The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1919-09-12
A Few of the Wonderful Things
We Saw on Our Canadian Tour

Leaving Winnipeg we entered our
real special, with an illuminated sign
on the end telling the world that thls
was the tour of the National Edltorlai
Association of the United States. 1t
was a modern hotel on wheels, equip
ped for long journey. Telegraph and
mail matter received expert attention
at a complete post and telegraph OF
flee, where stamps could be bought
and any supplies obtained to expedite
the sending of the many sacks OF mall
that left that train. Several stenog-
raphers were along, and battery oil
typewriters. A movie man carried a
machine with screen and films enough
to entertain us evenings when our
train was parked in the mountains Tor
the night. We were also accompanied
by man taking movie pictures OF our
party, whatever we did. A daily news
paper was issued by Mr. Willard Car
penter of Chicago.
We had medical attendant, nurse
and a medicine chest
There were Canadian publishers
from each of the nine provinces, one
of them the publisher of the only
French daily in Canada. These men
were full of information, and added
greatly to our pleasure.
We went thru about 1000 miles of
the Dominion, with as varied scenery
as the most blase could wish. The
Canadian National took us west to
Vancouver, and while we went down
into the states for the convention, our
train was renovated, and switched to
the tracks of the Canadian Pacific for
the return.
The total population of the four
great western provinces, Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Alberta and British
Columbia is but two-and-one-fourth
millions, while their area is more than
four times that of Texas. So it will
appear that population, the right kind
of population, is necessarily the prime
factor in their future. That is why the
Canadian government was anxious to
have us make the tour, believing that
presenting the country to newspaper
men of the United States would be
the best way to show her advantages
to this country, aitd it is here she ex
poets to get her billions more.
Northwestward from Winnipeg we
travelled thru well settled country
where sprinkling of American farm
ers have become prosperous. With
sufficient rainfall, they devote them
selves to mixed farming, their live
stock and dairy products equaling in
value their output of grain, vegetables
and small fruits.
4
nice meals along the line, at prosper
Gus, boosting little cities, where they
keep warm in the winter time with
Canadian coal, or with anthracite from
Pennsylvania. We reached the prov
ince of Saskatchewan, the second
steppe of the western plains, having
raised more than 1000 feet in the 225
miles from Winnipeg.
Thru wondrous farming country, we
came to Saskatoon-"Th Mystic City
of Saskatoon''-so called from its phe
nOmenal growth. Only a few years
ago, three struggling villages clustered
on the banks of the Saskatchewan
river decided to combine, and it i.
on this foundation that the city ha:
become wonder municipality O
about $4,000 inhabitants, living OF
both banks of the river. We wer,
driven to the Dominion grain elevator
a succession of outstanding mammoth
cylinders up on hill, capable of stor
ing 100000 bushels of grain at on
time. We visited the university
| planned for 5000 students. Thre
| transcontinental railways go thru thi
city, and any number of branch line
penetrate the 47,000 square miles o
| farming country of which Saskatoon
| is the center. It's broad paved streets
well lighted; it's handsome publi
buildings and business blocks, ney
and fine like those of Denver; it's fiv
bridges, one of which cost the cit,
$500, 900; even the prosperity appa1
ent among the people rather aston
ished us.
Going almost due north, we reached
Prince Albert, named for the consor
of the late Queen Victoria, on tn,
banks of the same river, our mos
northern visit, about 400 miles from
the international boundary line
Prince Albert is a surprisingly beau
tiful little city, founded in 1856 by
Presbyterian missionary 1t becam,
a trading point for the Hudson's Bay
we found had stores in nearly every
city we visited, for they once owned
Canada. Five lines of railroad leave
this city, with two more under con
struction. Here we saw fair, ant
had our supper in one of the fair build
ings. The exhibits were of interest
but the thing that took our eye was &
lot of Indians in moccasins, who hat
driven to see the fair
On we went to North Battleford
which enjoys being the center of ex
change for six systems of rural tele
phones. Does that surprise you
Land around there is wonderful, and
can be purchased for from SIS to $35
per acre. There is every reason to
believe that it will increase rapidly in
value, though there seems to be an
unlimited supply of it. 1t is in this