Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-18
WHEAT LANDS IN CANADA
Three Hundred Thousand Acres Pass Into
Private Control.
COMPANY WILL FINANCE A BIG DEAL
Richest Land I'm Saskatchewan 60 he
Put on Market ny Corporation
that Has Made the
Purchase.

ST. PAUL March l5.-Cspecial Core
spondence. )-Announcement was made In
st. Paul today OF colossal land purchase
in Western Canada. A large tract OF lands
in the western Canadian wheat belt has
been taken over by an Americana Canadian
syndicate, headed by F. A. Bean, the well
known flour miller OF New Prague, MINI.
The Canadian interests are represented by
Hon. w. H. Montague. formerly Canadian
minister of agriculture Several different
transactions are involved and the total ex-
tent Of lands affected is about 10000 acres.
Exact prices are not given, but It is UNI
derstood that the total consideration is
nearly 100000.
The purchased lands are along the main
line Of the Grand Trunk Pacific railway in
eastern Saskatchewan. This line is Canada's
second transcontinental railroad and by
the fall Of 1907 it viii be in operation
through the heart OF the wheat belt The
new Canadian Paciho's direct line from
Winnipeg to Edmonton, formerly known as
the Kirkella or Pheasant Hills branch, also
passes through this district. In a general
way the district may be located as being
north Of the famous Indian Head and Re-
gina districts, Of which, in fact, It is really
part. Some parcels OF the lands involved
are on the main line of the Canadian
Northern railway. Mr.. Beans company Is
styled the Western Canada Settlers Mu-
tual Land company, and will have ofices in
Winnipeg and st. Paul
Mr.. Bean was in st. Paul today in con-
nection with the closing of the deal. He
was accompanied by Hon. w. H. Montague,
eighteen years a member of the Canadian
D. H..
culture. Both gentlemen confirmed the
facts OF the purchase as given above.
Tremendous Farming Operations.
'As a miller" said MIR. Bean, my atten-
ton was attracted to the western Canada
wheat belt some years ago. At that time
l bought about $1,000 acres. and have never
had any cause to regret my investment
There is no doubt in my mind that in the
near future It will be the greatest wheat
producing region in the world. / now have
several thousand acres under pillow and ex-
pect to extend our agricultural operations
rapidly. We have a steam pillow that will
break thirty acres a day, and are buying
upwards Of a hundred head of farm horses.
Altogether we will have more than fifty
plows at work in the vicinity Of Esterhazy,
Saskatchewan as soon as the frost is out
to do ourselves and are doing so much for
other persons or companies. that It is i'm
possible for us to get enough equipment to
supply the demand. Many other companies
or individuals are operating on an equally
large scale. This is to be a year of ire
mendous activity In western Canada. Some
5000 miles OF railway are being built and
II is estimated that sS0,O00,000 will be ex-
pended in this and connected work. 1t is
said that more money is being spent in
railway building and a larger mileage is
being laid down in eastern Saskatchewan
this year than ever before in any portion
Of the world of equal area The country
is on the eve of a wonderful development,
land that is today selling for SO to s15
an acre will be bringing $40 to SO when the
Grand Trunk Pacific is built In few
years such land producing as It does an av-
erage of thirty bushels OF wheat to the
acre, will be easily worth $50"
Most Important Transaction.
/ Mr.. Montague says that all things con-
sidered the transaction just consummated
by Mr.. Bean is one Of the most important
that has ever been made in western Can
ada. Heretofore the people OF eastern
Canada" continued Mr. Montague, have
not taken as much interest as the people Of
the western states in the wonderful de-
velopment of western Canada, but this year
they have a keen and widespread interest
in regard to the west, and thousands are
getting ready to come west. There is a
disposition not to let you Yankees take all
the good things without competition. as in
the past.
II do not think Americans generally un-
derstand the fun significance OF the Grand
Trunk Pacific railway. It is brand new
transcontlnental railway. $500 miles long
from coast to coast, half of which is built
by the Dominion government and the other
half financed by the government. all to be
operated by the Grand Trunk Pacific Rail-
way company In connection with the Grand
Trunk proper. In addition to it's main line,
which passes through tho heart OF the dis
trict in which Mr.. Bean is operating, the
company is planning number of branch
lines that will penetrate this fertile dis
| triet. The presence Of a railway so largely
| dominated by the government insures low
| freight rates to the people living along It.
Besides the Grand Trunk the Canadian Pa
! ciic is building three lines through this
| district, and OF course you know what
magnificent system the Canadian Pacific
! railway is and how thoroughly they open
! up and develop a country when they go at
! IT, The Canadian Northern is also project
ing a line. With all this railway building
and the attendant Industrial activity, to
say nothing Of the hundreds of thousands
OF acres OF land that are being broken up,
eastern Saskatchewan VIII this season pre-
sent a scene OF peaceful and prosperous
activity that has never been surpassed in
America"
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