The sun., 1919-08-05
WESTERN CANADA OFFERS FIELD
FOR DEVELOPMENT BY PIONEERS
Richest Territory the Dominion Remains Almost Untouched
Grazing Is Limitess-One of Worlds Greatest Sources
for Future Supply of Meat.

>what has been described in this article
as the economically poor land Of the
east Is occupied at the present time by
moderate population, and affords them
sustenance Of kind, with some assist
ance from the forestry industries which
are natural to 1t. This Is particularly
the case with large areas Of back coun-
try In the province Of Quebec, where the
French speaking population struggles on,
and even increases. In spite OF the fact
that much better living conditions are to
be found elsewhere. They are retained
there by racial traditions and religious
influence. II Is some times charged that
their alleged economic backwardness IL
due to racial or religious characteristics;
but the probabilities are that II Is much
more due to the poverty and transporta-
tional difficulty of the country In which
they live. 1t is at least Interesting to
conjecture whether settlers Of any other
language, race or religion would have
done any better II obliged to remain In
such territory as that of the province Of
Quebec, north OF the fertile districts OF
the st. Lawrence Valley. In Ontario the
settlers who find themselves domiciled
In equally unattractive territory have
largely moved away to the cities or TO the
west
Ease OF TrnnspOFtattOns
Not less important than the fertility
of soil and the immense natural re-
sources of the Widest West in Alberta
and part Of Saskatchewan rs the abso-
lutte ease and cheapness with which
transportation can be supplied over the
entire area, as compared with the en-
cheering difficulties to be met with In
the East as soon as one gets fifty miles
~ NJ La
way system. The cost of the National
Transcontinental Railway is a striking
evidence of the ruinous burden under
taken by anybody who seeks to provide
high grade railway facilities In this ter
ritory.
A few local lines can be maintained
In river valleys running north and south,
provided that there is sufficient tranic
in minerals, lumber products or summer
resort visitors; but there rs no possibility
Of anything resembling the gridiron OF
railway lines that Is fast covering the
whole of the valuable territory Of the
Canadian West, and which, instead OF
being forced to follow the geographical
reculiarities of the country, Is able to
move the population and products or the
West in whatever direction Is most con-
venient.
The widest West is lacking in water
powers but can to some extent make
up for that deficiency by means OF
natural gas, oil and coal. and perhaps
by the use Of by-products from agri-
culture 1t is lacking in population
but that will be remedied with time
Its most serious drawback Is distances
from the markets which consume iii
products; but IL the United States II
destined to become an exporter OF man
ufactures and an importer Of foodstuffs
that drawback will be largely removed
The potential thickness OF western
Canada, In an economic sense. has beer
| immensely increased by the recent reve
,a..ons OF explorers IN the Far North
whereas there has been little to indi
cate that what there Is Of Far North ly
ing east of Hudson Bay will ever b'
of great value. VilhJalmur Stefanssor
| in a recent address in Montreal. declared
his firm conviction that northern Can
ada, by which term he was specifcall,
referring to the country adjacent to ant
analogous to Alaska, was destined u
be one of the great meat producing ter
! ,itoriaa of tina world.