Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-01-20
THE GROWTH OF TOWNS
IN WESTERN CANADA
A BAROMETER OF THE cpnu,-,,
OF THE AGRICULTURAL
il DISTRICTS.

The traveller passing thronob =
country Is impressed favorably or OH
erwise by the appearance of the town.
along the line Of railways. AS tbaS
appear prosperous and Of bealtSr
growth he at once assures himso;.
that there is either a local indrstrio,
factor to cause it, or q splendidI,.
developed agricultural area fron
which is drawn the resources that
contribute or make for the growth
that Is SO readily apparent. On III.
other hand, If evidence of imrover
ished streets, badly appearing resi-,
dences and business places and letb
argic citizens, there Is an absence NJ
local industry and surroundings aer,
cultural prosperity. There is no linz
of railway, whether main or branch
throughout western Canada, that
through the towns or cities that ara
built along the ribs of steel do not
convey the most favorable impression
The cause Is not always apparent bu,
the facts are there and easily seen
In most cases the growth and the sta
bility Of these towns are caused bv
the excellent agricultural districts
that are tributary; in some cases
manufacturing enterprises have
sprung up, caused by the agricultural
demands and needs. The WinniDes
Free Press and the Edmonton Bulle
tin have recently sent corps of cor
respondents through the provinces to
secure data concerning the growth Of
the two or three hundred towns that
have come into existence during tho
past two or three years. The partic
ulars make interesting reading, and as
one reads of the station house. the
blacksmith shop, the boarding house
and the store Of April, being dwarfed
in August by a hundred or more dwell
ings, by large hotels, by splendid
stores, and half dozen implement
warehouses, not forgetting the two OF
three churches and the excellent pub
lie school buildings, it causes one to
stop and think If they ever heard Of
such marvellous changes. Certainly
not often. These are facts, though, as
related Of western Canada. Then
too, there are now cities-yes, cities
of from ten to fifteen thousand people
where five or six years ago there
was but the bare prairie and the lone
section post. The changes in the Ca
madam West during the past eight
or ten years have been marvellous
and it Is no idle tale to say that the
development in number and growth Of
the cities, towns and villages there
in the past decade has eclipsed any
thing in the history Of the building Of
a new country. Agriculture has been
the basis, and 1t is agriculture Of the
kind that is lasting. The ease with
which an excellent productive farm,
capable Of yielding a splendid living
and large profit to the operator, Is
such that it has encouraged thousands
to follow that pursuit, and also other
thousands on the limited and expen'
sive farms throughout the Central
Western States as well as some of the
Coast States, to enlarge their field OF
enterprise. The climate is excellent,
and just the climate that is desirable
for the healthy growth Of man and
the products Of the field, All Varie-
ties of the smaller and better paying
grains are raised, and generally with
every assurance of good fields. With
government supervision Of railway
rates, splendid markets are contain,
and the highest prices realized. The
Dominion Government, that has been
carrying on propaganda of securing
settlers for the vacant lands, issues
literature descriptive Of those avail
able in the provinces, and on request
Of your nearest Canadian government
agent, copies will be forwarded free