Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-01-25
THE BASIS, OF
CAhADA's RICHES
A Theme Discussed BY the Wall
Street Journal.

In speaking Of Canada short time
ago the Wall Street Journal made the
statement that THE bnsis OF Cnnada's
riches is tho fertility OF the soil, and
no freak Of warfare can injurc that
while her grain will increase III de-
mand rs the population OF the world
grows. As nm investment field Canada
Is worthy OF considerations" These
words are well worthy Of attention. es-
pecially coming from such q source as
this eminent financial Journal. With
land area exceeding that Of the
United States and with tiIlahle areas
coming under cultivation. the wealth
OF Canadas future can scarcely be esti-
mated. while the wealth today Ii such
as to bring her most prominently be-
fore the world.
During the past year thousands OF
farmers In Western Canada sold their
crops for more than the total cost OF
their land. Lands at from $40 to $50
an acre produced crops worth $40 to
$1o an acre. Stock raising and dairy
Ing were equally profitable. &
The year 1915 saw most wonderful
crops and magnificent yields over tho
entire country. and many fnrniers
wiped out Indebtedness that had
hung over them long before they came
to the country, and the year 1915 put
them In condition OF absolute indie
pendencc. A report to hand verified
by a high ollicial might seem marvel
GUS, were tho particulars. not we'll
known, and where,ar not other cases
that would seem almost al phenom-
email. This Is a southern Alberta story:
A farmer wished to rent an adjoining
farm on which loan company held b.
mortgage. The applicant said no want
ed the first ten bushels OF wheat, after
which he would divide giving the loan
company one-third. After threshing
he paid into the bank at Calgary $40
per acre for every acre cultivated. to
the credit of the loan company. as
their share or their third OF the crop.
Sixteen dollars per acre rent. His
two-thirds was $32 and In addition the
tlrst ten bushels Of wheat. Land on
this same security can be purchased
for from $40 to $50 per acre. Won.
derful yields are reported from oil
parts OF this district. Recently 4,640
acres of a ranch were sold to an Illi-
nois farmer; 800 acres Of wheat In
1915 produced a yield that averaged
a2h bushels of wheat per acre. George
Richard, formerly Of Providence, II. L.,
on southern Alberta farm got 2.052
bushels Of wheat from 50-acre field,
or over 40 bushels per acre, and from
a bO-ncre field of oats got return OF
rs bushels per acre and still had some
sheaves left over for feeding.
A report just issued by the Alberta
government gives the yield of wheat In
the showing OF 1916 as % bushels pei
acre; As bushels Of oats and 30 bushels
Of barley.
Travellers through Albertn's whea,
belt have had revealed to them scenes
Of agricultural productiveness unnp
preached In any other part Of tn,
world. -
Alberta farms, selected with ever
moderate discretion, have raised mel
TO independence aud afiluence with rec
ords Of wonderful development unsur
passed amongst the phenomenal indus
trial success Of which Canada well MAJ
boast.
Many almost incredible yields have
been reported by reliable authorities
wheat exceeding 10 bushels per acre
and oats las bushels.
+ Numerous records show that the cosi
of farms has been more than repaid by
this years crop. In one instance, land
purchased for $500 produced wheat
which was sold for little over $4,000
During the year 1917 there will bs
an immense amount Of labor required
to take care OF the crop In Manitoba
Saskatchewan and Alberta.
One of the problems which Western
Canada has TIC, face every year In thu
securing OF an adequate supply Of
labor to handle the harvesting ant
threshing Of Its big crops. This prob
lem, indeed, Is always present In an,
country that has big agricultural pro
1 uucUOn LII tie CtlsS Ol VcsIcTH SAn
ada 1t Is enhanced by the comparative
sparsity OF population and the long dis
lance from Industrial districts, which
can be expected to offer surplus Of
labor.
In Western Canada the present difh
culties are Increased by the war. A yer.
large number OF Western Canada''
small population have enlisted for serv
Ice with the Canadian forces In Europe
and at the present time there is gen
orally speaking no surplus OF labor FOL
the ordinary channels Of industry, e
say nothing OF the abnormal demands
Of harvest time. The situation, how
ever, has to some extent been met by
the action Of the Canadian militia de
partment, who have released all such
men who are still In training In the
| western military camps and who desire
to engage In harvest work for period
| OF generally one month.
The actual number Of men engaged
In 1915 iii harvest work was between
| forty and fifty thousand. Wages were
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