Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-13

averages about thirteen bushels to the acre
and Minnesota between fourteen and fif-
teen. The lowest average on record for
the province of Manitoba is 1871 bushels. in
1903. and the largest was in 1885. when 1t
reached 27.S6 bushels to the acre.
Canada has the advantage of having her
wheat fields cultivated almost exclusively
by experienced farmers, while the early set
tiers upon the wheat lands of the United
States were a heterogeneous mass from all
the corners of Christendom, often ignorant
of the proper methods of farming, often
Ill supplied with tools and implements, and
frequently lacking the proper kind of seed
Canada, on the other hand has been able
to profit by the experiences of forty years
of wheat farming upon the northwestern
prair1es of the United States. Seventy-1ve
per cent of the immigrants who are taking
up land here are up-to-date, well-to-do, ed
ucated farmers, familiar with the chemistry
of the soil and the most profitable methods
of cultivation.
They are not wearing out their lands by
planting every year, but are preserving
their fertility by summer following, rota-
ton of crops and by observing other prin-
ciples of the agricultural science. This
means a great deal 1t will count several
bushels to the acre for several years.
Preparations of the Railways.
The railroad companies are getting ready
not only to carry the farmer and his tools
to all parts of British America but to ham
die the wheat from the lands. The storage
capacity of Canada on the list of January
last was 46,640, $50 bushels of wheat-about
one-half of the crops and about the total
of the annual export But elevators have
been erected all along the new lines of
railway during the past summer, and the
storage capacity has probably been increas-
ed 20 If not 20 per cent. The largest ele-
vator in the world is at Port Arthur, the
Canadian Pacific port on Lake Superior. 1t
will hold seven million bushels of grain,
the average product of 100000 acres of the
best wheat lands, and is now surrounded by
steamers taking on loads for Buffalo, Cleve-
land, Chicago, Milwaukee and other grain
ports. The railroad companies are hurry
ing the crop to tidewater as fast posi-
BILE. The usual clamor for cars Is heard
everywhere, although in coming across the
continent by the Canadian Pacific it seemed
as if every sidetrack filed with them.
The congestion is considerably relieved by
shipments in bond through the United
States. new feature of the grain trade,
commonly called milling in bond,' is also
a great relief although it is not popular in
Canada. Tnicr this arrangement a con-
siderable quantity of Manitoba wheat is
shipped to Minneapolis, Rochester and other
milling centers In the states, in bond, turn
ed into -four and sent on to England, all of
the time in bond. Thus the mills of the
states do the grinding and our railways and
steamships get a good deal of the freight,
which facts are not popular among the mill
ing and railroad men of Canada.
Canadian Shipments to England.
During the fiscal year of 1904 about fifty
million bushels of wheat were shipped 10
England from Canada. The exports have
been increasing with remarkable rapidly.
In 1889, only fifteen years ago, the total
was only 1850 900 bushels. Canada con-
sumes about fifty million bushels in her
local market, and its requirements will be
easily supplied by ordinary farmers in the
eastern provinces, so that the great vof&ne
OF grain which comes from the western
DralripS will he available for pynOrt This
question is receiving serious attention on
the other side of the Atlantic, and last
year Mr.. w. P. Wood, president of the
London Corn Traders Association spent
several weeks in Canada, investigating all
phases of the situation, for the purpose of
making report to the board of trade of
Great Britain. Mr.. Marshall Stevens, man
aser of the Manchester ship canal, was
also here on a similar errand. and he will
make report for the information of par
lament on THE Security of Our Food Sup
| nor Mr. Stevens has published the results
! OF his inquiries-at least if he has done so
| the reports have not reached Canada but
| they may be expected al any time
1t is not believed, however that either
| gentleman was expected to make any prac-
| teal recommendations, but rather to Sc
cure information as to present conditions
and possibilities for the education of pub
| iic sentiment Mr.. Stevens is the author
| of an elaborate scheme for the benefit of
Canadian wheat-growers. He has recon-
| mended that the British government erect
| a number of enormous elevators at Liver
| pool. Manchester, Southampton Plymouth
| London and other British ports for the
| free storage of Canadian wheat, awaiting
| sale Tor consumption. The British live al
| most from hand to mouth. At present the
visible supply of breadstuffs in Great
| Britain does not often exceed twenty DAYS
| consumption, one of the most critical situa-
tions that can be contemplated with a for
| elgn war in prospect. He argues that in
| case of war with strong naval power the
| British people will be liable to starvation
| and points out the advantages of keeping
| Two or three months supply of breadstuffs
! In storage at government expense