The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-25

One of the most remarkable truths of
the old saying, "A prophet has no honor
in his own country" has been brought
prominently before the public by the re-
cent progress Of the Canadian portion of
the prairies of North America. For years
the western Canadian press labored al
most in vain to impress upon the people
OF eastern Canada the magnificent re-
sources of the great heritage of the Dos
minion in the west Government 1mm1-
sra ton agencies to the United. Kingdom
could not remove the preJudices OF the
British emigrant against Canada and in
favor Of the United States. Even the
business methods of the Canadian Pac1flc
Railway and Land company had compare
lively little effect in inducing land seek
ers to come and fill up the vacant prairies
Whilst thoughtful men had long fore
seen the inevitable effect of the rapid fill
ing up of the vacant lands of the Amerl-
can union, suddenly, almost IN the Twink
ling of an eye, the Canadian prairies were
revealed like a long dreamed-of fairy land
to thousands of people, hungerlng Tor Tree
land. in the already crowded United States
and in the densely populated British isles.
Before this revelation was flashed before
their eyes by the American press, many Of
these people had only heard Of western
Canada as vaguely as of Siberia, and the
name had as little practical interest to
them.
The part of Columbus In the .rediscovery
of the value of the Canadian portion of the
praires was played by American land
agencies, which having acquired skill and
served their purpose in filling up the
American prairie states, began to search
for fresh fields to people. AS In the pre-
vjous exploitation Of the Kootenay and
Klondike mines, so in the case of the
,i,oS ofo rr,1>{Si 11S inv HnrS
from the states came, saw, took up the
ground, and proceeded to turn it to the
use and benefit of man.
The powerful searchlights of the AIneri-
can press were directed northwest over
the border and three quarters. Of the to-
tai area Of North America, capable of
producing No. hard wheat, were lumi-
nously displayed. The small patches Of
this vast vacant space, which had already
become peopled. We're scattered from Lake
Winnipeg westward to the Rocky m oun-
tains, and from the fortM5ninth parallel
to beyond the North Saskatchewan river
These patches proved by their splendid
yields of grain and their. fiocks and herds
that the accounts of the early explorers
and the predictions which students had
founded upon them were no mere dreams
of enthusiasts, but accurate statements
OF amazing facts.
Since two years ago, when the attention
of these Americans was directed north
west, enormous crops have been garnered,
filing granariesl and elevators to over
flowing, taxing the railroads beyond their
CARRYING power and compelling them to
enormously increase their capacity u
handle present and continually increasing
products. Even the small number OF
farmers now engaged in growing, g
majority Of whom are just starting, pro-
duced in 1902 over 125,000,00O bushels OF
grain OF this, the average yield per acre
,.1, off,, iCh
''' Bush
Wheat ................... ..... -.
oats ..............'. ................ ~. :, A.
''rhe cash value of the grain raised
In Manitoba and the territories" states
the president of the Winnipeg board Of
trade, totals approximately $6O,OOO,000
while the cattle and dairy produce actual
Nv available for export will add another
$4,000, Ooo.'
The report of the department Of agri-
culture of the government Of Manitoba
for 1902 states that 41,OOO farmers q
the province raised produce to the value
of $50, OO0, O0O-a record which cannot be
beaten by any equal number Of farmers
under similar circumstances in any part
of tho world. Such production following
upon the crop of los, 100000 bushels il
1901, has only to be made public to set
men thinking and acting upon the op-
portunities so freely offered to land seek
ers by western Canada
AS a direct consequence Of the diffusion
of this knowledge. the overflow of popu-
lation from the United States, which hac
been slowly increasing year by veal
through the efforts of the Canadian gov
eminent and railway agencies, has be-
como very largely augmented, as is shown
by the subjoined statements:
Immigration Into Manitoba and North.
west Territories.
Immigration