The Washington herald., 1910-04-03
Nv GEORGE H. GAIL.

a feverish activity in Immigration Iatlh-
ing building, and railroad construction
Every indication and report leads to the
conclusion that the year 1910 viii mark
the longest step forward in the briet his
tory of this remarkable country. Inc
wear bids fair 10 give a mighty impetus
70 the already great momentum which
the development OF the Canadian West
has ACQUIRED in the past six years.
II Is now estimated that $4,000 Ameri-
can farmers viii add their capital and
energy to swell the grain crop OF the
Western provinces The significant Tea
ture of this huge influx of Americans lies
in the fact that the bulk OF them are
successful men. who know the business
of farming for profits, and wno' apprecl-
ating the greater dividends to be gained
from Canadian wheat and fax. come
with money in their pockets, equipped 10
break the ground as soon as they sci
foot upon it. Railway land agents-the
Canadian Northern alone has had 5000
in the United States all winter-report
that they have few inquiries for home
steads Every farmer wants to buy iano
In certain locations which he prefers and
so is quite willing to pay from 81 to $-V
an acre TO make his choice rather than
receive public land in less desirable To-
calities. even though he can get it free
of cost.
Sell Land Easily.
The remarkable interest in Canada
farm lands is striking!y illustrated by
railway agent who has been travelling in
the United States all winter. who says
that wherever he went he either sold
land to the men upon whom he hrst
called or was introduced by them 20 those
who Gid buy His sales were by no
means limited to farmers, but in the
larger cities. particularly Chicago. he
found a keen interest among investors.
While the United States viii furnish
the best men and the most money to the
Western provinces, immigration from
Eastern Canada, Ontario and Quebec,
from England and the continent is also
starting with a rush. The advance guard
Of 800 natives Of Holland who intend
settling on the irrigated lands OF South
ern Alberta are to-day on trains bearing
them TO their new homes. Every day
the papers contain dispatches from To-
ronto and Montreal telling Of special
trains and extra sections laden with set
tiers for Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and
Alberta The following is typical:
Toronto. March S-Thirty-fOuT coach
loads. OF approximately 1000 men, women,
and children from various parts Of West
ern Ontario. left for Manitoba and the
West during the last twenty-iour hours"
One Hundred Carloads a Day,
From Calgary comes the following, IN
der date of March z: "One hundred cars
of settlers effects are daily passing
through Portal" says Bruce Walker.
Canadian immigration agent, interviewed
in Calgary to-day. The movement of
Americans getting into residence on their
Western Canada land is this year ASSUME
ing proportions double that of last year.
"One cause for this influx IS that many
thousands of former American farmers
who have made fortunes IN the Canadian
West returned to their old homes for
Christmas, and. telling stories of their
success, found hearers whose immediate
resolve was 10 load their effects into cars
bound for Western Canada.
"The Canadian West has outgrown it.
self. We are continually being advised
that large parties Of settlers have ar
rived at small towns the hotels of which
are full of landseekers, but no accom-
mediation Is available for newcomers.
Tents have been rushed forward by ex-
press in some cases, and the government
is erecting these tents in localities where
such conditions may exist. Banks con-
tinue to establish new branches through
out Alberta and with exceptional rapid
ity."
Growth Of Farms and Cities.
The rapid settlement of the agTicultur-
al districts has direct bearing upon
the growth of the towns and cities. Vii
lagos and towns spring up in a day on
the prairie These in turn build up rapid
". and the larger eenters Of population
increase in numbers and wealth. From
Fort William and Port Arthur to Vic
toria and Prince Rupert there are now
about 200 municipalities, Boosting regu-
larry organized and active boards Of
trade and boosting organizations. But
from Winnipeg westward, excluding the
coast cities, the principal points OF dis
trihution for their respective surrounding
Territories are Brandon, Regina, Dau-
phin, Prince Albert. Saskatoon, Medicine
Hat. Calgary. North Portal. Lethbridge.
Moose Jaw, Strathcona, and Edmonton
These cities are growing by leaps and
bounds The city OF Regina is fairly
typical. This is the center for the great
grain area of Southern Saskatchewan.
In 1901 the population OF Regina was
2.645 In 1905 it had grown TO 5ce0 but
1910 shows q city of about Is 5000. or an in
crease of nearly 200 per cent In five years.
other cities show more remarkable in
creases For instance, Fort William has
grown in the same period from 1900 to
2O00O.
Alive TO Their Opportunities.
Not content with a natural. unhurried
growth. these cities are alive to their OBJ
portunities and through their business
organizations are busily engaged in ad-
vertising their advantages TO wholesalers.
manufacturers, capitalists, and other in
vestors. Some are entirely engaged in
efforts 10 induce contractors and build
ers to come and do the building that
their cities sorely need.
At a meeting a few days ago OF the
business men of Calgary. as an example.
it was stated that speakers referred to
the need of an extra hotel and Office &C
commodation. and showed that hundreds
of new homes are required, every habi-
table building being filed to capacity.
They insisted that the first effort should
be to interest Eastern contractors and
investors in the investing possibilities of
residential and business blocks in cal
gary"