Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1916-06-22

Gas and Bayonets the Worst
He said the gas and saw bayonets
were the things dreaded most. The
saw bayonets the Saxons had were
rusty and a fellow stood little chance
if he met one. He said the Saxons
did not want to fight, and for that rea-
son their part of the line was often
quiet. At night both Canadians ana
Saxons moved about on the surface,
but during the day there was nothing
to do but keep under cover.
There are about dozen lines OF
trenches one behind the other. The
trenches are so made that if a sheG
burst in one the loss of life would DO
limited to six men. The convalesciAg
soldier was not anxious to return.
Flags at Half Mast
Nearly all the flags in Canada float
at halfmast over the loss of Lord Kit
chener. In nearly all populous centers-
memorial services are held.
| Bridges Guarded
All the way the bridges of the Ga
madam Pacific railroad were guarded
by one or more soldiers.
Canada Hard Hit
| Canada is hard hit, not only in fur
nishing vast army for the battle
fields in Europe, but in higher prices
for commodities and in business de-
preston. A man who resides in Re-
gina said the taxes ON his property
were four times higher than they were
before the war. In some cities bonds
are being issued to meet current ex-
penses, all expenses being cut to the
bone. There is tax on almost every
thing. Postcards require two cents
postage, letters three cents, and ALI
preparations sticker.
In Victoria we were told that shoes
cost twice as much as they do In the
United States. Not only the price is
high, but the styles are out of date.
The ladies complain they cannot get
what they want and many of them Ujs-
it Seattle for the purpose of shopping.
Not Many Trees in Western Canada
Trees are rare in western Canada,
that is, on the plains east of the Rock
les. 1t is strange to see a city the
size of BaraboO with no trees. From
an elevation one can see every build
ing in the place. The trees will not
grow. The long, cold winters and dry
summers take the lives of even such
hardy trees as the box elders. One
man told me his box elders had grown
to be but twenty feet tall in five years
In a number of places the Canadian
Pacific has planted long rows by the
side of the track as a wind break to
stop the drifting snow, but they are
mere shrubs whipped about by the
wind.
There are not many species of birds :
in this treeless tract. There are plen-
ty of meadow laFks, but robins and
other birds are absent Occasionally
a crow is seen, but his nest is miles
away in tree by the side of stream
few f1ocks of ducks were seen, the
law protecting them now. They build
their nests in some cases near the
railroad tracks.
Crop Outlook Fine in Canada
The crop outlook is fine in Western
Canada. Our journey from Portal to
Banf, distance of over 500 miles, was
through a steady rain. The spring
grain was just up the first week in
June and looked well when we saw 1t
the second week this month. On &C
count of the high price Of farm help
not SO much wheat was sOWn this
spring A single man on farm is
getting forty or fifty dollars month,
and they are scarce at that. Carpen-
tiers and tradesmen of that class are
getting about the same price. Not
much building is being done. Hard
coal at Medicine Hat and In that vicin-
ity is worth about $3.50 ton.
All improvements have stopped on
account of the war. Cities have no
money to pay and individuals have
neither the desire nor courage to go
ahead under such distressing times.
Many houses in Vancouver are empty,
thousands having left the city.
Aliens Still informed
Some of the aliens, especially the
Germans, are still interned in Canada.
Some of them are employed in build
ing bridges and other construction
work along the railroads. Many have
left Canada and gone to the United
States. Recently the Canadian gov
eminent has been patrolfing part of
the border inst each of the Rocky