The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-05-20
DOLLAR WHEAT HAS COME TO
STAY.
In Less Than Five Years Central
Canada VIII BE Called Upon to
Supply the United States


Characterization Saskatchewan and
Alberta-would be called upon to sup
ply a large part of the wheat consump-
ton in the United States, there were
many who laughed at the predictions
and ridiculed the idea of wheat reach
ing the dollar point and staying there.
Both Of these predictions have come to
pass. Dollar wheat is here-and it is
not only here, but is here to stay; and
at the same time, whatever unpleasant
sensations it may arouse in the super
sensitive American, Central Canada is
already being called upon to help keep
up our bread supply, and within the
next five years will, as James j. Hill
says, literally 'become the bread-bas-
ket of our increasing millions"
There are few men in the United
States better acquainted with the
wheat situation than Mr.. Hill, and
there are few men, if any, who are in
clined to be more conservative in their
expressed views. Yet it was this great
est of the worlds railroad men who
said a few days ago that "the price OF
wheat will never be substantially lower
than it is to-day''-and when 1T is
taken into consideration that at that
time wheat had scared to $1.2O, well
above the dollar mark, the statement IS
peculiarly significant, and dOubly sig
nificant is the fact that In this coun-
try the population is increasing at the
af hi 10 vi
wheat and other products is increasing
at the rate of only % per cent. For
several years past the cost of living
has been steadily increasing in the
United States, and this wide difference
in production and consumption is the
reason.
This difference. must be supplied by
the vast and fertile grain regions or
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
There is now absolutely no doubt OF
this Even the press of the country
comedies the fact. Results have shown
that no other country in the world can
ever hope to equal these provinces as
wheat producers, and that no other
country can produce as hard or as good
wheat. Said a great grain man re-
Gently, eff Unified States wheat main
tains the dollar mark, Canada wheat
will be we'll above a dollar a bushel,
for in every way it is superior to our
home-gro grain
With these facts steadily impinging
their truth upon our rapidly growing
population, it is interesting to note just
what possibilities as wheat grow
er'' our northern neighbor possesses.
While the United States will never
surrender her prestige in any manu-
featuring or commercial line, she must
very soon acknowledge. and with as
much grace as she can. that she is
bound to be beaten as grain produc-
er. 1t must be conceded that great
deal Of the actual truth about the rich
ness of Canada's grain producing areas
has been ''kept out of sight" as Mr..
Hill says, by the strenuous efforts of
our newspapers and magazines to stem
the exodus of our best American farm
ers into those regions. 1t is fact
that up to the present time. although
Canada has already achieved the front
rank in the worlds grain producers,
the fertile prairies of Manitoba, Sas-
katchewan and Alberta have as yet
scarcely been scratched. Millions of
acres, free for the taking. still await
our American farmers and when these
millions are gone there are other mil
lions in regions not yet opened up to
immigration. A few years ago the
writer, who had been through those
wheat provinces several times. laughed
with others of our people at the broad
statement that Canada was bound to
become "John Bulls bread-basket."
Now. after a last trip (and though he
is q staunch American) he frankly be-
lieves that not only will Canada be-
come John Bulls bread-basket, but it
will within the next decade at least
BECOME THE BREAD-BASKET OF
THE UNITED STATES. Perhaps this
may be a hard truth for Americans to
swallow, but it is a truth nevertheless.
And it is at least a partial compensa-
ton to know that hundreds of thou
sands of our farmers are profting by
the fact by becoming producers in this
new country.
The papers of this country have nat
urally made the most Of the brief pc
riod of depression which swept over
Canada, but now there is not a sign of
it left from Winnipeg to the coast.
Never have the three great wheat rails
ing provinces been more prosperous.
Capital is coming into the country from
all quarters, taking the form of cash
for Investment, industrial concerns
seeking locations, and, best of all, sub
stantial and sturdy immigrants come
to help populate the prairies. Towns
are booming; scores of new elevators
are springing up; railroads are sending
out their branch lines in all directions
thousands of prosperous farmers are
leaving their prairie shelters for new
and modern hOmes-"built by wheat
everywhere is a growing happiness and
conference.-the and content
ment built by wheat-the dollar
wheat" which has come to stay. Not
withstanding this, the Canadian gov
eminent is still giving away it's home
steads and selling prescriptions at $500
an acre, and the railway and land COM
panies are disposing of their lands at
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