The Benson signal., 1918-07-27
ADVANCEMENT IN
WESTERN CANADA
FARM LAND PRICES

Stories of phenomenal advancement
and prosperity in Western Canada
have been told the reading public for
some years past. The stories were told
when there were hundreds of thOus-
ands of acres Of splendid land adja-
cent to railways and projected lines,
which could be had on the payment OK
q mere $40 entry fee, and under cult1-
walton and living conditions. AS was
prophesied then, the day has come
when these are few. There are still
available thousands Of these; they are
some distance now from the railways.
The land Is as good as ever, but pio-
neering conditions will have changed.
A great many are still taking advan-
tage of this free offer from the govern
ment. The story was told when good
lands near lines of railway could be
bought for from So to $40 per acre
and the prophecy made THAT these
prices would double in few years, for
the intrinsic value was far more than
that. That day has come more quickly
than expected. The immense crops Of
grain that could be raised has brought
about the change. and the demand for
low priced lands with maximum re-
turns has prompted the keen pur-
chaser as well as the owner Of higher
priced land from which no greater re-
turn could be looked for. Prices OF
land in Western Canada are still ad-
vancing. and will continue to advance
until, of course, the limit is reached
when returns will warrant no further
increase. That day is not far distant.
But, in the meantime, there are large
tracts Of land owned by land compa-
nies and private individuals that have
not felt the advance that has been
shown In other districts. The Oppor-
tunity to purchase these should not
be lost sight of, and If there are those
amongst the readers of this article.
which is authorized by the Canadian
government, who wish cheap land.
such lands as produce from Is to 40
bushels per acre, and will pay for
themselves out Of one years crop, ad-
| vantage should be taken of the present
opportunity.
Coming to Alberta with his family
thirteen years ago, his assets consist
ing of small outfit and 500 In cash.
Mr.. o. F. Malmberg has accumulated
by farming and live stock raising as
sets to the value Of more than $780,
600, and has a personal credit, worth
on demand, 100000. He has not specu-
lated in land, but bought only to farm.
Near Blackie, Alberta, he operates 81
100 acres Of wheat land. He has just
purchased an additional 1850 acres
near Cardston, in Southern Alberta.
His personal credit enabled him to
finance this deal in Calgary in little
| over three hours. The ranch just pur-
chased is fully equipped stock and
grain ranch. At the present time it
carries a thousand head Of cattle and
several hundred horses, and is fully
equipped with buildings, machinery,
cOrrals, sheep sheds. dipping vats, etc.
That is story from one district. Let
us select one from a district some hun
dred or more miles from that.
"Peter A. Klassen, who recently
moved to Herbert, Sask.. from Kansas,
has purchased section Of prairie land
In the Hillsboro district, about "a miles
northwest Of Herbert, for which he
paid $4,000 cash. He is erecting tenn
porary buildings to live in while put
ting the place in cultivation, and, this
Y11Q RI hYyi1
on the farm and equip it for home.
Mr.. Klassen recently sold his 8O-acre
farm in Kansas for $4,000 and is in
vesting the proceeds in Canada"
With the proceeds of the sale of his
land in Kansas, this farmer purchased
In Saskatchewan piece eight times as
large as he had previously been farm
| ing, and had a balance with which to
purchase equipment, stock, ETC., of $3,-
| 600. Moreover as land in Saskatche-
wan may be expected to yield twice as
| much grain per acre, he will be able
to produce sixteen times as much as
formerly.
The average value of farm land for
the whole Of Canada, including land
improved and unimproved, together
with dwelling houses, barns, stables
and other farm buildings, is approxi-
mately $44 per acre as compared with
| $41 in 1916, according to the latest re-
port of the Census and Statistics
branch at Ottawa. The average value
| of land in the Prairie Provinces Is as
follows:
Manitoba .............s .s31.OO
Saskatchewan ......... $500
Alberta ............... 26.7O
It Is the low prices at which land
can be obtained in Western Canada
which is rendering this country such
an fmDOrtant fa actOr in tho nrOductiOn