The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1903-04-15
SECURE A FREE HOME
In the Fertile Wheat Fields OF
Western Canada,

IN the Fertile Wheat Fields OF
Western Canada.
To the Editor: The emigration OF
well-to-do farmers from the United
States to the Canadian Northwest has
ASSUMED such proportions that organ
RI nefforts are now being made by
interested persons and corporations to
stem the tide. The efforts are being
initiated chiefly by railway and real
estate interests in the states from
which the bulk of the emigration takes
place. The movement of population
has taken from numerous states thou
sands of persons whose presence
along railways in these states made
business for the transportation COM
panies. The movement has also be-
come so widely known that it has pre-
vented the settlement of vacant lands
along these lines, parties who might
have located there being attracted to
the free and more fertile lands Of Can
ada. The result of the movement has
been that the railway companies not
only see the vacant lands along their
lines remain vacant, but they also see
hundreds of substantial farmers who
have helped provide business for these
railways move away and so cease their
contributions. The farmers have
moved to Canada because they were
convinced that it would be to their
financial interest to do SO. In moving
they have been inconsiderate enough
to place their own financial interests
before those of the financial interests
of the railway corporations.
In addition to the railway corpora
lions, real estate dealers are working
to stem the flow of emigrants. OF
course every emigrant who goes to
Canada means the loss of commissions
on land deals by real estate dealers.
Now person has but to know what
the interests are that are trying to
stop the flow to know what motive is
Influencing their course. The emigra-
ton means financial loss to railway
corporations and to real estate men.
These interests therefore are not d.
recting their opposition efforts out OF
any, love for the departing emigrants
or out Of any high patriotic motives
either: They are doing so purely from
selfish interests. 1t is a matter of dol
lars and cents with them. They are so
patriotic, they are SO consumed by
love for their fellow-citizens, that they
want to prevent these fellow-citizens
going to Canada and getting free
farms of the best wheat land in the
world, and instead they want to make
them stay on high-priced farms in the
United States, where they will con.
tinue to pour money into the pockets
Of these railways and real estate men.
One of the methods employed by
these interests to stem the tide is the
distribution of matter to newspapers,
painting Canada In the darkest colors.
These articles emanate chiefly from a
bureau in st. Louis. They are sent
out at frequent intervals for stimuli
taneous publication. A writer is en-
ployed at a high salary to prepare the
natter. :.
Moreover, statements absolutely at
variance with the truth have lately
been published broadcast. These ap-
pear chiefly in what purport to be let
tiers from persons who are alleged to
have gone to Canada and become dis
gusted with it. Only q few of such
have been published, and they contain
statements that are absurd in their
falsity. Whether the parties whose
names appear in connection with these
letters have ever been in Canada, and,
if so, their history while there, is to
be thoroughly looked into. The dis
covery of their motive, like the dis
covery of the motive of the interests
who are engineering the opposition,
may prove illumining. In the mean
time, however, it may be Pointed Gut
that only few of such letters have
appeared, but since 1897 over $1,000
American settlers have gone to the
Canadian West. Can any reasonable
person suppose for moment that II
Canada was one-quarter as bad as rep
resented in these letters the $1,000
Americas now there would remain in
the country; or, II the Canadian West
had not proved the truth of all that
was claimed for It, the papers of every
state IN INC American VNOTluWSSL
would not be filled with letters saying
so? Imagine $1,000 aggressive Amer
leans deceived and not making short
shift of their deceivers. The fact is
the $4,000 are well satisfied and are
encouraging their friends to follow
them.
Anyone who sees any Of these dis.
baraging letters should remember that
it is railway and real estate interests
who have from purely selfish reasons
organized q campaign to stem the,
flow to Canada. II Canada were half
as bad as represented there would be
no need of such an organization. The
fact that such exists is of itself mag
nificent tribute to Canada. Finally 1t
should not be forgotten that the letters
published are brimful of falsehoods,
and that $1,000 satisfied Americans in
the Canadian West constitute living
proof that such Is the case.
The Canadian Government agent
whose name appears in advertisement
u