The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-08-14

phia exposition, wheat from the Peace
river region, which is five hundred
miles northwest of Prince Albert, took
first prize and a gold medal. Even
that long time ago wheat was being
raised in a small way much farther
north than was reached by the edi.
torial party on this trip. One thing
was quite noticeable by the editors
on arriving at this far northern lati
tude. The days are much longer here
in midsummer than in Minnesota
From o'clock in the morning until
10 o'clock in the evening it is day.
light. This extra amount of sunshine
gives a great stimulus to plant life,
and growth is very rapid. The sea-
sons are shorter, but this makes up
for it.
Through the courtesy of A. L.
Mates, superintendent of the Prince
Albert Lumber Co., the party was
given a steamer ride up and down
the Saskatchewan river, also an op.
portunity to examine one of the large
saw mills of this company. The
yearly output of this corporation alone
is 50,000,000 feet of lumber, mostly
of spruce Pine does not grow in this
region to any extent.
BATTLEFoRD, sAsK.
After half days stop at Prince
Albert, we started westward, our OBJ
jective supper point being Battleford
Here we again strike the Saskatche.
wan. There are two hustling towns
here on opposite sides of the river,
Battleford and North Battleford. Bat
tleford. as well as Prince Albert, are
historic places in Canadian history
A fine banquet was rendered the edi-
tors at this place, and other entertain
ment in the way Of broncho busting
and races provided, followed by a
dance in honor of the guests.
On the run from Prince Albert to
Battleford, we pass through great
wheat growing region. Rosthern, one
of the points passed, has eight large
grain elevators, and Is said to be one
of the greatest primary grain markets
in the world
Leaving Battleford Tuesday morn.
ing, We made noon stop at
vEGREVILLE, ALBERTA,
and enjoyed a fine repast rendered by
the people of that city, hustling new
town of couple of thousand souls.
Six or eight years ago land could be
bought here for less than so cents an
acre, and it is just as fine land as lies
out of doors anywhere. Prices now
are up to their proper level. The fer
tility of the soil here is great, and the
crops fine.
Time flies, we are due at Edmonton
for supper, and we were obliged to
leave the kind people of Vegreville
and board our train for the afternoon
run. Wheat fields, uniformly promis-
ing good yields, were seen on every
side as we sped along. Just before
the supper hour, we entered the en-
of
EDMONTON,
one of the leading cities of Alberta,
the province which lies to the west of
Saskatchewan. Two cities, Edmon-
ton and Calgary, in this province, are
keen rivals, and each claims to be the
best. Edmonton lies on the north
bank of the Saskatchewan river, has
over 10000 inhabitants, fine business
blocks, brick making plants, coal
mines, and what you would scarcely
expect to see at this northern point,
large pork and beef slaughtering es-
adjustments. A new packing plant,
now nearing completion, was inspect
ed by the visitors. Supper was fol-
lowed by automobile and carriage
rides about the city, the vehicles be-
ing rendered by the public-spirited cit
liens. Edmonton is surrounded by a
fine farming country and is a lively
city. It's position insures it's perma-
nence as a distributing point for a
large territory to the west and north,
and is certain to make a steady
growth.
Strathcona, just across the river,
has some five thousand people, and is
really a part of Edmonton, though a
municipality. Here are 10.
Gated the Alberta university and other
of learning. Here the ex-
cursionists changed from the Canadian
Northern line to the Canadian Pacific.
Our course now lay to the south as
far as Calgary. Between Edmonton
and Calgary we made stops at Wetas-
kelvin, Red Deer and Lacombe. Red
Deer is in a good agricultural section
and is an enterprising town. The
editors were royalty received, given a
banquet, and sent on their way re-
joicing. Fine crops were noticed in
this region, and the people seemed
and satisfied with their
At Lacombe, carriages were pro.
vided for drive to the provincial ex.
perimental farm, established only a
year ago, where some fine samples of
growing crops were to be seen.
CITY OF CALGARY.
The metropolis of southern Alberta
is Calgary, with about 10000 popula-
ton, having over hundred whole.
sale establishments, various manufac-
turing plants and other industrial
features, and it is a bustling town.
In this region both dry farming and
irrigation are In vogue. The Bow
river, right from the Rockies 80 miles
distant, furnishes a constant supply
of water. The Canadian Pacific rail
way has undertaken great irrigation
project, taking water from the river
here at Calgary and conveying it in
a large ditch for $50 miles to Medicine
Hat, with a capacity of irrigating two
and one-half million acres of land.
The Calgary citizens rendered the ed
itors a carriage drive around the city,
which was greatly enjoyed. The
country about Calgary is open prairie,
and has long been a cattle ranching
district. Now grain raising has been
taken up extensively, especially the
raising of winter wheat, which seems
to do well In southern Alberta.
BANFF AND LAGGAN.
Leaving Calgary Wednesday even,
ing, the train heads west for the run
to Laggan, 116 miles west of Calgary,
in the heart of the Rockies. Laggan
was reached at o'clock Thursday
where carriages and saddle