Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-01
THE LAND OF WHEAT
Natures 0pulence Found in
Manitoba.
GROWTH OF WINNIPEG
HAS BECOME A LARGE AND PROS
Ferrous CITY.
Country Being Settled by Americans
Great Farms Well Cultivated
to Be Seen Everywhere.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, June 2S, 1905.
The historic, pioneer past treads so closely
upon the heels of the highly civilized pres
ent in this region that the traveller is living
constantly in a commingled atmosphere
that is delightfully."- interesting The gap
between the two periods is SO close that one
dwells in both without much straining of
the Imagination.
Here, beside an asphalted avenue, within
plain view OF ten-story modern steel build
ings and within earshot Of the clang of the
trolley car bell we see the remains Of the
old stone stronghold, Fort Garry. which
sheltered the settlers from the marauding
Sioux of the Red river only a few years ago
and which later was contested for by Lord
Wolseley and the half-breed rebel Riel. This
spot, at the junction of the Assiniboine
river and the Red River of the North, is
inseparably connected with the history of
the opening of the great northwest. First
the French voyageur, who came up by
canoe and over the portages; then the trap
pers and fur traders, the Hudson Bay Com
pany and it's rival, the Northwestern Com
pany, and afterward the British Canadian
settlers.
Advance Of Winnipeg.
When 1 saw Winnipeg for the first time,
In 1891, 1t was rambling town of $4,000
and the air of the mingled tawdriness and
opulenee of a frontier town. This time
find a city of 100000 people, broad asphalted
avenues magnificent stone and steel rail-
way station, skyscraper steel hotel build
ing, subway under the railway tracks
chow that would amaze the old Winnipeg
gers If they could See) and all the attributes
and perquistes of a progressive, intelligent
city.
The traveller will note one difference imme-
diately between these new western cities
and some Of our Yankee towns on the bor-
der namely that in Canada they build sub
stantially from the start. Their towns do
not grow as rapidly, but they grow more
solidly.
1t is not necessary to bother you with
statistics of bank clearings, crop reports
and the like except to point out in gen.
eral way the commercial Importance of the
town. 1t Is the gateway between the Unit
ed States and that vast northwest which is
being settled by Yankee emigrants. 1t Is
the storage house for large portion of
the 100000 bushels of wheat which will
be raised in Manitoba and the northwest
this summer to be later shipped into the
markets of the world.
Attracted by American Consul.
Yankee progressiveness has had a great
deal to do with stimulating this growth.
One man was largely responsible for at
tracing Yankee attention to this region,
James w. Taylor of Ohio, for many years
United States consul at Winnipeg. He had
abiding confidence in the future Of the
northwest and he preached to his country
men his doctrine. He was universally be-
loved by the Canadians and upon his death
popular subscription was taken UP to
secure an oil painting, which now hangs
In the city hall. Every spring some one
brings In the first crocusses, flower of
which he was very fond. and places them
on the picture.
1t was many years before the prophecies
Of Mr.. Taylor began to be realized in full,
but they are coming true now. In the past
twelve months more than $1,000 settlers
have arrived in Canada from the United
States and they are still coming. One rail-
road reports bringing 600 carloads of set
tiers effects into one region this spring.
What Is doing all this? Wheat. There
Is a stretch of country 1000 miles wide
and 800 miles from south to north, rich,
black land that raises an average Of twen-
ty bushels to the acre. against twelve
bushels in Minnesota and the Dakotas. The
difference is occasioned mainly by the long
hours of sunshine. The sun does not set
until $50 at night. Then, the soil Is kept
moistened by the constant melting of the
frost in the EARTH for the ground freezes
in winter to depth of six feet.
This long twilight Is a source Of continued
wonder to the visitors The base ball games
are not called until pm, and there is
plenty of light to the end. Last night, by
the light still In the sky. saw by my