The Yale expositor., 1906-12-07
THE FARMER IN WESTERN
CANADA.
The Quality Of No. I Hard Wheat
Cannot Be Beaten.


The Canadian West in the past Eve
or ten years has given a set back to
the theory that large cities are the
backbone OF a country and a nations
best asset. Here we have a country
where no city exceeds 100000, and
where only one comes within easy
distance of that figure according to
the census just taken and where no
other city reaches a population ex-
ceeding $4,000. The places with a
population over 5000 can be counted
upon the fingers of one hand, and yet
the prosperity that prevails is some
thing unprecedented in the history Of
all countries past or present.
The reason for this marvellous
prosperity is not hard to seek. The
large majority-of the $4,000 people
who inhabit Manitoba, Saskatchewan
and Alberta, have gone on to the farm.
and have betaken themselves to the
task of not only feeding and clothing
themselves, but of raising food for
others less happily circumstance.
The crop of 1906, although not alb
normal, is an eye-opener to many who
previously had given little thought to
the subject Ninety million bushels OF
wheat at 20 cents per bushel-$63, 000,-
900; 100000 bushels of oats at 30
cents per bushel-$22, 500, 900; 17,000.-
900 bushels of barley at 40 cents per
bushel-s6, 800, 900; makes a total of
$92, 100000. This is altogether outside
the root products; dairy produce, and
the returns from the cattle trade; the
beet sugar industry and the various
other by-products OF mixed farming.
When such returns are obtainable
from the soil it is not to be wondered
at that many are leaving the longest
ed districts of the eayst, to take upon
themselves the life of the prairie farm
and the labor OF the housbandman.
With the construction Of additional
railroads new avenues, for agriculture
al enterprise are opening up, and inn
proved opportunities are offered to the
settler who understands prairie farm
ing, and is willing to do his part in
building up the new country.
This is the theme that Mr.. J. J. Hill,
the veteran railroad builder in the
West, has laid before the people in
series of addresses which he has
given at various points during the
past few months, and, having been
for so long identified with the devel-
opment of the West, there are few
men better qualified than he to ex-
press an opinion upon it. Take care
of the country, says he, and the cities
will take care of themselves.
The farmers of the Western States
and the Canadian West, are more
prosperous than ever before, and
when it comes to measuring up re-
suits, the Canadian appears to have
somewhat the better of it. His land
is cheaper in fact. the government
continues to give free homesteads to
settlers, and the returns per acre are
heavier when the crop is harvested.
Farming land in the Western States
runs from $50 to $3.50 an acre and up,
whereas equally good soil may be pur-
chased in Canada for So to SIS per
acre, within easy reach of q shipping
point, and much of this is available
for free homesteading. The quality of
TIC SdHduldH W. WHCdJ YAH
not be beaten, and the returns to the
acre are several bushels better than
on this side of the line; the soil and
climate of that country being peculiar.
ly adapted to wheat growing.
The fact is evidently appreciated
by the large number Of American
farmers who have in the past two or
three years settled in the Canadian
West. The agents Of the Canadian
Government, whose address will be
found elsewhere, advise us that for
the fiscal year 1904-5, the records
show that 43,543 Americans settled in
Canada, and in 1866 the number
reached 57,796. From all of which, 1t
appears that at present, there is a
good thing in farming in Western
Canada, and that the American farm.
er is not slow to avail himself of it.