Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1905-07-14
WESTERN CANADA.
Free Homes for Millions in the Best
Agricultural Country in the
World.

There are to-day millions of people
I'm the countries of Europe and the
United States of America who are liv-
ing On small WORKOUT farms, and even
Harms that are productive and valu-
able in SO far as market prices are con.
"cerned, and millions more without
properties altogether, but who would
use them to advantage If they had
'xhem, for whom the Canadian North
west offers inducements that can hard
ny be reasonably estimated That coun-
try has in the aggregate an area of
1855, 100000 acres, and as not more than
100000 farmers are on it to the pres
-ent, unprecedently rapid as has been
the settlement, the homes that still
await the settlers are up in the mil
Hons.
AS the entire country is inland who'll
ny, without water communication with
the outside world the nearest point
of connection being Port Arthur, at
the head of Lake Superior, $50 miles
distant, 1t can be readily understood
that no matter how fertile its soil or
favorable its climatic conditions for
agriculture may be, settlement because
of lack of ingress and egress was out
OF the question until rail communica-
zion was fully established.
1t was not until 1880 that railway
tapped the country; then with popu-
2ation that could have been easily num-
bered on four figures, and now, mark
Che change, a population of 100000, a
city of 100000 people, and an annual
production of over $50, 100000 worth of
agricultural merchandise, and an ex-
port of over $5O,OOO,0OO. These figures
most eloquently show that the country
has long since outgrown everything in
she shape of prejudice against it, and
IS long distance op the road to I'M
limited advancement and uniform
prosperity
1t was, of course, to have been ex-
fpected that as Manitoba was created a
province in 1870, and given full
provincial autonomy, and had the only
access to the outside world in the Red
River to st. Paul, in the United States,
1t would have made the first advance
Hnent in settlement, and have had its
lands taken up the earliest. Still it is
estimated there are 100000 acres of
free demonstrating land in that prov
ance, one-half of which at least is fit
1or cropping, aud many millions more
m fhn hon Of @hn
pany, the railway companies and many
other public and private corporations
ut is, however, with the country further
west we have to deal now.
Early Progress of the West.
) In 1882, the first year the railway
touched that country, it was divided
into four territories, Assiniboia, Sas
katchewan, Alberta and Athabasca and
given primitive form of government
which prevailed until this year (1905)
when the four territories were con
verted into two provinces, Alberta and
Saskatchewan given full provincial
autonomy and admitted as sisters into
rthe Canadian Confederation. The en-
tire growth and development of the
country are all the result of these 2;
years; In 25 years no less than 5000
miles of railway have been built in the
west country. Two of the systems
have transcontinental lines, the G. P
r. and the G. N. R. and the third the
Grand Trunk Pacific is now under way
Each of these main lines has branches
In many localities. The companies arr
>vieing with one another to extend theil
systems to every point where there Il
settlement, so that as matter of fac
every settler of three or tours years
residence has a road within a reason
able distance of his door.
What is of equal importance to tn
farmers is, there are buyers at ever.
railway depot for everything they hav
TO sell, which at the newer points /
x,,baot np1v, tha plnzn Of last Won