Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-26
THE BRITISH NORTHWEST,
Gene Binford Writes of Matters il
Western Canada.

Gene Binford Writes of Matters in
Western Canada.
We came into Saskatchewan, the
eastern province at Portal, on the 500
line. This province Is $50 miles east
and west by ESQ miles north and south
and comprises some of the best wheat
land in the world. From Portal to
Moose Java distance of IT'S miles
are continuous wheat fields, yielding
on an average this year, thirty bushels
to the acre. and bringing now at the
elevators IS cents. This land is SELL
ing at from So to $40 per acre, depend
ing on location and Improvements.
From Moose Jaw we went east forty
miles to Regina, the capital of the prov
ince, a town Of 5000. Good water,
sewerage, electric lights and up-to-
date. The head barracks of the north
west mounted police are there, with
quarters for 500 men and horses. We
visited wheat fields near town which
the threshers told us would run forty
two bushels to the acre, and five BUSH
els in the ground, an adjoining field
yielded 112 bushels of oats. Is 1t any
wonder the farms looked prosperous |?
Good yields of grain there are the
rule and not the exception. The wheat
belt runs 200 miles north of Ryma to
the valley Of the Saskatchewan river
and from there west to Edmonton, $40
miles; the soil is rich black loan,
from twelve to twenty-five feet deep,
were sent to agricultural experts at
Ottawa and pronounced by them ex-
ceptionally good wheat soil, alum In
exhaustable
Leaving Regina and passing Moose
Jaw westward, we saw few wheat
fields, but passed thru the range coun-
try, which extends from there west to
Calgary, and the Rocky Mountains. $50
miles. The cattle and horses, as well
as the coyotes, all looked sleek and
fat. Calgary has an altitude of 3,3SS
feet, population 5000 to 10000. 1t is
situated on a hill-girt plateau, over
looked by the white peaks of the Rock
les, and is the center of trade for the
northern part of the great ranching
country and chief source of supply for
the mining districts in the mountains
beyond. The largest irrigation district
on the continent is now in process Of
construction near here. There is a
large wheat district south of Calgary
where winter wheat is grown success
fully, yielding last year on an aver
age of twenty-five bushels per acre. AT
Raymond, thirty miles from the boun-
Diary, is large sugar beet factory own
ed and operated by Mormons. Beet
land there, under irrigation, last year
yielded $50 net per acre.
North from Calgary the Canadian
Pacific Railway runs thru a mixed
farming country, 200 miles to Edmon-
ton, the capital Of Alberta Province.
This is the youngest of Canadian cities,
beautifully situated on the west bank
Of the Saskatchewan river, command
ing magnificent view across the
thickly wooded valley, which is per-
haps mile across and 200 feet deep;
with a healthful climate, coal, natural
gas, water power, and lumber In
abundance; surrounded by large
scope Of country emminently fitted for
mixed farming; with two transconti-
mental lines building towards the city,
Edmonton promises to be the metrop-
oils of the northwest. Governor
Bulyea tells US wheat is now being
grown successfully 400 miles north
Of Edmonton and 800 miles northwsst,