The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-01-19
THE FARMER IN WESTERN
CANADA.
The Quality of No. I Hard Wheat
Cannot Be Beaten.

The Quality of No. I 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
backbone OF country and a 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
other city reaches a population ex-
ceeding $4,000. The places with a
population over 5000 can be counted
upon the fingers of one hand, and yet
the prosperity that prevails is some
thing unprecedented in the history of
all countries past or present.
The reason for this marvellous
prosperity is not hard to seek. The
large majority Of the $4,000 people
who inhabit 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 abb
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-$63, 000,-
900; 10000 900 bushels of oats at 80
cents per bushel-s22, 100000; 17,000.-
900 bushels of barley at 40 cents per
bushel-s6. SOC, 900; makes a total of
$9z.600.000. 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 1t Is not to be wondered
at that many are leaving the longest
ed districts Of the eayst, 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 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 in
building up the new country.
This is the theme that Mr.. ]. ]. Hill,
the veteran railroad builder in the
West, has laid before the people in a
series of addresses which he has
given at various points during the
past few months. and, having been
for so long identified with the devel
opment of the West, there are few
men better qualified than he to ex
press an opinion upon it. Take care
of the country. says he. and the cities
will take care of themselves.
The farmers of the Western States
and the Canadian West, are more
prosperous than ever before, and
when it comes to measuring up re
suits, the Canadian appears to have
somewhat the better of it. His land
is cheaper in fact. the government
continues to give free homesteads tc
settlers, and the returns per acre are
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 So to SIS pei
acre, within easy reach of shipping
point, and much Of this is available
for free homesteading. The quality o.
the Canadian No. hard wheat can
not be beaten, and the returns to the
acre are several bushels better thar
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 o
three years settled in the. CANADIAN
West. The agents Of the CANADIAN
Government, whose address will b
found elsewhere, advise us that TO
the fiscal year 1904-5, the record
show that 43,543 Americans settled Il
Canada, and in 1866 the numbe
reached 57.796. From all of which,
appears that at present, there is
good thing in farming in Wester
Canada, and that the American farm
er Is not slow to avail himself Of it.