The Ordway new era., 1918-07-26
ADVANCEMENT IN
WESTERN CANADA
FARM LAND PRICES

have been told the reading public for
some years past. The stories were told
when there were hundreds of thou5-
ands of acres of splendid land ada
cent to railways and projected lines.
which could be had on the payment Of
a mere $40 entry fee.' and under culti-
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 rs ever. but pio-
neering conditions will have changed.
great many are still taking advan-
tage of this free offer from the govern
ment. The story wns told when good
lands near lines of railway could be
bought for from SS 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 rnised 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 or
land in Western Canada nre 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
trncts of land owned by lnnd compa-
MES and private individuals thnt 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 25 to 40
bushels per acre. and viii 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 $50 in cash.
Mr.. o. F. Mnlmberg has accumulated
by farming and live stock raising as
sets to the value of more than $780,
900, and has n 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 II 800 acres
near Cardston. in Southern Alberta.
His personal credit enabled him to
finance this deal In Calgary in a little
over three hours. The ranch Just pur-
chased is fully equipped stock and
grain ranch. At the present time 1t
carries thousand head of cattle and
several hundred horses, and is fully
equipped with buildings. machinery.
corrals. sheep sheds, dipping watts. etc.
That Is story from one district. Let
us select one from 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
DluIS W tit't SoOu
on the farm and equip 1t for n home.
Mr.. Klassen recently sold his 80-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 us he had previously been farm
ing, and had balance with which to
purchase equipment. stock. etc, of 3d.
900. 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 S44 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:
ManltODa ...--...... .Sol.O
Saskatchewan ...... 26OO
Alberta ........'.... Zo.iO
1t Is the low prices at which land
can be obtained in Western Canada
which Is rendering this country such
an important factor In the production
of foodstuffs at the present time. 1t
is enabling men who have been farm
Ing small areas In older districts to
take up and farm with the same capi-
tai areas not only many times as great,
but which are also capable Of produc-
Ing considerably larger crops to the
acre Observation-Disclosures.