The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1911-01-19
THE GROWTH OF TOWNS
IN WESTERN CANADA
A BAROMETER OF THE GROWTH
OF THE AGRICULTURAL
DISTRICTS.

The traveller passing through
country is impressed fayorably or 9th
crwise 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 a local Industrial
factor to cause 1t, or splcndidly
developed agricultural area from
which is drawn the resources tina.
contribute or make for the growth
| that IS so readily apparent. On the
other hand, II evidence OF impover-
| ishcd streets, badly appearing resi-
dcnces and business places and leth'
| Grgic citizens, there is an absence OF
/ local industry and surrounding agri-
cultural prosperity. There is no line
/ OF railway whether main or branch,
throughout western Canada, that
| through the towns or cities that are
/ built along the ribs of steel do not
/ convey che 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
I 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 tho
past two or three years. The partic-
. ulars make interesting reading, and as
one reads Of the station house. tho
blacksmith shop, the boarding house
and the store Of April, being dwaricd
in 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, 1t causes one to
stop and think II they ever heard Of
such marvellous changes. Certainly
not often. These are facts, though, as
related OF western Canada. Then,
too, there are now citics-ycs, cities
Of from ten to fifteen Thousand people
whore 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 1t Is no idle tale to say that the
l. Ia, nj gf
the cities. towns and villages there
in the past decade has eclipscd any.
thing in tho history Of the building Of
new country. Agriculture has been
the basis, and 1t is agriculture OF the
kind that IS lasting. Tho ease with
which an excellent productive farm.
capable OF yielding 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 cXpen.
sive farms throughout the Central
Western States as well as some Of the
Coast States. 10 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 varic.
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 n 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 viii be forwarded free