The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-05-05
WILL LOOK TO
CANADA FOR WHEAT
ONE REASON WHY AMERICANS
GO TO CANADA.

In the Chicago Inter-Ocean Of q few
days since reference was made to the
fact that in 1909 the United States
raised 737,1S9,OO0 bushels of wheat,
and last year grew only 695, 443, 900, a
decrease of 41,746,000 bushels. The
article went on to say: "True we
raised last year more than enough
wheat for our own needs, but it is ap-
parent that if production continues to
decrease in that ratio we will soon
be obliged to look to other countries
for wheat to supply our rapidly in
creasing population"
The purpose OF the article was to
show that reciprocity was to be de.
sired. This is question that do not
propose to deal with, preferring to
leave 1t to others who have made a
greater study Of that economic ques-
ton than I have. The point to be
considered is, with the high price OF
lands in the United States, and with
the much lower priced lands of Can
ada, and their ability to produce prob
ably moro abundantly, is it not we'll
for the United States farmer to take
advantage Of the opportunity Canada
affords with it's lower-priced lands
and take part in supplying the needs
of the United States, which it is quite
apparent must como sooner or later?
1t is probable there are now about
100000 American farmers in Western
Canada, cultivating large farms, and
becoming rich, in the growing of 25-
and 30-bushel-to-the-acr in pro-
ducing large yields of oats and barley,
and in raising horses and cattle
cheaply on the wild prairie grasses
that are there, both succulent and
abundant. All these find ready mar
ket at good prices. Amongst the
Americans who have made their homes
in Canada are to be found colonies of
Scandinavians, and all are doing we'll.
I have before me letter from an
American Scandinavian, now a Cana
dian, an extract from which is inter-
esting. Writing from Turtle Lake,
Saskatchewan, he says:
II came up here from Fergus Falls,
Mimi, October 24th 1910, and thought
I would let you know how have been
getting along. We had a very mild
winter up to New Years, but since
then 1t has been quite cold and lots of
snow, but not worse than that we
could be out every day working, even
though we had SIS below zero a few
times, but we do not feel the cold
here the same as we did in Minnesota,
as it is very still and the air is high
and dry. This is a splendid place for
cattle raising and mixed farming
There Is some willow brush and small
poplars on part Of the land, which Is
rolling and covered with splendid
grass in the summer. Not far from
here there Is timber for building ma
terial. There are only Norwegians
here, 6 Scotchmen, 2 Germans. The
lake is 20 miles long and full Of very
fine fish,
There is a lot Of land yet that has
not been taken and room for many
settlers, and we wish you would send
some settlers up here, as there are
fine prospects for them, especially for
those who have little money to start
with. Send them here to Turtle Lake,
and we will show them the land, if
they have secured plats, showing the
vacant lands, at the Dominion Lands
office in Dattleford. Send us up some
good Scandinavians this spring."
The Canadian government agents
will try to meet his wishes