Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-28

At the time of the purchase in 1869, the
white population of the entire country,
including the officials of the Hudsons
Bay Company, could be numbered on
four figures.
With the creation of Manitoba into
province a year later, and navigation
of the Red river improved, the attention
of settlers to limited extent was drawn
that way; but it remained for the ap-
prOach of the railway ten years later to
give shape 20 the marvellous growth that
has since followed. In short, the settle
ment Of the entire country is the work
Of but the last % years.
The Western Territories.
IN 1882, that part of the country now
open for settlement was divided into four
erritories-Assinboia Alberta. Sas-
katchewan and Athabasca-and an ele-
mentary form of government conceded to
them. In the present year these four
territories were converted into two prov
inces, with full provincial autonomy and
admitted to full membership in the Ca
madam confederation with all the pow
ers and privileges of the older prov
inceS.
Very naturally the agriculturist of old
er countries who is satisfied with present
surroundings, and the man whose inten-
tons are to give agriculture a trial, have
a few leading questions revolving in their
minds, and ever before them for consid-
Grafton, such as climatic conditions, char
acter of public institutions, educational
facilities. postal conveniences, transporta
ton facilities, and last, but not least, the
nature and extent Of the natural re
sources and advantages of the country in
which they are about to locate.
Nobody claims that Western Canada
is perfection in every particular but it is
claimed and fully borne out by the ex-
perience Of thousands who have settled
there, that there is no country on the
face of the globe that surpasses it in
opportunities for the man of limited
means who is content with pioneering for
a couple of years.
It's productive capabilities are now
fully past the experimental stage, as the
crop yields, dairy returns, profits of the
rancher and general satisfaction to the
man in mixed farming fully demonstrate.
Under territorial or primitive govern
ment, where authority between federal
and local governments was divided, there
could not have been the same liberties
and freedom that now exist when the
whole legislation of the country is vested
practically in the hands of the people
themselves under manhood suffrage.
This gives them the freest form of dem
ocratic government under the sun.
Low Taxation.
Ono of tho tarrOrc of tho paonIa Of tho
older countries is taxation. In the prov
inces of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatch-
evan, which constitute the entire Cana
dian west that is open for settlement,
there is no taxation but as the settler
imposes it on himself. On the home
stead in the unorganized territory, the
tax collector is never seen. As people
organize municipalities, however, roads
and bridges have to be built, and schools
have to be maintained; but the govern
ment defrays much of the cost of the
latter, and taxation is necessary for the
former. The taxes for both purposes,
however, rarely exceed So a year on a
quarter section Q60 acres.
Schools are established in every coun-
try section where there are ten or more
pupils to attend them, conducted by high
ly certificated teachers under the best
system known to the most advanced edu-
cationists of the world. In 1886 there
were but IS schools in the territory that
now comprises the provinces of Alberta
and Saskatchewan with a government
support of SS,90S. In 1904 there were
S75 in the same territory with a govern
ment support of $500, O10. AS the sub
sides these two provinces are now in re-
ceipt of from the Dominion government
amount to about $1,093,0OO each, they
are a sufficiently large sum to carry on
all the expenses Of the country, includ-
ing schools, with but little or no taxation
on the people. As these subsidies in
crease as the provinces grow in popula-
ton. settlers in the Canadian west will
always have immunity from taxation.
Crop Statistics.
The following statistics as to crops
and areas under crop Of the territory
row comprised in the two new provinces,