The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-01-04
THE
MA|NSTAY OF THE
NATION
The United States and Canada
Have a Great Responsibility.

| HIS Is lHt ddy NntA tllC lal itlti
has his innings. The time was when
he was dubbed the farmer" the
''mossback," and in a tone that could
never have been called derisive, but
| still there was in it the infection that
he was occupying an inferior position.
The stiff upper lip that the farmer car
ried, warded off any approach 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 natural trend of
economic conditions, stands out today
in strong relief, as the leader In the
history have the eyes of the world
been so universally focused on the
| farm. The farmer is the man of i'm
| portance; the manufacturer of its most
necessary product, and he now enjoys
the dual satisfaction of reaping max
imum of profit, as a result of his opera
| lions, while he also becomes strong
factor in molding the worlds destinies.
Manufacturers, business men, pro-
fessional men and bankers realize the
Importance of agriculture. and gladly
acknowledge 1t as the twin sister to
commerce. In commercial, financial
and political crisis, 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, and as high as fifty bushels
of wheat per acre at 1920 per bushel
and all other farm produce on a SINH
lar basis, grown and produced on land
available at from SIS 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 1t 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 a
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 op-
oortunities.
The tenant farmer. and the owner
If high priced land, is now awakening {
o the realization that he is not get I
ing the return for his labor and in
'estment that it is possible to secure in
Western Canada. Thousands are MAX
ng trips of inspection to personally in
'estigate conditions and TO acquaint
themselves with the broadening bene-
It's derived by visiting Western Can +
da. Such trips awaken in a progress a
i've man that natural desire to do r
igger things, to accomplish as much
S his neighbor, and frequently result q
l convincing and satisfying him that 4
DDS most fertile outdoors, with big n
apply of natures best climatic and 9
ealth-giving conditions lies in West "
N Canada.
The days of pioneering are over; the r
ecker after new home travels
trough all parts of the country on the
lme good railway trains as he has W
zen accustomed to at home, but on be
hich he mas been accorded special We
ilway rate of about one cent a mile. ST
e finds good roads for automobiling sc
d other traffic; rural telephone lines tr
vned by the provincial governments nj
raj schools and churches situated ca
nveniently to all; well appointed and gil
melike buildings, and everywhere an in
1ication of general prosperity; cities he
d towns with all modern improve he
ents, and what is the most convinc- 30
: factor in his decision, a satisfied
d prosperous people, with a whole
arted welcome to that country of a
ger life and greater opportunities. ioi
70 Western Canada belongs the dis cal
guished honor of being the holder the
all worlds Championships in wheat VIII
] oats for both quality and quantity. sh,