The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-14
Mr.. Carpenter Travels Through
the Wheat Belt of the British
North West.
GREAT FIELDS OF FINE WHEAT
Will Canatla Feed the World.
The Peace River Country.
Pioneer Settlements.
By Frank G. Carpenter.
Especial Correspondence OF Tho Times
Dispatch.)

Especial Correspondence Of Tho Times
~ Dispatch.)
EDMONTON, ALBERTA. December 80
north OF tho United States boundary. 1
am on the frontier OF the great wheat
belt which the Canadians are opening
UP, and which promises to revolutionize
the bread markets of tho world. / nave
been travelling for three weeks through
the grain lands and am now, in a straight
line about as far northwest OF Winnipeg
rs from New York to Chicago. Along
that line there is wheat all the way.
Lower Manitoba produced more than
10000. 600 bushels last year, and something
like 1oo,o00O00 bushels were harvested
in Canada.
Canada's New Bread Basket.
The size OF Canadas new bread basket
Is nard TO define The area have de-
scribed has been thoroughly prospected.
Wheat is actually raised in all parts of
1t, and l hear stories of great wheat
lands beyond. Three hundred miles due
north OF Edmonton, on the Peace River,
they are raising big crops. and flour mills
are now grinding away at Fort yermil-
lion.
They receive good prices on account OF
the high freight rates which prevail
throughout the wilds of the Northwest,
and the farmers are getting dollar and
n half per bushel for their grain. Rail-
road engineers who have been surveying
the extensions Of the Canadian Northern
and the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroads,
which are to be built from here across
the Rockies. tell me that there is good
land all the way from Edmonton to the
foot hills. distance OF several hundred
miles. and that settlers have already ba-
gun TO penetrate that region.
According to the best Canadian authori-
ties, the wheat belt so far defined com
prises strip extending from east to west
necrosis the boundary of Western Minnesota.
North Dakota and Montana measuring
eight or nine hundred miles and extend
Ing northward TO distance equal to that
between Philadelphia and Pittsburg The
men who have lived here longest advance
the most roseate views. They believe
that the new aren. has several hundred
million acres, estimating 1t as equal to
about eight States as big as Ohio. or six
or seven OF the size OF Pennsylvania or
New York This does not include the
vast regions north of where ] am writing
Along the New Railroads.
This mighty farm is being opened up
by the railroads. Between two and three
thousand miles OF new track were con-
structed last year. and three great sys-
TENS are now pushing their way through
II The old line OF the Canadian Pacific
goes across 1T not far above the inter-
national boundary, and that company is
constructing new branches to the north
ward 1t wifi build one line almost direct
IRON Winnipeg to Edmonton. The Ca
nadian Northern. which is but little
known In the United States, has Just COM
pleted trunk line TO Edmonton, and 1t
has in addition road reaching north to
Prince Albert. which lies hundreds of
miles east of here on the Saskatchewan
River. The Grand Trunk Pacific is build
ING between Winnipeg and Edmonton. go
ang through rich wheat country some
issuance north of the two other lines,
SO that the whole land is humming with
railroad possibilities
How the Wheat Belt Looks.
Ny first tr, across the wheat he'll, y.s
on the Canadian Pacific. The country IL
an prairie and plain In some places the
lands are flat, In Others rolling. Sorne Of
them are like Illinois and some like NORTH
Dakota. In Manitoba and the greater mart
or Saskatchewan you ride for mij,s
through wheat fields with matches of
prairie between. A little further west
you strike a region somewhat like Mon
tana II is, In fact. the extension of the
Montana semiarid country, and part
OF what was once known as the great
american desert In the far west this is
devoted TO grazing, but they have begun
10 raise winter wheat even on the dry
lands, and their possibilities are not vet
oefned- A little further westward. iust
before You reach the foothills OF the
Rockies. some big irrigation projects are
under way. and winter wheat Is being
raised at points both north and south.
Leaving the United States boundary
and travelling northward. the land grows
better. This is especially SO at the west.
where there are trees and patches of
thicket scattered over the plains. The
spring-wheat region begins with tho Red
River Valley In Manitoba and runs north
westerly In n great tongue Or triangle.
spreading out as 1t goes.
I find much difference In the quality
of the land. Some pieces are excellent.
others are of medium grade, and not
few decidedly poor. The country is
covered with q network OF streams. The
mighty Saskatchewan. which compares
In size with the Mississippi, flows through
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