Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-09-30
CANADA.
THE WEST THROUGH MANITOBA AND
SASKATCHEWAN
With the Editors at Portage Ia Prairie, Kan.
sack. Humbolt. Saskatoon. Rosthern.
and Warman and Into Alberta.

Before leaving Winnipeg on the long
journey of Thousand miles to Ed
monton, it may be of interest to give
few general facts concerning the
great Dominion of Canada. which has
during the past two or three years
been playing such an important part
in the development OF the American
continent, and which is destined in
the future to become great empire
in itself
The Dominion of Canada is larger
than the United States, almost as
large as the entire continent OF
Europe. Though part of the British
Empire she is absolutely self.govern-
ing. Her house of Commons and Sen
ate correspond to the House OF
Representatives and Senate in Wash.
ington. The Dominion is divided in.
to nine provinces, each with legis.
lature similar to our state Legislatures.
Municipalities are managed on similar
lines to those adopted in the United
States. The Canadian government
has many advantages over those OF
other countries, and all it's laws are
excellently observed In fact, we
were impressed with nothing during
our entire trip more than the respect
and obedience to law which prevails
throughout the whole Dominion.
Throughout the western provinces law
and order is preserved and suffering
alleviated through the medium Of the
Royal Northwest Mounted Police.
who parole every portion of the vast
provinces. At certain points in each
of the provinces are located barracks.
being the rendezvous of these mounted
police. They are very similar to our
army posts, the police being put
through daily drills and kept in readi-
ness for emergency calls at any mo-
ment. These police ride over every
section of this great stretch of coun-
try. and keep in such close touch with
each other and with the great detec-
tive bureaus of the world that it is
rare indeed that q criminal escapes
them. Their services are of especial
value during the long winter months.
when they ride over the bleak, barren
country and search out the homes of
the settlers, bringing them relief
when their necessities require it. 1t
often happens that a man will bring
his family to this country with just
enough money to get his shanty
erected and few loads Of coal, per-
haps. trusting to luck to get through
the winter until he can raise a crop.
There would be many cases of suffer
ing and want were it not for the
mounted police, who locate these
needy persons and their wants are
supplied by the government.
There is no Sunday base ball. no
theatres. no public amusements. and
nobody is allowed to work on Sunday
unless it is absolutely necessary. No
saloons are allowed to be operated in
any case except as bar to hotel
having at least twenty transient
rooms. They open at seven o'clock in
the morning and close at ten at night.
except Saturday nights, when they
mast close at seven O'Clock. No
drunken men are allowed on the
streets, and any person can interdict
another, j. Q. report him to the au-
thorities and he is prohibited from
getting drink over bar anywhere
The school system of Canada is also
under splendid control. One-eigh-
teenth of all the land was set aside
for school purposes. and the provincial
governments take oversight of rural
schools to the benefit of newly settled
districts. Where there are ten chill
dren in a township a school can be
demanded. and an average attendance
of six earns a government grant. All
religious denominations are equally
free before the law, and federation
and good will prevail everywhere
The climate of Western Canada is
somewhat similar to that Of Minneso-
ta, with the difference that the win
ters are steadier and dryer. The mean
temperature at st. Paul is only one
degree higher than Edmonton. $50
miles northwest. Seeding begins in
April and the sground freezes about
the second week in Novmber. June
is usually the rainiest month. The
prolonged sunlight during the sum-
mer months aids greatly in the rails
ing of crops and makes the wheat re-
markabiy rich in gluten. giving it the
first place in the esteem of the miller
the world over. In June and July
they have from IS to 90 hours day
light. The day we were at EdmonR
ton, the latter part of August, they
started q base ball game at seven
O'Clock in the evening. with ample
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