The Benson signal., 1916-01-15
WESTERN CANADA'S
GREAT HARVEST
Decidedly Encouraging From Ev-
cry Standpoint.

Canada, the most encouraging feature
Of the year, from trade and financial
standpoint, has been the bountiful
harvest of the Northwest, where a
greatly increased area under cultiva-
tion has given the highest average
yield in the history of the country. 1t
is estimated that the grain crop of
Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta
has market value to the producers of
approximately four hundred million
dollars, in the use of which we may
anticipate not only the liquidation of
much Indebtedness, but the stimula
tion of current trade.
The annual reports of the various
banks throughout Canada are now be-
ing published. They SAVIOR of opti
mism all the way through, and, con-
trary to what might be generally ex
pected in war times, business is good
everywhere.
The General Manager of the Bank of
Montreal at the recent annual meet
ing said: THE position of Canada is
highly favored one, with an assured
future of growth, development and
general prosperity"
II the same report it is said that the
Canadian West has recovered to a
marked extent from the economic dis
location of year ago."
The seasons wheat and other cereal
crops have exceeded all previous rec
ords in quantity and quality, and, de-
spite the enormous yield, prices have
been uncommonly we'll maintained.
1t would be difficult to exaggerate
the Importance of these results to the
Prairie Provinces-and the. Dominion
at large.
The prosperity of those engaged in
mixed farming and ranching is most
encouraging.
The flour mills in Manitoba, Sas-
katchewan and Alberta are busy and
| are doing well. Their combined daily
| capacity is about $4,000 barrels
The large advances of the Dominion
Government to farmers in certain dis
tricts, principally in the form of seed,
were made very opportunely and have
been amply justified by the very large
crop yield in those districts.
Business in many important lines is
good and should continue to improve
as returns from grain yet to be mar
keted are received.
| The general business outlook has
bee1 transformed by the large crop.
! The returns of the gross earnings of
Canadian railroads for November show
those OF the Canadian Pacific in
creased $1,796,000 or 78 per cent for
the last nine days of the month. Com
| pared with same month year ago, in
crease no less than 1921 900 or 67.6
per cent against As per cent gain in
October, and a decrease of Az per
cent in September.
H. V. Meredith, of the Bank of Mont
real, in recent address delivered at
/ Montreal, declared that the most en-
couraging feature from a trade and
finance standpoint had been the boun-
tiful harvest of the Northwest, where
the greatly increased area under culti-
walton had given the highest average
in history of the country. He esti-
mated the grain crop of the three
provinces at a value of over 100000,
900, and said that such remarkable re-.
suits would have the effect of attract
ing the tide of immigration to our
shores. when the world is again at
peace. The restoration of favorable
balance in our foreign trade is fac
tor of supreme Importance at the pres.
ent time.
1t is the general opinion in the East
that the 1915 grain crop in the Prai-
rie Provinces not only put the whole
Dominion in sounder trade and finan-
cial standing, but that it will also re-
suit in a big increase in immigration
to the West of agricultural settlers,
who will include capitalized farmers
from Europe and the United States as
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