Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1906-11-30
THE FARMER IN WESTERN a..
ADA.
The Quality of No. Hard W..
Cannot he ReaHen


The Canadian West In the mast
or ten years has given a set back n Nv ~.
theory that large cities are the hsss ~
bone Of country and a nations h.a.
asset. Here we have a country ubsS
no city exceeds 100000, and where on,'
one comes within easy distance Of th'.
figure, according to the census ,,s.
taken and where no other city raachs'
a population exceeding $4,000 IN
places with population over 5000 GOV
be counted upon the fingers Of ons
hand, and yet the prosperity that ma
walls is something unprecedented !,
the history of all countries mast -.
present.
The reason for this marvellous nro,
perity is not hard to seek. the lara,
majority of the $4,000 people who in
habit Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Al
berta have gone on to the farm, and
have betaken themselves to the task n,
not only feeding and clothing them,
selves, but of raising food for Others
less happily clrcumstanced.
The crop of 1906, although not al
normal, is an eye-opener to many WIN
previously had given little thought II
the subject. Ninety million bushels n,
wheat at 20 cents per bushel-s63y OOO.
600; 100000 bushels of oats at "a
cents per bushel-$22, 100000; 1000,
600 bushels Of barley at 40 cents no,
bushel-$6,S00,00O; makes a total Of
500, 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 congested
districts of the east, to take upou
themselves the life Of the prairie farm
and the labor of the husbandman.
With the construction Of additional
railroads, new avenues for agricultural
enterprise are opening up, and i'm.
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. ]. 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 50 long
identified with the development of the
West, there are few men better quail.
fed than he to express an opinion upon
it. Take care Of the country, says he
and the cities will take care of them.
selves.
The farmers of the Western States
and the Canadian West are more pros
porous than ever before, and when It
comes to measuring up results, the Ca
madam 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 re-
turns 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 purchased in Canada
for So to SIS per acre, within easy
reach of a shipping point, and much
Of this rs available for free homestead
ing. The quality of the Canadian No. l
hard wheat cannot 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 peculiarly 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 may be found else.
where, advise us that for the nscal
year 1904-5, the records show that 4,'
643 Americans settled In Canada, anu
in 1866 the number reached 0L'So'
From all Of which 1t appears that az
present there is a good thing in farm
ing In Western Canada, and that ElV
American farmer is not slow to aVaN
himself of it,