The Virginia enterprise., 1908-03-13
:
VOLUMES: MIGHT be WRITTEN.

I VOLUMES MIGHT be WRITTEN
OF the Success That Awaits the Farm.
i Or in Western Canada. - 4..:}
/ The story of wheat farming in Wes-
tern Canada (that portion of Canada
lying north of Dakota and Montana)
has been frequently told. but It viii
stand a lot of telling, and :st1ll retain
its touch Of interest,": During the: year
just closed 277,276 persons made their
homes in Canada as compared with
215,912 for the year 1906, an increase
of 61,464. Those from the United
States numbered ,56;551. A writer in
Industry" recently said: "To-day the
"Dominion of Canada is witnessing a
"nightier movement of population
than ever stimulated a Biblical writ
''er to pen chapter Of Scripture"
The same writer says: Prom the Rhine
"and the Rhoae river valleys; from
''the port cities of Germany and the
farms of the Fatherland, from the
peasant soil of Russia; and out from
''the grimy Lancashire and over.popu-
'lated Yorkshire, the discontented
"and ambitious of every cline are
seeking to take advantage of the
opportunities afforded by the fertile
"soil and exhilarating climate Of the
Empire of the North"
Continuing the same writer says:
"While a million human beings throng
"the shores of the United States every
"year, the smaller number arriving in
canada come with more well-de-
"fned purpose" The question has
been asked why do these people come
to Canada? The available land be-
tween the Mississippi and the Pacific
has been exhausted, and the farmers
within that territory find that their
sons have to seek newer climes. Cana
da offers one hundred and sixty acres
of land free to each. This land yields
from 20 to 40 bushels of wheat to the
acre. In Southern Alberta, the winter
wheat belt of Canada, as high as 60
Less yields than the one mentioned
| have netted the farmer as much as
$35 per acre. There are no words that
tell the tale so effectively as those of
the farmer himself, the man who has
ploughed the fields, sowed the grain,
and with folded hands rests while
nature, bounteous in that country, in
less than three months, placed at his
disposal hundreds of acres of ripened
grain, now waiting the arrival of the
reaper and therefore we reproduce
the following letter.
! Any agent of the Canadian govern
ment will be pleased to give informa-
ton regarding the district mentioned
or any of any other that may be de-
sired.
E. T. Holmes, Esq,
| Canadian Government Agent,
St. Paul, MINI.
Dear SIR
In 1905 I located on claim about
90 miles from the town Of Wadena,
on the Canadian Northern Railroad,
have lived on my claim most of the
time since. I consider this to be one
of the best districts in the country
for grain growing. In 1906 wheat
averaged from 80 to 81 bushels per
acre on some of my neighbors' farms
within miles of my claim. Oats go
from IS to 100 bushels. 1t is also a
good country for stock. Where I am
there is plenty of fuel. ,Homesteads
nearly all taken the settlement being
largely Germans. and Americans, all
well-to-do. l left Wadena in Febru
ary, 1907, returning April 25, so that
I missed part of the winter, which the
old settlers tell NE was one of the
| worst they ever saw, but there was
no suffering, as the people are pretty
we'll fixed, and there are no blizzards
in that country, at least there never
has been known to be one. Wild land
sells at from $40 to SIS; closer to
town it is higher.
In the summer we have all sorts
Of wild fruits very plentiful, and
never saw better vegetables, and game
is so plentiful man need not starve
for want of something to eat. Plenty
| of good water too. You need not
hesitate to recommend this district
but the homesteads are nearly all
taken, most of the homesteaders are
living right on their claims.
(Signed), FRANK MORREY,
Kelvington, Sask
l