The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-12-07
The FARMER IN WESTERN
CANADA.
The Quality Of No. Hard Wheat
Cannot Be Beaten.

The Canadian West in the past five
or ten years has given set back TO
the theory that large cities are the
backbone OF country and a nations
best asset. Here we have a country
where no city exceeds 100000. ana
where only one comes within easy
distance OF that figure according 10
the census just taken and where no
other city reaches a population ex-
ceeding $4,000 The places with
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
al countries past or present
The reason for this marvellous
nrosperity 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.
aud have betaken themselves TO the
task OF not only feeding and clothing
themselves. but OF raising food for
others less happily circumstanced.
The crop OF 1906. although not alb
normal IS an eye-opener 10 many who
previously had given little thought TO
ne subject Ninety million bushels OF
wheat al 20 cents per bushel-S63OOO.-
,00. rs 600 900 bushels OF oats at 30
rents per bushel-s22 500 900; 1900
Ool bushels OF barley at 40 cents per
bnsbel-s6 500 900: makes a total OF
sq2 GOO 600 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
rom the soil II is not to be wondered
a, that many are leaving the congest-
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 agricultur-
al enterprise are opening up, and i'm
proved opportunities are offered 10 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. ]. Hill,
the veteran railroad builder in the
West. has laid before the people in a
series OF addresses which he has
given at various points during the
rast 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 IL. Take care
az the country. says he. and the cities
80 fba~ 1..fsr
The farmers OF the Western States
and the Canadian West, are more
prosperous than ever before. and
when Il 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 10
settlers, and the returns per acre are
heavier when the crop is harvested.
Farming land in the Western States
runs from $50 10 $3.50 an acre and up.
whereas equally good soil may be pur-
chased In Canada for IS to SIS per
acre within easy reach of shipping
point and much OF this is available
for free homesteading. The quality of
the Canadian No. / hard wheat can
NOT be beaten, and the returns to the
acre are several bushels better than
on this side Of the line: The soil and
climate 81 that country being peculiar
y 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, II
appears that at present. there is q
good thing in farming in Western
Canada. and that the American farm
er Is not slow TO avail himself OF II.