Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-11-29
THE FARMER IN WESTERN CAM
ADA

. The Quality of No. L Hard Wheat
Cannot Be Beaten.
The Canadian West in the past five
or ten years has given a set back TO the
theory that large cities are the back
/ bone of a country and nations best
asset. Here we have 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 other city reaches
population exceeding $4,000. The
places with Il population over 5000 can
be counted upon the fingers OF one
hand. and vet the prosperity that pre-
walls is something unprecedented in
the history of all countries past or
present
The reason for this marvellous pros
perity is not hard to seek. The large
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 of
not only feeding and clothing them
less happily circumstanced.
The crop of 1906, although not alb
normal, is an eye-opener to many who
previously had given little thought TO
the subject. Ninety million bushels of
wheat at 20 cents per bushel-S63, COO
600; 100000 bushels of oats at 30
cents per bushel-S22. 100000; 1900
600 bushels of barley at 40 cents per
bushel-S6,S &c., 600: makes a total of
S92,600,0O0. 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 upon
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 III
building up the new country
This is the theme that Mr.. J. J. Hill.
the veteran railroad builder in the
West, has laid before the people in q
series of addresses which he has given
at various points during the past few
months, and, having been for so 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 SIS to SO per acre, within easy
reach of a shipping point, and much
Of this is available for free homestead
ing. The quality of the Canadian No.
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 fiscal
year 1904-5, the records show that 43,
543 Americans settled in Canada. and
in 1866 the number reached 0T.I96.
From all of which it appears that at
present Iere is good thing in farm
ing in Western Canada and that the
American farmer is not slow to avail
himself of it.