New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-12
SETTLEMENT OF CABAD4s NORTHWEST.

! SETTLEMENT OF CAHADA,S NORTHWEST.
Canada's vigorous immigration policy Is be-
ginning to tell In the development Of her new
lands in the Northwest. Already It has dou-
bled the speculative gain on nearly every acre
held by early or present settlers, and the day
is probably not more than four years distant
when all the homestead areas for free settle
ment In the desirable regions will have bean
taken up. After Indian reservations, timber
reserves and water areas have been deducted
the fertile belt of Canada's great Northwest
available for settlement Is now estimated at about
100000 acres of prairie land OF this the
Hudsons Bay Company holds In even sections
about 100000 acres having been allowed 30 re-
tain one-twenteth part Of all the land south Of
the Saskatchewan River, It's selections COM
prise Sections and 20 Of each township. Scrip
lands, or those given In cancellation Of the abor
ignal claims Of the half-breeds amount to
100000 acres, while blocks granted for irriga-
ton purposes comprise 2,2500O0 Homestead
entries dispose Of an additional 25OO0Oo0 and
100000 acres are covered by additional grants.
leaving residue Of unallotted lands In the even
sections of only 100000 acres.
In the odd sections about 81, 10000 acres have
been granted to and earned by railway COM
panies and 100000 acres have bean set aside
for school purposes. leaving in the uneven SEQ
lions about 12S7o0oo acres, These figures rep
resent the acreage as tabulated to January /,
1903
In view OF these conditions and Of the fact
that during the calendar year 1905 homestead
ers to the number of 845oo took UP land In
Manitoba and the Northwest, It Is computed that
in two years, even at the present rate Of imm1-
grafton, all the available land In the even SEQ
tons will be allotted. and should the other
grants IN the odd sections be taken up at the
same rate, January l, 1910. will BEN the
words Of Mr.. II. B. Ames, II. P, from whose
estimates the foregoing figures are taken-"the
date when 1t Will become necessary for Canada
ito announce TO the world that there Is no longer
free land to be had In the fertile prairie belt OF
"the Canadian Northwest"
All indications, however, point TO q greater
influx of immigrants to the Canadian North
west in the near future than even In the last
year. Canadian papers have at least one char
acteristic in common, and that Is pride In en-
ploitadon OF the advantages and opportunities
offered to settlers In the Oominion's unsettled
lands and the results of this policy are increas-
ingly manifest. Scotland has become interested,
and Scottish farmers Will soon be found In ths
Saskatchewan valleys and In the country ~
ing west Of Saskatoon. General Booth Is send
ing small armies of London's unemployed TO
build for themselves homes IN the new lands Of
the Dominion, and the conditions opposed to
his efforts In Australia In the same direction
are likely TO inure greatly to the rapid settle
menr Of Canadian lands. The general believes
"the four walls Of the empire" are ample for
the surplus Drawn and brain Of England, and
II he can effect Its transportation and success
full root taking he will earn a title to fame
perhaps even more secure than that which he
has earned In looking after the spiritual and
temporal needs Of darkest England"
glance at Montreal or Toronto papers and
the character Of their news shows that Canada
Is in the stages 10 settlement Of her new lands
through which the United States was passing
half century ago. With her great plans for a
new transcontinental railway including more
than q score Of branches, the government Is
working wisely and dar1ngly for a great fut-
nary interest TO the United States For this
reason Congress may have acted more wisely
than it knew In not dropping the Canadian con-
sulates recommended for excelsior. It may even
be necessary soon 20 reinforce these by new con-
sulates IN the Canadian Northwest TO the grow
ing Importance Of which the State Department
is fully awake Canadian development means
also increasing intercourse between the United
States and its northern neghbor. Americans
will watch with interest and certain amount
Of pride the development Of the Northwest, 10
which this country has already contributed so
largely In intelligent, hardy and thrifty immi-
grants and viii contribute until all the continent
north OF Us Is brought, far as possible, within
the radius Of civilization.