The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1917-12-28
AGRICULTURE THE
MA|NSTAYO Dr. THE
NATION
The United States and Canada
Have a Great Responsibility.

inOssback," and in Il tone that could
never nave been called deriSive, but
stu there was in it the infection that
he was occupying an inferior position.
The stiH upper lip that the farmer car
fied, Warded off any approach that his
occupation was Il degrading one. His
hour arrived. though. and for some
Years past he has been looked up To as
occupying q high position.
Agriculture. by a natural trend If
tonoinic conditions. stands out today
ia strong relief, as the leader in the
worlds pursuits. Never in the nntion's
history have the eyes Of the world
been so universally focused on the
farm. The farmer is the man of i'm
portance: the manufactures of its most
necessary product, and he now enjoys
the dual satisfaction of reaping a max
imum of profit, rs Il result of his opera
lions. while he also becomes Il strong
factor in molding the worlds destinies.
manufacturers, business men, pro-
fessional men and bankers realize the
Importance of agriculture, and gladly
acknowledge it as the twin sister to
commerce. In commercial. financial
and political crisis. the tiller Of the
sou takes the most important place.
Maximum prices. the highest in many
decades, show the worlds recognition
Of the necessary requirement for more
farm stUffs. The time was coming
when this would have been brought
about automatically, but war time
conditions urged it forward. While the
farmer was able to secure land ut rea-
sonable prices. Throughout several Of
the Western states this condition cy-
lists. rs also I'm Western Canada.
Never has such a condition been
nOWn In commercial life. 1t is truly
an opportunity Of Il lifetime. Large
small manufacturing concerns and
practically every other line Of bust
ness have been limited in their profits
Ia the point Of almost heroic sacrifice.
While il is possible today to reap livi-
Iends in farming u%nequalcd in any
other lire.
Thirty. and us high as Fifty bushels
Of wheat per acre at 500 per bushel
and all other farm produce on Il SINH
lar basis. grown and produced on land
asailablc at from $50 10 $40 per acre
represents a return of profit despite
higher cost OF labor and machinery,
filat III many cases run even higher
than 1000 Of an annual return on the
amount invested. Such is the present
da. condition in Western Canada. How
long it will last, no one can forelell.
Prices for farm produce will likely re-
main high for many years. Certainly,
The low prices of past years will not
come again in this generation. The
lands referred to, are low in price ut
present. but they will certainly IN
crease to their naturally productive
value rs soon as the demand for them
necessitates this increase, and this day
is not far distant. This demand Is
growing daily the farmer now on The
ground is adding to his holdings while
prices are low; the agriculturis, on
high priced lands is realizing that he
is not getting all the profit that his
ncighbor in Western Canada is secur-
ing: the tenant farmer Is seeking a
home of his own. which he can buy
on what he was paying out for rent.
and many are t~.Grsaking the crowded
cities to grasp these unprecedented OPP
%pnrtunities.
The tenant farmer. and the owner
Of high priced land, is now awakening
to the realization that he is not get
ting the return for his labor and In
vestment that it is possible to secure In
Western Canadn. Thousands are max
ing trips Of inspection to personally I'M
eestigate conditions and to ~acquaint
themselves with the broadening bene-
fits derived by visiting Western Can
ada. Such trips awaken in a progress
siye man that natural desire TO do
bigger things, to accomplish rs much
rs his %neighbor, and frequently result
i'm convincing and satisfying him that
Gods most fertile outdoors. with n big
supply of natures best climatic and
health-giving conditions lies in West
ern Canada.
The days Of pioneering are over the
Seeker after 8; new home travels
through all parts Of the country on the
same good railway trains as he has
been accustomed to at home. but on
which he has been accorded Il special
railway rate Of about u cent a mile.
He finds good roads for automobiling
and other traffic; rural telephone lines
owned by the provincial governments;
rural schools and churches situated
conveniently to ill well appointed and
homelike buildings, and everywhere an
indication Of general prosperity cities
and towns with MI modern improve
lments, and what is the most cOnvinc-
ing factor in his decision, Il satisfied
and prosperous people, with n whole
hearted welcome to that country If q
larger life and greater opportunities.
To Western Canada belongs the dis
tinguished honor Of being the holder
Of all worlds championships in wheat
and pats for both quality nnd quantity.
FOr many years in succession Western
Canada has proven her claim for eu-