Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-12
HOW CANADA
is ADVERTISING
No Philanthropy Involved in
Publicity Campaign.
MERELY BUSINESS REASONS
There is Lots of Room for Lots Of
People.
AND THE RICHEST KIND OF SOIL
Social Diversions Are Plentiful and
Distance Counts for Nothing
at All.
AND THE RICHEST KIND OF SOIL


| roads and the Canadian people are spending
SO much time, money and energy in a
great publicity campaign to coax immi-
grants to the dominion. These heavy think
ers wonder why it is necessary or wise for
the government of a country as good as
immigration agents claim Canada to be to
go to the trouble of inducing people to go
there. There are hundred reasons that
might be given to justify the publicity
movement, but they're not necessary. DR..
Drummond, the Canadian poet, gave the
answer when singing, in the patois of the
habitant he asked:
What use de million acre,
What use de belle riviere
And ting lax dat, if you don't have
Nobody living dere"'
And that certainly fits the case. bound
less prairie, fiat as a chopping board from
sky line to sky line and covered with buff
falo grass may be pleasing and restful to
the eye, but tbs not much good for anything
else. Scenery is great lure for the rest
less tourist but 1t isn't particularly filing
as an individual or governmental diet. Virgin
soil looks all right on the map, but it isn't
helping to feed the hungry ones of the
wheatless lands, where white bread is so
scarce that they keep it on the mantelpiece
to impress visitors.
No Philanthropy Intended.
And SO this publicity campaign for immi-
grafton was undertaken, not because the
Canadians are a nation of philanthropists,
not because they compare their condition
with that of other countries, and, realizing
their superior situation, are inspired by a
kindly feeling to better their fellow man;
not because they think that other countries
are too denseiy populated and are fired
with holy zeal to relieve the congestion.
For none of these reasons, laudable and
altruistic as they might be, has Canada
entered upon an active immigration policy,
but rather for the purely business, If not
selfish reason, that people are needed in
Canada to develop the country. And they
are needed badly. For when 1t is remem-
bered that Canada has millions Of acres
of rich black soil awaiting settlement and
when it is known how difficult 1t is for the
farmers to get the necessary help to re-
move the crops from the lands now under
cultivation, 1t can be seen with only half
an eye why this strenuous effort to induce
immigration Is being carried along.
OF course, there Is a second reason. There
always Is. And in this case it is a simple
one 1t is a well-known fact that up to a
country is the lower per capita is the
cost of government and the greater the
amount annually derived from its customs
excise and postal revenues. Consequently
It's mighty safe proposition that for a
good long time to come Canada will well
come additions to her population. There's
no danger of overcrowding just yet.
But I did meet one genial citizen Of AL
hadn't been talking with him but minute
or so when he told me that although he
was fond Of his present location, where he
had been for years, that he intended to
move.
'.There used to be lots, Of ROOM" he re-
marked, despondently. but it amt SO any
more. There's too many people crowding
around. Only last week two families moved
of Nov, n,,1xy
miles from my front door. This amt the
land it used to be-"
The Maple-Not the Fig.
The unknowing ones might as well under
stand right now that Canada is no garden
of Eden. The maple leaf and not the fig leaf
is the national emblem and there's no gold
lying around loose to be picked UP by the
yawning wanderer. But for those willing
and able to work, for those possessed of
health and ambition. and who consider
frost bites as a relief from the general
monotony of life in the lone land, Canada
holds out hand of welcome. a glass of
Scotch and soda and promise Of reward.
As might be expected in a country of the
size of Canada, there are all kinds of cl-
mate. The jaded rambler In search of sem
sations, may be sunstruck or frostbitten,
Just as he pleases, and II he likes arctic
blasts or warm Chinook bree1es he may
have his pick of these also. But In most
parts of the interior the climate Is health
full, and the man who dies from anything
but old age Is looked upon as having
achieved considerable distinction. or course
the winters are cold and the mercury fire.
quently curls up for weekend nap at
fifty below zero. but the air is SO dry that
the folks don't mind it. At least that's what
they say, and they. all look strong and
healthy.
suppose there are others-in fact, I'm quite
sure of It, But they are not obtrusive. And,
moreover, when the hospitable Canadian
wishes to give visitor good time he
doesn't load him into an open-faced hack
and remark as the drive begins:
well, old man, you've got such a short
time in town that l want to make your
through the cemetery. Beautiful spot. So
quiet and restful."
lad that experience once, couple of
thousand miles from home. and / don't
and quiet-so much so that when 1 got
down town again 1 took out more addi-
tional accident insurance than could at
ford and had the blues for three days in
the bargain. Some folks have, ideas con-
corning hospitality that should be pre-
served in glass case.
Picnics and Sewing Circles.
In those localities of the northwest which
have been opened up for some time the
social conditions are much the same as in
any orderly and well-populated country.
And even in the newly settled districts the
inevitable picnic. the popular sewing circle
and other social diversions" hold sway.
In a new country to which the people all
have been drawn by the same desire to i'm
prove their condition they get together
much quicker and with more kindly feeling
than in an older land, where there are
fourteen assorted layers of local aristOc-
racy and more different kinds of formality
than you can shake a stick at.
And it's really amazing how little dis
lance counts out here when there n any