The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-05
AGRICULTURE THE
MAINSTAY Of THE
NATION
The United States and Canada
Have a Great Responsibility.


never have been called derisive, but
still there was in il the infection that
he was occupying an inferior position
The stiff upper lip that the farmer car
ried, warded OF any reproaeh that his
occupation was a degrading one. His
hour arrived, though. and for some
gears past he has been looked up to as
occupying a 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 manufacturer OF its most
necessary product, and he now enjoys
the dual satisfaction Of reaping q max
imum Of profit, as result OF his opera
lions, while he also becomes a 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 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-
sonab1e 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
20 the point of almost heroic sacrifice,
while it is possible today TO reap divi-
dends in farming unequaled in any
other line.
Thirty, and as high as fifty bushels
Df wheat per acre at $500 per buShel
and all other farm produce on a SINH
lar basis, grown and produced on land
available at from SO 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 foreteIl.
Prices for farm produce will likely re-
main high for many years. Certainly,
the low prices of past years viii not
come again in this generation. The
lands referred to, are low in price at
ET1< s-,F.
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 agricuIturist 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-
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 acouaint
themselves 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
as his neighbOr, and frequently result
in convincing and satisfying him that
Gods most fertile outdoors. with a big
supply OF natures best climatic and
health-giving conditions lies in West
ern Canada.
The days Of pioneering are over; the
seeker after a 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 a special
railway rate Of about one cent a mile.
He finds good roads for autOmobilinz
and other traffic; rural telephone lines
owned by the provincial governments:
rural schools and churches situated
conveniently to all; well appointed and
homelike buildings, and everywhere an
and towns with all modern improve
mentS, and what is the most convinc-
Ing factor in his decision, a satisfied
and prosperous people, with a whole
hearted welcome to that country Of
larger life and greater opportunities.
To Western Canada belongs the dis |
dnguished- honor OF being the holder |
OF all worlds championships in wheat |
and oats for both quality and quantity.
For many years in succession Western /
Canada has proven her claim for su- |
premacy In the most keenly contested /
National exhibitions and TO her is cred |
tied the largest wheat and cat Yields /
America has known The natural con-
ditions peculiar to Western Canada /
and so adaptable 20 grain growing, has /
been an insurmountable barrier for her
competitors to overcome In the last i
few years the yields OF wheat and 1
oats per acre have surprised the agri-
cultural world As much as sixty bush
els Of wheat per acre has been grown
on some farms, while others have fur I
nished afndavits showing over fifty