The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-04-12
|CHANGE IN THE
FARMERS LIFE
Making a Living" Idea Has De-
veloped Into a Money
Making Fact"

a few years ago-and not so man,
at that-most farmers were satisfied
If they saw ahead Of them the oppor
tunity to make fair living, a reason
able competence In their failing years
and an assurance of an existence fol-
their families. They worked hard
and titled their acres with this end In
view. Honest struggle, earnest eff.
fort and true conception of upright
manhood, together with the increas-
Ing knowledge that upon the fruits of
their endeavor rested the structure of
the world, whose people had to be fed
and maintained. Economy In method,
Improved conditions Of working, have
added to the farmers possibilities, and
| today instead of being a plodder for
an existence, which his early training
had bred into him, he has become the
| bulwark of the nation, and, as such,
has become elevated to a position
where his word and his work are rec
ognized as the factors 1t was always
Intended they should be. He is now
the man of business-of big business.
He has forced an appreciation of his
work, and the true value has been
placed upon it. The big men of the
country today are the farmers, who,
with business acumen and forensic
forethought are able to tell you-from
their books-what it costs to produce
q bushel of wheat or pound of wool.
All of which is intended to prove
that farming is business, as much
as banking or selling a suit of clothes.
It is an industrial business, with more
certain profits than accompany any
other line of trade. 1t is a manufac-
turing enterprise, devoid of any of the
dangers that the frills Of fashions
follies and desires force upon ordinary
pursuits. Food is something that all
must have and the farmer produces it.
The cheaper it can be produced the less
will be the cost to the consumer. And
this is one of the chief thoughts of the
Iarmer. Within the memory of the |
boy there have been i'm |
provements in machinery, changes in |
methods, scientific discoveries of chem |
icals as adapted to agriculture, all of !
which has lessened cost of production |
and made possible the cultivation of |
increased acres. In some parts these
things have brought about more inten-
sified agriculture, growing heavier
crops on less acres. Improved machin.
cry and demand for greater production
have led another class in search of
anger ar,as, where their ability may
cope with the growing of a greater
number of bushels. That is one of the
'easons why Western Canada lands
lave recently come into such demand.
These, at from twenty to thirty dol
ars an acre, and producing the pro-
ligious crops that are claimed for
hem, have attracted thousands of ,
american settlers, while other thou
ands have gone out into the lands in
he Western states. But, as to the Can {
da lands, there is this to say of them,
oday they are cheap, and if they will
ield sufficient in one year to pay the
ost of the entire purchase, why should
OF there be demand. The country
, well settled, and settlement is in /
reasing. AS evidence of the growth
the three Western Provinces into
hose territories the Canadian Govern
tent invites settlers, recent reports
how the following increases from 1913 t
, 1917 inclusive: