Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-05-08
DOLLAR WHEAT HAS COME TO
STAY.

supply the United states.
A couple of years ago. when the an
nouncement was made in these col
umns that "dollar wheat had come to
stay, and that the time was not far
distant when the central provinces of
Canada-Manitoba Saskatchewan and
Alberta-would be called upon TO sup
ply large part of the wheat consump-
tion 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
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
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 few days ago that "the price of
wheat will never be substantially lower
than it> Is to-day''--and when it Is
taken into consideration that at that
time wheat had scared to $1,20, 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
ratio Of G5 per cent. while the yield OF
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 of
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 great grain man re-
| Gently. "If United States wheat main
| tans the dollar mark, Canada wheat
will be well above dollar bushel.
for in every way 1t Is superior to our
home grown grain"
With these facts steadily impinging
| their truth upon our rapidly growing
population, 1t is interesting to note just
what possibilities as a 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 a grain produc-
er. 1t must be conceded that a 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 a 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 oi
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 tC
immigration. A few years ago TIM
writer. who had been through thos'
wheat provinces several times, laughet
with others of our people at the broad
statement that Canada was bound t
become "John Bulls bread-basket.
Now. after a last trip (and though h.
Is a staunch American) he frankly be
lieves that not only will Canada be
come John Bulls bread basket, but
will within the next decade at leas
BECOME THE BREAD-BASKET Ol
THE UNITED STATES, Perhaps thi
may he hard truth for Americans t
swallow, but 1t is a truth nevertheless
And It is at least a partial compensa
tion to know that hundreds of thou
sands of our farmers are profiting b
the fact by becoming producers in thi
new country.
The papers of this country have nat
urally made the most of the brief pt
riod of depression which swept owe
Canada. but now there is not n sign q
1t left from Winnipeg to the coas
Never have the three great wheat raj.
ing provinces been more prosperous
Capital is coming into the country frol
} all quarters, taking the form of cas-
for investment, industrial concern
seeking locations, and, best Of all, sui
stantial and sturdy immigrants com
to help populate the prairies. Town
are booming; scores Of new elevator
are springing up; railroads are sendin
out their branch lines in all directions
|. thousands Of prosperous farmers ar
leaving their prairie shelters for me-
, and modern homcs-"built by wheat
everywhere is a growing happiness an
: Observation-Disclosures and conten
ment built by wheat-the "dolla
wheat" which has come to stay. No
wlthstanding this, the Canadian go
ernment Is still giving away its hom
steads and selling pre-emptions at $50
an acre, and the railway and land con
: papies are disposing of their lands I
: what may be considered nominal f
ures.
: Fact.
Germany has spent $50, 1000, 900 in III
, | last 20 years i'm the DEVELOPMENT an