Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-01-14

thousand miles Of new tracks were con-
structed last year. and three great systems
are now pushing their way through 1t.
The old line ,of the, ca indian Pacific goes
across 1t not far above the international
boundary, and that company is construct
ing new branches TO the northward. 1t
will build one line almost direct from
Winnipeg to Edmonton. The Canadian
Northern. which is but little known in the
United States, las just completed trunk
line to Edmonton, and 1t has In addition a
road reaching north to Prince Albert.
which lies hundreds of miles east Of here,
on the Saskatchewan river The Grand
TRUNK Pacit.c is building between Winni-
peg and EdmCnton. going through rich
wheat country some distance north of the
two other lines, SO that the whole land is
hummins with railroad possibilities.
How the Wheat belt Looks.
My nrst trip across TIE wheat belt was
on the CanauiaH, Pacific. The country is
all prairie and plain In some places the
lanes are fiat. In others rolling Some of
thea. are lie Illinois and some like North
Dakota In Manitoba and the greater part
OF Saskatchewan you ride for miles tnrough
wheat fields with patches Of prairie be-
tween. A little further west you strike a
region somewhat like Montana 1t is, in
fact, the extension of the Montana semi
arid country. and part of what was once
known as the great American desert. In
the far west this is devoted to grazing, but
they have begun to raise winter wheas even
on the dry lands, and their possibilities are
not yet defined. A little further westward,
just before you reach the foot hills of the
x..n I.f
under way, and winter wheat is being
raised at points both north and south.
Leaving the United States boundary and
travelling northward, the land grows bet
ter. This is especially so at the west,
where there are trees and patches OF
thicket scattered over the plains. The
spring wheat region begins with the Red
river valley in Manitoba and runs north
westerly in great tongue or triangle,
spreading out IL goes.
i find much difference n the quality of
the land. Some places are excel!ent, others
are OF a meOiam grade. and not a few de-
cidedly poor. The country is covered with
a network Of streams The mighty Sas-
katchewan. which compares in size with
the Mississippi flows through the wheat
belt from west to east emptying into Lake
WINNIPEG. ana from there going on through
other 81. cams INTO HUDSON bay.
am now wiitins TN tie banks of the
SasAatci-ewan. IL IS nayisa1le Tor small
boats 1or about l,uOv macs, and Gu!4ng the
sui-iiner II 10 USED IaTgeiy b. sltl.ers
Ihey cone ne. - LdlluHt0a ON the lalI-
ROAD and Il NJ J.I-.. e.-ecIs uUeu 10 tus
holhesteaos w.-.cA they cave plcAed uut
upon the Da-iAs. lheS dss l.d.OoA.s and
laits' Just IL lie .at dlu .i.Vng ,.ie
OhiO az 0Gf ~ 1-!s. H. q Seiore me
MAJ "'!Ec.- s..,s,s "..Lt a.U...-ss-stus awe
Oee-- laAei., Ai-e -a.-es ~ p.s,,y wea alb
sofSed On bctE s,ueS VI uAs i4ser ~ a
oislArce u l.,c s..i..ss. A.a..y s..f.e- towns
nave s-fuiis ll- iEe sane 10 thus every
VINE Z s.o.s lie new Iu4-s S14s. I.iere Ds.IlG
solh"tiiins AAe lorty Dew tuwi.s On tine
CtiHautsn ->vati.e-a ANNE. Inueea, ,.lt
"aoie NHeat oe.t 20 ~. ..es,d VITA. home
steaus, a-taOCsa MT -, LAT " the good
land has Deen oe-Li'.ed aial lie greater
part vi al - yCt gloloKen. ~