The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1905-07-14
WESTERN CANADA.
Free Homes for Millions in the Best
Agricultural Country in the
World.

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There are today millions OF people
In the countries OF Europe and the
United States OF America who are liy-
ing on small WORKOUT farms, and even
farms that are productive and yalu-
able IN so far as market prices are con
cerned. and millions more without
properties altogether. but who would
use them 10 advantage II they had
them, for whom the Canadian North
west offers inducements that can hard
~ be reasonably estimated. That coun-
Try has In the aggregate an area OF
$50, 900. 600 acres. and as not more than
100000 farmers are on IL to the pres
ent, unp%recedently rapid as has been
the settlement the homes that stlll
await the settlers are up in the mil
lions.
As the entire country Is inland Who'll
~, without water communication with
the outside world, the nearest point
OF connection being Port Arthur. at
the head OF Lake Superior, 450 miles
distant, it 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 esress. was our
Of the question until rail -cOmmunica-
ton was fully established.
II was not ur'il 1880 that a railway
tapped the country; then with a popu-
lation that could have been easily mum
bered on four figures. and now. mark
the change, a population OF 100000, a
city OF 100. 900 people. and an annual
production OF over 100000. 900 worth OF
agricultural merchandise. and an ex-
port OF over $50. 900. 000. These figures
most eloquently show that the country
has long since outgrown everything in
the shape Of prejudice against it. and
Is a long distance on the road to I'M
limited Advancement and uniform
prosperity.
II was, 81 course. 70 have been ex-
rected 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.
Il would have made the first advance
ment in settlement. and have had its
lands taken up the earliest. Still il is
estimated there are 100000 acres OF
free home--eading land in that PROV
ince. one-half OF which al lest is fit
for cropping. and many millions more
in the hands OF the Hudson's Bay com
pany, the railway companies and many
other public and private corporations.
II is. however. with the country further
west we have TO deal now.
Early Progress Of the West.
In 1852. tire first year the railway
touched that country, IL was divided
into four territories. Asslnibola. Sas-
katchewan. Alberta and Athabasca and
given a primitive form OF government
which prevailed until this year Q905)
when the four territories were con
verified into two provinces. Alberta and
Saskatchewan, given full provincial
autonomy and admitted as sisters into
the Canadian Confederation. The en-
tire growth and development Of the
country are all the result OF these %
years. In - years no less han 5000
miles OF railway have been built in the
west country. Two OF the systems
have transcontinental lines. the c. p.
r. and the G.. y r. and the third the
Grand Trunk Pacific Is aow under way. (
Each Of these main lines has branches
in many localities. The companies are
yieing with one another TO exteAd their
systems 10 every point whore there is
settlement. so that as a matter OF fact
every settler Of three or fours years
residence has a road within a reason
able distance OF his door.
What is Of equal importance 10 the
farmers Is. there are buyers al every
railway depot for everything they have
20 sell. which az the newer points o.
wheat only AT the close Of last year