The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-06-15
LARGEST OF
LAND DEALS.
Entire Land Grant of the Canadian
Northern Railway Pur-
chased.
Saskatchewan Valley & Manitoba
.> Land Company the Success
full Buyer.
Land to Be Put on the Market at
Once-The Companys
Personnel.


when land transaction attracts and holds
the interest Of the people, 1t must be
something of unusual size 10 the Sas-
katchewan Valley and Manitoba Land
company belongs the honor of having put
thru what Is probably the most extensive
land purchase in the history Of Canada,
If not, indeed, In that Of the English
speaking portion Of the North American
continent. .~..
When some of the gentlemen who COM
pose this company puRhased year ago,
under the name Of the saskatchewan
Valley Land company, a million acres in
AssinibC--and Saskatchewan the land
buying and and-selling public was amazed
and dumfounded, and the prediction was
freely made that the company mad Dill
ten off more than it could chew; but IN
seven months the shrewd, energetic and
enterprising gentlemen who composed
that company, disposed Of the entire mil
ion acres in large and small lots and
looked around for new lands to conquer.
Buying an Empire.
The result Of the quest was announced
a short time ago, when the ln1ormatloh
was given to the world that the Saskatch-
evan Valley and Manitoba Land company
had purchased the entire land grant of
the Canadian Northern Railway In Mani
toba Assiniboia and Saskatchewan, COM
iprising more than 100000 acres OF prime
wheat land.
well known in American and Canadian
business circles and who have been as
ISOLATED with several land companies and
have always succeeded. Their success last
year with their million acres makes 1t
certain that they will do as well with the
land empire they have just purchased.
Among those in the company is F. e.
Kenaston, president of the Minneapolis
Threshing Machine company who mas
been connected with several American and
~ 1onI nj
have been remarkable for the celebrity and
satisfaction to purchasers with which they
disposed of every tract Of land they han
died. Besides his land interests Mr.. Ken
aston has other extensive Canadian con-
nections, and is president of the Ameri-
can-Abell Threshing Machine and Engine
company of Toronto, and is, therefore,
one of the heaviest manufacturers in
Canada.
Another member of the company
is G. F. Piper of Minneapolis, who is eel
known as an extensive operator in the flax
market and a leading manufacturer of
linseed oil. He, also, has had a success
full experience in handling Canadian land
in connection with the old company. w.
D. Douglas of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, also
a linseed oil man of national reputation,
is another member of the company.
Mr.. Douglas is one of those Americans
who take keen interest in Canada's de-
Velopment and progress. He is one OF
the heaviest stockholders in the Quaker
Oats factory at Peterborough, Ont. &C.
George c. Howe of Duluth, member Of
both the Saskatchewan Valley and the
Saskatchewan Valley and Manitoba Land
companies, is still another stockholder.
Mr.. Howe is not only engaged in selling
Canadian land, but he has demonstrated
his faith in the future of western Canada
by opening up there an immense farm on
his own account. Other members of the
company are A. D. Davidson Of Duluth
and his brother A. r. Davidson of Little
Falls, Mimi, both of whom are in both
companies and have a wide and varied
experience in Canadian and American
lands Before they ever touched the Ca
madam west, both Of the Messrs. David
son deeply interested in the lanC
movement in Minnesota and have beer
interested in banking in this state evel
since they came to it, some thirty years
ago. It is reliably asserted that they are
interested in more Minnesota banks thar
any other men in the state. Another Du.
luth man in the big company is A. D
McRae, a Well-known banker and lane
man. He also in the Saskatchewan
Valley Land company.
They Are Canadians.
Mr.. Kenaston, the Messrs. Davidson
Mr.. Howe and Mr.. McRae, take no little
pride in the fact that they are Canadians
by birth and now find themselves doing
so much for. the advancement, develop.
ment and prosperity of the western par
of their native land. A number o.
resident Canadians are also deeply inter
rested in this gigantic corporation. One
of them is D. H Mcdonald of For
Qu'Appelle, N. w. t., member of the
territorial legislature. Mr.. Mcdonald
father has been the Hudson Bay com
panys factor at Fort QuAppelle for fit,
years Mr.. Mcdonald is successful lane
man Of wide experience, and he wa
largely instrumental in attracting tn
attention of his associates to the countr,
in which they are now operating. An
other Canadian members of the compan,
is A. J. Adamson, a banker at Rosthern
N. w. T., who has become familiar witt
the land and banking business thru an ex
perience extending over many years. H
was one Of the heaviest stockholders il
the Saskatchewan Valley Land company
The official list of the company is a
follows: A. D. Davidson, president; F
E. Kenaston, vice president; j. A. Nc
Rae, secretary; D. H. Mcdonald, treasur
er. The directors are G. F. Piper an
F. E. Kenaston, Minneapolis, w.
Douglas, Cedar Rapids; George c. Howe
A. D. McRae and A. D. Davidson, Du
luth; A. R. Davidson, Little Falls; A.
Adamson, Rosthern N. W. r.; D. H
Mcdonald. Fort Qu'Appelle.
The principal offices of the compan
have been located at st. Paul, Detroit
Mich, and Winnipeg, Man.
Worlds Best Wheat Land.
BY the terms of the purchase from tn
Canadian Northern railway, this power
full new company comes into possession
Of more than 100000 of the best whea
land in western Canada, and, therefore
in the world. 1t lies along the Canada
Northern railway and the Qu'Appelle
Long Lake & Saskatchewan branch Of tn
Canadian Pacific, and includes the great
M er part Of the famous Saskatchewan
Valley The main line Of the Canada
Northern is building thru the center {
this tract. A branch of the Canadian Pa
ciic penetrates it and the Moosomin an
sYorkton branches of the Canadian Pacif
are building thru it. 1t is needless to sa
that the building of these railways hur
dreds Of miles in length will give spler
IL did means Of transport to all portions {
this imperial land purchase.
The gentlemen who make up this CON
pany have reputation as builders of ne
country rather than as mere Spectator
The lands they take hold of are soc
populated. They contributed in no sma
degree to the work that took 5000
settlers into western Canada last yes
from the United States and as mar
more from northern Europe. Fl Literal
B thousands of actual settlers sindustriou
thrifty and ambitious, have been settle