The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-04-21
FARM LABOR N DEMAND
IN WESTERN CANADA
Extraordinary inducements Being
Offered.

worse, and unless drastic and immedi-
ate action is taken, prices viii con-
tnue to climb higher. 1t is hoped by the
Canadian government that by offering
extra inducements to secure a home
stead of 160 acres Of excellent land in
the demonstrating areas of Western
Canada, with the combined effort of the
farmer in extraordinary preparation
of tilIage and bigger wages than ever,
that Western Canada, with the assist
ance of a Divine Providence. may pro-
duce a greater number of million acres
of wheat than ever in the past. The
farm laborer can now secure a home
stead on easier conditions than ever
before. Ali the time that he works
for a Western Canadian farmer dur
ing 1917, after he makes his entry or
filing will count as residence on his
homestead for that year. leaving him
but two additional years residence,
before getting title to a piece of land
that should then be easily worth
81 900. The response to this offer has
been wonderful, and hundreds have al
ready taken advantage Of il.
The climate of Western Canada is
one that breeds energy, instils life and
buOyancy, and with the soil that the
country possesses, no greater asset
could be desired. The country is past the
pioneering stage; its ability to grow
all the smaller grains better than any
other portion of the continent has
been proven so often that it seems
waste of time to speak of it. The high
name that has been given the country
IN h., 81
it raises, has placed 1T in the high col
umn with the best states of the Union.
And then social conditions, something
that every housewife asks about, are
rs nearly perfect as could be wished
for. Thousands of miles of telephone
line connect the remOtest hamlet with
the principal cities OF the country and
continent, miles of excellent graded
roads, as well as the perfect natural
roads of the prairie. make driving and
hauling easy. GridirOned as these
provinces are with railway lines
bring the farm near to Atlantic or Pa
cif1c, or United States markets, rural
mail delivery brings the settler still
closer to the homes abroad. Rural
and consolidated schools everywhere
are easy adjuncts to the colleges and
universities, which are said to be
among the best on the continent
Taxation is light, and only applied
on the farm land, cattle, implements,
etc, on the farm being exempt. Many
farmers, having realized sufficient
from one crop OF wheat to pay for
their entire farm holdings, have in
stalled their own electric light and
heating plants. have their automobiles
and many Iuxuries they would not
have possessed on their old home
abroad. Life is comfortable and ex-
iStence enjoyable in Western Canada.
In no country is there a greater per
! centage of cOntented farmers, and in
no part of the continent is farming
easier or more profitable.
Land there will produce 80 bushels
OF wheat to the acre, while there are
many cases where the yield was
higher, as high as 20 bushels. What
! this means TO the farm laborer does
not fully appear on the surface. He
/ will get good wages, he can secure a
/ homestead worth at the end Of three
/ years about LOGO, while working for
/ wages he can put in residence duties
and can also look around, and find a
/ good location
/ Besides the homesteading attraction
/ Of Western Canada, there remains the
j other fact that other lands can be
purchased at from SIS to $50, while
( improved farms may be had at rea-
sOnable figures.
The desire to have a piece OF land
of ones own is a natural instinct in
6 Of IL nod
man and woman In earlier years, on
/ account of the great areas Of land
/ available in the United States, no
+ great difficulty was experienced
I by any ambitious settler OF that
/ country who wished to become his
own Iandholder. but the rapid in
/ crease in population, combined with
/ the corresponding rise in the price Of
land, has completely changed this con-
/ dition. Land. which a generation ago
/ might be had for the hOmeSteading
now commands prices ranging to 500
an acre and over. At such prices it is
| quite hopeless for the tenant farmer
or the farmers son in moderate cir
cumstances, or the city man with lin
I tied capital, to attempt to buy q farm
OF his own. To pay for IL becomes
/ lifelong task, and the probability is
that he Will never do more than meet
the interest charges If he is serious
IN his desire to secure q farm home,
he must look to countries where there
i is still abundant fertile land available
| at moderate cost, and where these
lands are to be purchased on terms
which make It possible for the settler
with small capital to become a farm
| owner as the result Of few years Ia
Dor. He will also want land in coun-
try where the practices Of the people
are similar to those to which he has
been accustomed; a country with the
same language, same religion, same
4 general habits OF living. with laws
currency, weights and measures. etc.
based on the same principles as those
with which he is familiar. He wants
a country where ne can buy land from
$1,000 TO 5000 an acre. which viii
produce as big or bigger crO1Ss as those
he has been accustomed tosfrom lands
at $1,000 an acre He wants this