The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-05-28

line was completed across the continent,
and it's numerous branches have since
penetrated many different d sstrlcts of the
new country. The Indians never were
troublesome in Canada and the conditions
under which civilization has spread over
the continent north Of the boundary were
not such as to encourage the growth OF
the lawless element that In years agone
was the curse as we'll as the fascination,
of the American west.
An lmmenuse Country.
At first agricultural settlement IN west
ern Canada was chiefly confined to the
wide and fertile Red River valley in Mani
toba which is in no way different from
the same valley in the United States But
later it crept out across the prairies and
plains for more than 400 miles west OF
Winnipeg and as far north as Prince AL
bert on the Saskatchewan, some 800 miles
north of the boundary. West Of this indi-
Gated area lies the range country of Cam
ada, with great wheat regions again to the
north and west tho these are as yet
scarcely touched The soils and the eli
| mates vary greatly In this spacious region.
but the prevalence of fertile land is amaz-
ing In general the climate is milder in
the far northwest near the foot of the
Rocky mountains than it Is south and
east. tho cold winters and warm summers
are characteristic Of the whole region I'M
der consideration. It is generally adj
| mitted that In the not far distant future
| this enormous extent of rich land, produc-
| ing from 20 to 80 bushels of wheat to
| the acre on the average and 40 and so
bushels in cases SO numerous as not to be
exceptional, will be the worlds greatest
wheat producing country. Already Mani
| toba and the territories produce 6S000,O 900
bushels of wheat and Manitoba alone
gathers more than 100, 100000 bushels of
grains.
| Some Big Figures.
The total area Of Manitoba and the
Northwest Territories, including Atha-
| basca, which Is as yet practically unin-
| habited, is about 1884 100000 acres. of
which about II, 100000 acres have been
| disposed Of to the Hudson's Bay com
pany, the Canadian Pacific and other rail-
ways and various colonization companies
| Assuming that there are SO, 900 900 acres
under water or otherwise unsuited for use
there remain 26O,O0O,O0O acres. NOT ali
OF TINS IS suited to regular agriculture and
1 some of 1t is much more fertile than other
parts. But, assuming that only 200, 900. 900
acres OF 1t Is good enough to be home
| steaded, there are 16O-acre farms for
| 1,260,000 persons. This leaves oft. az . : !.
count the 7l,O0O, 900 acres Of land already
! disposed of, a large part of which is az.
cenent and should be cut up into at least
$4,000 good farms. When all these lands
| q a. ~ i an up there should be at least
o,voV.yoo persons living on farms In west
oon o Haliaua, ana these should support 49,
/ Voo.oOo more in villages, towns and cfties
| II from now on the country is nonrIate I'D
as rapidly as Minnesota has been IN ~
| past forty years, there will be a million
Farmers farmers IN western Canada in 1910. and
tnev with their families and EMPLOYEES ~
" ln nne "a ana urban jewellers will number
Ao'ooo,OOO. This inference is LITTLE 10 ,.era
perhaps; but by that time wester,, "a n .se'
ada should have at least 10, 900 900 neo,,ia
| IL IS not necessary to dwell on the ho,,,,d
less opportunities the springfne in ~ s,,oh
a large population in a present a,,o $3.50
wilderness means ,>s~l. a'1ioS.
Already the Grand Trunk, railway ,s
~ tGnns announcer transcontinental line. to
.ahe advantage Of the railway onnort,,ni-
ties' and another line, the Canadiar
Northern which, at present has Its aas+
ern terminus on Lake Superior 81. 81
Ar.hor' IS building towards the Pacific
anu , IS now 800 miles on the way, And
sun announcer, the trans Canada. is talked
OF: me crops of the country are SO large
VIII oilly oo'ooo farmers at work. the rail-
ways are staggered by the traffic thew . ~
called upon to handle.
Available for Settlement
1 AT present of course, only that rortion
OF the Canadian west is available for
} settlement for practical farming that Is
WITHIN economical wagon hauling distance
OF railway AS there are on1v ooS
miles of railway in a region seven times
as large as Minnesota, which with : oof
miles has room for many more, it Is oh
vious that the practically available Dor
ton Of this empire is a small portion Q,
the whole. and this portion includes most
OF the privately or comparatively owned
lands. These facts explain why in > new
! country where there is so much free land
there is already brisk rush q
purchase land and a rising market
Again. almost every one who takes a a., e .eS.
eminent quarter is eager to buy railroad
} or other land adjoining his homestead
| OF this non available, non government
land the Canadian Pacific railway com
pany is chief owner. having originally haf
} land grant Of 100000 acres, whicf
has been increased by grants to subsid
| larry companies. Most of the large lane
companies now actively in the field have
secured their holdings in whole or ii
part from the Canadian Pacific, and thai
! company is at the present time conduct
! ing an immense land business, but ha.
4 yet unsold about 10000 900 acres. Durins
1902 this company sold nearly $500 OOl
acres of land; the last month Of the veal
its sales were 100000 acres being more
: than for any previous year
10 YHYa