, 1911-11-30
Why Should Americans
Emigrate to Canada?

Editorial in New York Tribune, by Geo. Griswoll Hin
Experts OF emigration estimate that the comnleted so,,.. g.,
tbs yea Will 81" hat l4'ooo Americans have emigrated to Canada
as against l2t,oUo ast vear. The total emigration to the new nrov.
inces of the Lady of The SHOWS is placed at 375 900 Wbv Amei
cans should emigrate to Canada when there are such abundant onnor
un'ies Mt home, it is difficult to understand.
AT vast Expense. and with a thorouxhness and eHc;encv which
non" a question the national government is rapidly bringing under
irrigation upward of 100000 acres of arabic land, virgin soil in
fact, aud capable of producing CROPS the eoual Of anv ub;cb oan ho
saued in Canada.
In n single state, Wyoming, hundreds of tbousand, If acres oua
being successfully irrigated, both by the federal government and bv
private enterprise. under the Carey act, while area hitherto eoarded
as impossible of cultivation because of lack of rainfall are WELDING
abundant crops by the socaned "dry farming" process, a wholly mis-
bading name. aitho an entirely practicable method, as experience has
demonstrated. Settlers in Wyoming enjoy the advantage of an
abundant coal supply, smost at their very doors; natural gas and oil in
many sections, and the proximity of vast mineral resources, thus in
surne them in the near future a large consuming public without the
necessity of long shipments to market. The spectacle of the desert
being converted into fertil prosperous farms is to be een o n all sides
while 1t ls not necessary for the farmer to devote a large PERCENTAGE
of his income to purchasing fuel at exorbitant prices, IS is the case in
Canada. And the settler in Wyoming or in the other Western stat
es does not forfeit his American citizenship, which ought to be an i'm.
portant consideration to every patriotic American.
The only explanation of the exodus to Canada which seems at all
adequate is that Americans do not realize the resources which n a.
valuable at home while the enterprise of tho Canadian immigration
officials has set before them in most effective manner the few advan-
the Canadian Northwest.
The series of land shows which are being held in this country
may go far to offset this movement. Certainly the one held recent
" in this city must have been IN eyeopener to those who had assum-
ed that the opportunities for securing good farms on advantageous
terms in this country were exhausted.
Especially must it have shown them thai right here in New York
close to an inexhaustaple market where produce brings the highest.
prices, ire golden agriculture opportunities. 1t may be a question
how far the show held here "a successful in reaching the class of
people who are being beguied into craving the rigors of Canadian
winters in order to secure land no more fertile, no more productive
than is available in this country. But the land show is now in.
progress in Chicago, where it will doubtless reach more potential set
tiers, and if it's exhibits could be displayed in such states IS Indiana,
Iowa, Missouri and others from which the Canadian immigration is
being drawn that would probably prove effective in checking the
exodus.