Tombstone epitaph., 1916-09-10
MAKING RAPID STRIDES
Canada Improving in Every Way -Agricuiturally. Commercially
 and Financially.

The reports coming to hand every day from all branches of industry in Canada speak highly of the construc- tive ability of that country.
 Recently the managing directors of the Canadian Credit Mems Associa- ton gave out the statement that busi- ness in Western Canada was good. In every branch 1t is better thaC .n 1913, and everyone will remember that in that year business was excellent. He says:
 'The beauty of 1t is the way in which payments are coming in. Mer- chants all over the West are taking their cash discounts. Such a transfor- nation 1 never saw.
 From the records in the office l knew 1t was getting better. We clear here every retail merchant in the coun- try every three months, and we are therefore in the closest touch and have intimate knowledge of the way trade Is going and how payments are being made. Conditions at the present mo- ment are better than had dreamed 1t was possible that they should be.
 "The statements which we are re ceiving with reference to the standing of country merchants indicates that fall. It Is quite remarkable. Men who have been behind for years and in the hole are actually paying spot cash for everything. and taking their cash dis counts. Banks and loan companies this fall will have more money than they know what to do with.
 This Is about the condition of trade, and am glad to say there is no e1ag- geration in what l have said. The business of the prairie provinces is in splendid condition"
 Crop reports are also good. From sM parts comes the word that the crop conditions were never better. and the situation at the time of writing Is that there will be fully as great a yield as in 1915, when the average of wheat over the entire country was up- wards of 30 bushels per acre. The harvest therefore will be heavy one and, following the magnificent harvest of last year, the farmers of Western Canada will all be in splendid shape. Old indebtednesses, much of which followed them from their old homes, are being wiped out, Improvements are now being planned, and additional acres added to their present holdings.
 During the past year there was a large increase in the land sales both by the Canadian Pacific and Canadian Northern land companies, as well as by private individuals. A great many of the purchases were made by farm CTS who thus secured adjoining quar- ters or halves, the best evidence prob ably that could be had of the value of Western Canada land when those who know the country best are adding to their holdings. A number of out siders have also been purchasers, but very little land has changed hands for speculative purposes
 An evidence of the prosperity of the country is found In the fact that such . large number of farmers are pur- hesipg automobiles.
 Alleged hard times in Manitoba have not dampened the ardor Of motorists or prospective ones. The automobile license department reported a few private owners of cars in the province this year than last. The number of licenses issued this year was 400, as against $500 last year. At an aver age cost of s1 900 each the newly pur- chased cars represent total outlay of cars in the province are worth approx imately s10.OOO,000. The new cars are of modern types.
 Many people, for some unexplained reason, have feared and continue to fear that this country will experience 6 period of industrial and business dullness after the war. There seems to be no justification for such a specu- lation.
 On the contrary. there are sound reasons for belief in the prediction of Nr. Kingman Mott Robins, vice presi- dent of the Farm Mortgage Bankers Association of America, who, in the Monetary Times, declares that Canada will experience her greatest propor- donate development in production i'm mediately after the conclusion of the war. The country will certainly have exceptionally favorable commercial conditions to take advantage of.
 There will be the great need of Eu' rope in the work of reconstruction,