The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-12-07
THE FARMER IN WESTERN
CANADA.
Tbs Quality Of No. Hard Wheat
Cannot Be Beaten.

SoHl'Jt &c pGdlcT.
TkS Canadian West In the past five
or ten sears has given a set back to
the theory that large cities arc the
backbone Of country and q nations
best asset. Here We have a country
where no city exceeds 100000, and
where only one comes within easy
distance of that figure according to
the census Just taken and where no
otecF city reaches 4 population ex-
ceeaiMS $4,000, The places with a
population over 5000 can be counted
upon Tie fingers of one hand, and yet
the prosperity that prevails is some
thing unprecedented In the history OF
ri! countries past or present.
TtS reason for this marvellous
prospe:ity Is not hard TO seek The
large majority Of the $4,000 people
who inhabt Manitoba, Saskatchewan
and Alberta. have gone on to the farm,
and 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-opcner to many who
previously had given little thought to
the subject, Ninety million bushels OF
wheat at 10 cents per bushel-sG3,0 O0,-
600; 76.000.000 bushels OF oats at 30
cents per bushel-s22, 500 900; 10000.
900 bushels OF barley at 40 cents per
bushel-sG,S 900; makes q total of
1872 6OOO 900. 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 tho soil II Is not TO NE wondered
at that many nre leaving the congest-
ed districts Of the cayst 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 nre opening up, and inn
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. J. Fiji, J
tie veteran railroad builder in the l
West, has laid before the people In a |
series of addresses which he has
given Mt various points during the |
past few months. and. having been |
for so long identified with the devel- /
opmcnt of the West, there are few |
men better qualified than he to p1- |
press an opinion upon it. Take care
OF the country, says he, an! the cities
VIII take care Of themselves.
The farmers Of the Western States
and the Canadian West, are more
prosperous than ever before, and
when II comes to measuring up re.
suits, the Canadian appears to have
somewhat the better of II. His land
is cheaper in fact, the government
continues to give free homesteads to
settlers, and the returns per acre arc
heavier when the crop is harvested.
Farming land in the Western States
runs from $50 to $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 humesteading. The quality Of
the Canadian No. / hard wheat can
not be beaten, and the returns 10 the
acre are several bushels better than
on this side of the line; the soil and
climate OF that country being peculiar
ly 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 I904-5, the records ,
show that 43,543 Americans settled in {
Canada. and In 1866 the number :
reached 57,79s. From all OF which. It
appears that at present, there is a 6
good thing In farming in Western {
Canada. and that the American farm c
II is not slow to avail himself Of 1t.