The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-09-19

Canada. There are good scientific
reasons why these regions are capable
OF producing better crops .han our
own western and central states, but
best of all are the proofs of 1t in act
ual results. This year. sor instance.
as high as one hundred bushels OF
oats to the acre will be gathered in
Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
and some wheat will go AS HIGH AS
FIFTY BUSHELS TO THE ACRE.
though of course this Is an unusual
yield.
Last spring it was widely advertised
In American papers that Alberta's win
ter wheat crop was a failure. In fact,
this is Alberta's banner year in grain
production. as it Is Saskatchewans
and Manitoba's, and from figures al
ready in it is estimated that Alberta's
wheat will yield on an average Of THIR'
TY-ETvE BUSHELS TO THE ACRE.
In many parts of the province returns
will show yield of as high as FIFTY
bushels to the acre and 1t Is freely
predicted by many that when the Of
fetal figures are in yield OF at least
forty-five instead of thirty-fiye bushels
to the acre will be shown.
At the time Of my last journey
through the Canadian West, when my
purpose was largely to secure Stats
| teal matter for book use. I solicited
letters from American settlers in all
parts of the three provinces, and most
| Of these make most interesting read
| ing. The letter was written by A. Kali
tenbrunner, whose postofice address
is Regina. Saskatchewan.
"a few years ago." he says, II took
up a homestead for myself and also
one for my son. The half section
which we own is between Rouleau and
Drinkwater, adjoining the Moosejaw
creek, and is low, level and heavy
land. Last year we put in 100 acres of
wheat which went 25 bushels to the
acre. Every bushel of 1t was No. L.
That means the best wheat that can
be raised on earth-worth 80 cents q
bushel at the nearest elevators. We
also threshed 1000 bushels of first
class oats out of 100 acres. Eighty
acres was fall blowing AND YIELDED
NINETY BUSHELS TO THE ACHE.
We got So cents bushel clear. All
our grain was cut in the last week OF
the month of August. We will make
more money out Of our crops this year
than last. For myself. l feel CON-
PEELED to say that Western Canada
crops cannot be checked. even py un.
usual conditions"
/ An itemized account shows a single
years earnings of this settler and his
~ rs'~--,c.
$500 bushels Of wheat at 30 cents
bushel. .$z,z0u
5000 bushels CT oats at So cents
q bushei. ................... 9'"u
Total 81, 02o
1t will be seen by the above that
this mans oat crop was worth twice
as much as his wheat crop. While
the provinces of western Canada will
for all time to come be the worlds
! greatest wheat growing regions, oata
! are running the former grain close
race for supremacy. The soil and ell
matte conditions In Manitoba. Sas
katchewan and Alberta are particular
ly favorable to the production Of oats
and thss grain, like the wheat, runs
4 far greater crop to the acre than In
!. even the best grain producing states
of the union. Ninety bushels to the
+ acre Is not an unusual yield, whole
; homesteads frequently running THU
average. And this is not the only ad
{ vantage Western Canada oats have
over those of the United States, for II
weight they run between forty and
fifty pounds to the bushel. while No
wheat goes to sixty-two pounds u
the bushel. In fact, so heavy Il
Canadian grain of all kinds. and espe
9 cially the wheat, that throughout thu
l. west one will see cars with grea
y placards upon them, which read:
y This car is not to be filled to ca
Is pacity with Alberta wheat"
q When made my first trip through
d the Canadian West few years ago
u found thousands of settlers living Il
u rude shacks, tent shelters and home
of logs and clay. Today one win I'm
n these old "homes" scattered fror
I Manitoba to the Rockies, but they ar
y no longer used by human tenants
- Modern homes have taken their plac
- for II has come to be common say
~ ing in these great grain regions tina
~ The first year settler Is In the Ian
= he earn a living: the second he ha
. money cough to build himself mot
ot ern home and barns; the third be
y independent" And as extreme as thl
- statement may seem to those huI
~ dreds Of thousands Of American farm
~ ers who strive for a meager existence
Luu It islabsolutely true. I am an Amer
n can. as patriotic. believe. as most
our peopleLbut even at that cann<