
agricultural value--and those who hay
a scheme for swapping them up are re
quested to make early application to til
proper department at Ottawa before til
present managers retire from business