Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1916-08-30
MAKING RAPID STRIDES
Canada Improving in Every Way
-AgrCulturalIy. Commercially
and Financially.

he reports coming to hand every
day from all branches Of industry In
Canada speak highly of the construc-
i've ability of that country
Recently the managing directors of
the Canadian Credit Mems Assocn-
tion gave out the statement that busI-
ness In Western Canada was good. In
every branch ii is better than in 1919,
and everyone will remember that In
that year business was excellent. He
says:
''lhe beauty of II is the way IN
which payments are coming in. Mer-
chants ali over the West are taking
their cash discounts. Such transfer
nation | never saw.
Prom the records In the Office ]
knew " was getting better. We clear
here every retail merchant In the cuun-
try every three months, and we are
therefore In the closest touch ana have
intimate knowledge of the way trade
is going and how payments are being
made. Conditions at the present mo-
ment are better than l had dreamed II
was possible that they should be.
''The statements which we are re-
ceiviDg with reference to the standing
Of country merchan. indicates that
there will be very few failures this
fan. II rs 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 10 do with.
This Is about the condition of trade,
and am glad 10 say there Is no eXag-
gcration In what ] have said. The
business Of the prairie provinces is in
splendid condition"
Crop reports are also good. From
all parts comes the word that the crop
conditions wcr never better. and the
situation at the time of writing is
that there will be fully as great
yield AZ In 1915, when the average Of
wheat over the entire country was up
wards of 80 bushels per acre. The
harvest therefore will be heavy one
and, following the magnificent harvest
NJ last year. the farmers of Western
Canada will all be In splendid shape.
Old indebtednesscs, much of which
followed them from their old homes,
are being wiped out, improvements are
now being planned, and additional
ares added To their present holdings.
During the past year there was
large Increase In the land sales both by
the Canadian Pocihc and Canadian
Northern iGgd comIhanies, as we'll Us
by private individuals. A great many
Of the purchases were made by farm
ers who thus secured adjoining quar-
ter-s or halves, the best evidence prob
ably that could be had of the value
~ 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 I'm the fact that such
large number of farmers are pur-
chasing automobiles.
Alleged hard times In Manitoba have
not dampened the ardor of motorists
OF prospective ones. The automobile
license department reported few
days since that there are 1,G00 more
private owners of cars In the province
this year than last. The number OF
licenses issued this year was 1O,iO0, as
against $500 last year. At an aver
age cost of 81 900 each the newly pur-
chased cars represent total outlay OF
Sl.0OO,O00, while the total number Of
cars In the province are worth approx
imately $10,OO0,OOO. The new cars are
OF modern types
Many people, for some unexplained
reason, have feared and continue TO
Tear that this country will experience
period Of Industrial ana business
dullness after the war. There seems
70 be no justification for such n specu-
lati0n.
On the contrary, there are sound
reasons for belief In the prediction Of
hr. Klngman Mott Robins, vice presl-
oent Of the Farm Mortgage Bankers
ksociation Of America, who, In the
monetary Times, declares that Canada
VIII experience her greatest proper
uonote development In production I'M
uediately after the conclusion Of the
war The country will certainly have
exceptionally favorable commercial
"nditions to take advantage Of.
There will be the great need Of ICu.
w. N the work Of Tec0nstruction,