Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-01-22
WESTERN CANADA'S 1908 CROP
win Civ to the Farmers Of West
a Splendid Return.

win Give to the Farmers Of West
a Splendid Return.
TIL following interesting Dit vi IN
format,an appeared in a Montreal pa
per:
Last December, in reviewing the
year 1907, we had to record a wheat
harvest considerably smaller in volume
than in the previous year. Against
ninety millions in 1906 the wheat crop
of the West in 1907 only totalled soue
sevcnty-onc million bushels and much
of this of inferior quality. But the
price averaged high and the total result
to the farmers was not unprohtable.
This veal we have to record by far the
largest wheat crop in the country's his
tory. Estimates AIRY as to the exact
figure. but it is certainly not less than
one hundred million bushels and in all
probability ii reaches one hundred anC
ten million bushels. The quality, moro
over. is good. and the price obtained
very high, SO that in AL 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 increases in traffic, the
general trade of the community has be
come active after twelve months quiet,
and the banks are lOoSeuing theii
purse strings to meet the demand FOR
money. The prospects for 1905 are eX-
~celleut. The credit of the country never
stood as high. The immigrants Of 1907
and 1908 have now been absorbed into
the Industrial and agricultural COM
munity Il wise regulations are i'll
force to prevent too. great an ntluN
next year. Large tracts of new country
will be opened up by the Grand Trunk
Pacific both in East and West. If the
seasons are favorable the Western
wheat crop should reach one hundred
and twenty million bushels. The pros
poets for next year seem very fair
An interesting letter is received from
Cardstcn, Alberta Western Canada) J.,
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 intend
ing settlers.
Cardston, December Dist, 1908.
Dear Sir-Now that my t%hreshing is
done and the question, "Wha will the
harvest be?' has become n certainty, I
wish to report to you the results there
of, believing it will be Of interest to
you. You know l am only a novice in
the agricultural line, and do not wish
you to think I am boasting because of
my success, for some of my neighbors
have done much better than l have, and
| expect to do much better next year
myself. My winter wheat went fifty
| three bushels per acre-and graded No.
/. My spring wheat went fOrty-eight
and three-fourths bushels per acre and
graded No. l. My oats went ninety
seven bushels per acre and are fine rs
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 winter feeding, and cattle
fatten on this grass and make the finest
kind of beef, better than corn fed cattle
in Illinois. Southwestern Alberta vii!
soon be known as the farmers para.
disc; and 1 am only sorry I did no:
come here five years ago. Should ::
famine ever strike North America
will be among the last to starve-and
you can count on that. I thank you
for the personal assistance you rem
dered me while coming in here, and I
assure you / shall not soon forget your
kind offices.
(Signed.) O. d.. WEEKS.