Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-10-20
A COUNTRY THAT IMPROVES ON
ACQUAINTANCE.
Crop Conditions in Western Canads
Were Never Better than They Ar,

Crop Conditions in Western Canada
Were Never Better than They Are
To-day.
In order to secure the attention of
the reader to any special article that
is brought before the public it IS often
the custom to lead the reader on by
the introduction of an interesting story
until by one bold jump he is intro
duced to the subject that it is desired
shall be brought to his notice. This
is not fair to the reader, and it is not
the intention to do that in this article.
1t will discuss in the briefest way
Western Canada" and its possibilities
for settlement. For the past six or
seven years the government Of the
Dominion Of Canada has talked Of the
resources Of Western Canada to the
readers of this and thousands of other
papers throughout the United States.
The quality of the soil was spoken Of
the large area Of fertile lands was
discussed, the possibilities Of the coun-
try as a grain growing district were
talked of, and the story Of the sue
cess of farmers from the United States
was told. The story is not yet an old
one. The two hundred thousand from
the United States, who have made
Western Canada their home, who have
taken advantage of the 16O acres of
land that the government gives free
to actual settlers are telling the story
to-day to their friends. They have
proven the statements made through
these columns, and by the government
agents. They have produced from
their lands twenty, thirty, forty and
more bushels Of wheat to the acre, and
netted profits ranging from three to
ten and more dollars on every acre
titled. They have found the climate
fully as good as they were told it
would be, schools were convenient and
easily organized, railways were not
far distant, and markets close at
hand. The social conditions were such
as they chose to make them, and law
and order were observed. Many Of
them bought land, because it was low
priced and good, and hundreds of cases
could be cited where the purchase
price Of the land was paid out of the
first crop. The writer knows of cases
this year where the farmer, as a re-
suit Of the yield on his farm, was put
In position that would enable him
to increase his holdings three extra
acres for every acre cropped and pay
cash for it. Is it any wonder that one
grows enthusiastic when speaking
about Western Canada?
But what may be said Of this year?
We are now in a position to speak re-
garding it. The conditions throughout
Manitoba and the new provinces Of AL
berta and Saskatchewan have been re-
markably favorable Had conditions
been no better than in past years, there
would have been every cause for con-
graduation. We find, though, all pre-
vious records broken, and that from
a four million acre crop Of wheat there
will be one hundred million bushels Of
yield, or % bushels to the acre
Could anything better be desired? Gov
ering the entire country the same
splendid reports are being received.
The following dispatch was sent by
Mr.. e. w. Thompson, Vice President
of the Ogilvie Milling Co., one of the
most careful grain men in America:
Have just returned from covering
several hundred miles Of the crop dis
''trict. l never saw anything like it in
this country before. The average
yield and quality far exceeds our
earlier expectations. 1t is an i'm.
''mense crop. The weather is extreme
''ly favorable" Up to three weeks ago
it was Mr., Thompson's opinion that
the crop would not reach general ex-
pectations.
+. W. Thompson sends another tele-
gram from Winnipeg tonight, saying
that his estimate of the wheat crop is
now one hundred million bushels. Be-
fore he went west he thought it would
fall considerably short of that figure
The moral of this story is that there
should be no hesitation in making a de-
cision if you wish to better your con-
dition; or, if you have family of boys
that you wish to become settled on
farms, it is safe proposition to call
upon the nearest authorized Canadian
government agent, and get particulars
as to most suitable districts and rail-
way rates.
Tho lutheran Church