Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-01-21
WESTERN ctHi0A's 1909 CROP
WILL GIVE TO THE FARMERS OF
WEST A SPLENDID RETURN.

The following interesting bit OF In
formation appeared In a Montreal
paper:
Last December, in reviewing the
year 1907, we had to record a wheat
harvest considerably smaller In vol
ume than In the previous year. Against
ninety millions in 1906 the wheat crop
Of the West in 1907 only totaled some
seventy-one million bushels, and much
OF this Of inferior quality. But the
price averaged high, and the total re-
suit to the farmers was not unprofit.
able. This year we have to record by
far the largest wheat crop in the coun-
try's history. Estimates vary as to
the exact figure, but 1t is certainly not
less than one hundred million bushels,
and in all probability 1t reaches one
hundred and ten million bushels. The
quality, moreover, is good, and the
price obtained very high, SO that In
all respects the Western harvest OF
1908 has been a memorable one. The
result upon the commerce and finance
of the country is already apparent
The railways are again reporting in
creases in traffic, the general trade of
the community has become active
after twelve months quiet, and the
banks are loosening their purse strings
to meet the demand for money. The
prospects for 1909 are excellent. The
credit of the country never stood as
high. The immigrants of 1907 and 1908
have now been absorbed into the in
dustrial and agricultural community,
and wise regulations are in force to
prevent too great an influx next year.
Large tracts of new country will be
opened up by the Grand Trunk Pacific
both in East and West If the seasons
should reach one hundred and twenty
million bushels. The prospects for
next year seem very fair" An inter-
esting letter is received from Cardston,
Alberta (Western Canada), written to
an agent OF the Canadian Government
any of whom will be pleased to advise
correspondents Of the low rates that
may be allowed intending settlers.
"Cardston, December 21st, 1908.
Dear Sir: Now that my threshing
is done, and the question What VIII
the Harvest Be- has become GER
tainty, wish to report to you the re-
suits thereof, believing II will be of in
terest to you. You know l am only
a novice in the agricultural line, and
do not wish you to think am Boosting
because OF my success, for some of my
neighbors have done much better than
have. and / expect to do much bet
ter next year myself. My winter wheat
went SO bushels per acre-and graded
No. l. My spring wheat went 4Sas
bushels per acre, and graded No. l.,
My oats went 81 bushels per acre, and
are fine as any oats / ever saw. My
stock is all nice and fat, and are out
in the field picking their own three
square meals a day. The weather is
nice and warm, no snow-and very
little frost. This, in short, is an ideal
country for farmers and stockmen.
The stock requires no shelter or win
ter feeding, and cattle fatteD on this
grass and make the finest kind of beef,
better than corn fed cattle in Ills.
Southwestern Alberta will soon be
known as the farmers paradise; and
am only sorry did not come here five
years ago. Should a famine ever
strike North America, l will be among
the last to starve-and you can count
on that.
81 thank you for the personal assist
ance you rendered me while coming
in here, and ! assure you | shall not
soon forget your kind Offices"