Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-12-30
DEVELOPMENT OF
CENTRAL CANADA
THE STORY OF BIG YIELDS OF
GRAIN COMES FROM EVERY
SECTION.

SECTION.
When the man In the States was
told that he could got 160 acres Of
land in Central Canada--comprising
the provinces Of Manitoba. Saskatche-
wan and Alberta--that under cultiva-
ton would produce from 20 to 30 BUSH
els of wheat to the acre, or II seeded
to oats the yield would be 40 to 60
bushels, he was skeptical. The same
story was told the man who wished to
get nearer to existing lines Of rail-
way, and was only asked to pay $40
to $12 an acre. But many tried 1t,
some one plan and some another. The
man who accepted the 160 acres as
free gift, as a homestead, and was
willing to put in the required resi-
dence duties of three years has now
farm worth from fifteen to twenty
dollars an acre. The man who chose
to purchase, and did SO. took up his
residence just the same. He has land,
that, in many cases, is worth twice
the money he paid for 1t. Both have
found that the story OF splendid yields
WdS NtTlucu. hcy nave hdd tiOPo
exceeding that promised; they have
seen oats that yielded 100 bushels to
the acre, and have grown wheat that
averaged 40 and as high as so bushels
to the acre. Their wheat was not a
81 h. to the bushel article but 81 and
63 lbs. They have seen within the
past year or two trunk lines of rail-
way constructed through their district,
and throwing out branch lines to the
gates of their farm. They have seen
schools established in their neigh
bourhood and the Government con-
tributing largely to their expense.
Churches have been erected, villages
have been established, towns have
sprung into existence and cities are
rapidly springing up, as II the magic
hand of some unseen conjurer was al
work. But 1t was not; 1t was the lie
Ultimate offering of the wealth Of the
field which made all these things come
about. naturally, and easy. The prai
RE that three years ago was merely
prairie, patch of brown, just waiting
for the ploughman, is to-day dotted
with titled farms and splendid homes
The line of elevators with their glis
tening metalled fireproof sides and
roofs, indicate the location of the
town and the railroad. There is the
glow of newness about 1t all, but the
elevator, the splendid store buildings
and the comfortable hostelries denote
wealth, beyond that of the strength
of the man who fashioned and bull
them but the wealth Of the soil, which
means that the newness will be fol
lowed by a steady growth. The writer
recently was a passenger over thu
Grand Trunk Pacific, the latest fac
tor in this great marvellous field o
development. The rapidity with which
towns were being built up, the farm
steads occupied, was something ever
his experienced eye had not looked
for. Everywhere along the line o
this new transcontinental was the dis
tinguishing mark of progress. Their
was not a mile Of the length of thu
road from Winnipeg to Edmonton ant
west that did not bear token of III
ability to pay tribute to the revenu,
of the road. Mention is made of Thu
line, not because II is the last IL
the field, but because II is one of thu
best built roads on the Continent an,
traverses one of the best district
of an excellent country. 1t Is wei
operated, and already has gone int
active service as another means o
making 1t possible to secure mor'
speedily transit from the grain field
to the shipping centres. 1t had beef
the intention In this article to have
spoken of some of the yields of grain
that have made the farmers of Cen
trail Canada contented this year. bu
space will not permit, so that delight
full task will be taken up In anothe
issue. In the meantime ii would b.
well for the reader, II he is interest
ed, to put himself In touch with som'
Official of the Canadian Government
and get information that might be use
full in making a selection for hom'
in Central Canada, and become ont
of those who will be instrumental il
building up a great country to thu
north. In doing SO. you will be as
sisting the United States. In a few
years time the United States will b,
q wheat importer. Canada will sup
ply the wheat and you will be one o