The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-01-04
THE
MAINSTAY Of THE
NATION
The United States and Canada
Have a Great Responsibility.

] - N''N 10y "faNN NNN
has his innings. The time was when
he was dubbed the farmer" the
'mossback," and in tone that could
I pever have been called derisive, but
. still there was In 1t the infection that
he was occupying an inferior position
The stn' upper lip that the farmer car
rled, warded off any reproach that his
occupation was a degrading one. His
hour arrived, though, and for some
years past he has been looked up to as
occupying high position.
Agriculture, by a natural trend OF
economic conditions, stands out today
in strong relief, as the leader in the
worlds pursuits. Never in the nations
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 max
imum Of profit, as a result of his opera
tions, 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 crises, the tiller of the
soil 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 at rea-
sonable prices. Throughout several of
the Western states this condition ex'
lists, as also in Western Canada.
Never has such a condition been
known in commercial life. 1t is truly
an opportunity of a lifetime. Large
and small manufacturing concerns and
practically every other line of bust
ness have been limited in their profits
to the point of almost heroic sacrifice,
while 1t is possible today to reap divi-
dends in farming unequaled in any
other line.
Thirty, aud as high as fifty bushels
of wheat per acre at $2.20 per bushel
and all other farm produce on a siml-
lar basis, grown and produced on land
available at from $15 to $40 per acre,
represents a return of profit despite
higher cost of labor and machinery,
that, in many cases runs even higher
than 1000 of an annual return on the
amount invested. Such is the present
day condition in Western Canada. How
long it will last, no one can fOretell.
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 at
present, but they will certainly in
crease to their naturally productive
value as 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 agriculturist on
high priced lands is realizing that he
is not getting all the profit that his
neighbor in Western Canada is secur-
ing; the tenant farmer is seeking n
home Of his own, which he can buy
on what he was paying out for rent,
and many are forsaking the crowded |
cities to grasp these unprecedented OPP |
portunities.
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 Canada. Thousands are max
ing trips of inspection to personally in
vestigate conditions and to acquaint
with the broadening bene-
fits derived by visiting Western Can
ada. Such trips awaken in a progress
sive man that natural desire to do
bigger things, to accomplish as much
rs his neighoor, and frequently result
n convincing and satisfying him that
Gods most fertile outdoors, with a big
supply Of natures best climatic and
conditions lies in West
,rn Canada.
The days Of pioneering are over; the
ecker after a new home travels
through all parts of the country on the
ame good railway trains as he has
'een accustomed to at home, but on
which he has been accorded a special
ailway rate of about one cent mile.
lie finds good roads for automObiling
nd other traffic; rural telephone lines
wned by the provincial governments
ural schools and churches situated
Onveniently to all well appointed and
omelike buildings, and everywhere an
ldication Of general prosperity; cities
nd towns with all modern improve ..
tents, and what is the most cOnyinc-
lg factor in his decision, satisfied
nd prosperous people, with a whole
earted welcome to that country of a
Irger life and greater opportunities.
To Western Canada belongs the dis
nguished honor of being the holder
all worlds championships in wheat
ld oats for both quality and quantity.
or many years in succession Western
anada has proven her claim for SUI
'emacy in the most keenly contested
ational exhibitions and to her Is cred
ed the largest wheat and oat yields
merica has known. The natural CON
tions peculiar to Western Canada
I'd so adaptable to grain growing, has -
zen an insurmountable barrier for her
mpetitors to overcome. In the last
W years the yields Of wheat and
is per acre have surprised the agri-