Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-15

or course the point OF view Is very oihei-
ent. If had 81 40 in my left-hand trousers
pocket and about ten square miles or wheat
in the ground I'd probably be mighty IN
terested in wheat, too. But haven't either
the 81. 40 or the wheat, so l couldn't en-
thuse and after about forty-eleven drives,
averaging fifteen miles each, over the wheat
lands the subject begins to grow monoto-
nous. Some members of the party nave
taken a solemn VOW, that upon their return
to Washington they won't eat white bread
for six months They are sure 1t wouldn't
agree with them If they did.
The Old Days in Canada.
Under the old regime 1t was simply upper
and lower Canada-this. Of course. being
before the consolidation of the provinces
into the dominion. The queer maps in the
old school biographies show splashes OF
color bordering the lesser great lakes and
along the st. Lawrence river. but to the
north and the west stretches the white ex-
panse of Prince Rupert's Land-the Hudson
bay territory. Beyond the Lake of the
Woods, that point on the very borderland
of Nowhere, Is the Red River settlement.
Fifty years ago this lonely outpost of civil
ization, clinging to the edge of the western
plain, was scarcely considered as a factor
in the commercial problem of Canada. To-
day. however. 1t is the center of an indus
trial and commercial development that
promises to surpass the worlds record.
Any one with only half eye may see
that the last half century has wrought
North America. The trade relations with
the balance of the world have been re-
versed. UP to the present our own United
States has been the chief beneficiary of
these tremendous developments. but it
looks very much just now as If new day
were dawning for Canada as folks are
just waking up to the resources and posi-
bilities of the great lone land to the north
of US. AS the national evolution Of Japan
stands as an index of the genius of the
last half of the nineteenth century, so I'M
doubtedly will the development of Canada
represent the progress of the first half of
the twentieth. 1t is not too much to pre-
dict that within the next forty years that
nation will grow up and will become our
friendly commercial rival. nation that
Will be able to furnish the world with bread
with the same certainty with which for
two hundred years its vast territory fur
nished the world with fur.
And dis wheat that is going to be re-
sponsible for the main part of this growth
wheat, the staff Of life, the advance
agent OF prosperity.
Wheat Will Do the Trick.
I've already mentioned that Canada is a
pretty stable country, covering as 1t does
3.164.OOO square miles, or over 100000 more
than the United States. And about one
fourth of this area Is possible of cultiva-
ton, another fourth is rich in timber and
| mineral resources. while the remainder Is
sun the great game and fur storehouse has
the world. But the fur storehouse has
pretty nearly had its day and the great
wheat Countrywide 100000 square miles
which are embraced in the agricultural re-
gtons OF western Canada, that inland en-
pire made up Of the provinces of Manitoba,
SASKATCHEWAN, Alberta and New Ontario
Is coming to the front as the backbone
and the mainstay of the dominion About
1UOOOOOO acres in this region are fit for
cultivation and nearly all will produce
wheat.
Some people have brilliant ideas concern
ing the climate Of Canada. Edmonton,
which Is way up north-in fact the north
ernmost point reached by railroad on
this continent, not counting Alaska has a
nigh an average annual temperature as St.
Paul Northern Michigan and Manitoba
navth similar temperatures. and as one goes
nortnward It's found that the climate is
modfhed by the winds from the Pacific.
any one who doesn't consider that Ed
moh.on is way up yonder will please take
sitting on the hotel porch at Edmonton
| and reading what we local editor had to
| say about our crowd. by sunlight although
| when the days are longest the sun sets at
| IL pm and rises at 1 am. And yet they
| raise wheat and lots of 1t all around I'd
monitor. Some kindly soul told me that
needs so little sleep. Incid satally. I may
mention that the people are In the same
| category.
Beginning Of the Boom.
The development Of modern Canada un-
doubleday began with the completion Of
the Canadian Pacific railroad which con-
| nected the east with the west. SO far as
Canada was concerned. and opened Up the
vast interior. But a nation isn't built In
twenty minutes. and immigration move
ments are as slow as molasses. So II was
1900 or SO before the people Of the states
| began to realize that there was something
| doing up in western Canada. and then the
| rush began. I met q North CaroNnian
| way up around Edmonton who was Just
| tickled to death with the dominion
Farming Is so much easier I'D here" he
| said. Down my way I had one Of our
| regulation Carolina farms, somewhat billy
and bumpy,I may say It was real hilly. I
| got along all right. being naturally Of
| careful disposition, but one day when
was out in the cabbage patch my foot
slipped-and fell i've counties"
! felt somewhat spiteful after that seri.
i Gus recital. and asked the transplanted tar
/ heel how 1t was he liked the country when
/ there was nothing but barb wire to sit on
and absolutely nothing to lean against But
he was so happy and contented he didn't
even take offense.
OF course capital as well as people II alb
eolutely necessary to develop q country, and
| In this regard Canada u unique, for capi-
tai has kept pace with, II not even gone be-
fore. immigration. There seems to be no
lack OF funds for public o. private Improve