The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-01-20
THE6R0 OF TOWNS
lN'WESTERM CANADA
A BAROMETER OF. The GROWTH
OF THE AGRICULTURAL
plSTRicTs.

erwise by the appearance of the towns
along the line of railways. AS they,
appear prosperous and Of healthy
growth he at once assures himself
that there Is either local industtialI
factor to cause 1t, or splendidly|
developed agricultural area from
which is drawn the resources that
contribute or make for the growth
that is 80 readily apparent. On thsl
other hand, II evidence of impover-
ished streets. badly appearing resi-.
dences and business places and leth-.
argic citizens. there is an absence Of
local industry and surrounding aEri-
cultural prosperity. There is no line
Of railway. whether main or branch,
throughout western Canada, that
through the towns or cities that areI
built along the ribs Of steel do mott
convey the most favorable impression.
The cause Is not always apparent, but
the facts are there and easily seen.
In most cases the growth and the sta
bility OF these towns are caused by
the excellent agricultural districts
that are tributary; IN some cases,
manufacturing enterprises have
sprung up. caused by the agricultural
demands and needs. The Winnipeg
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 the
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
i'll August by hundred or more dwell
ings, by large hotels, by splendid
stores, and half dozen implement
warehouses, not forgetting the two or
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
new country. Agriculture has been
the basis, and it 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, Isl
such that 1t 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 desirableI
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 a 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.