The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-18
CANADA TO PLANT
LESS WHEAT NOW
Great Area Will Be UnsOwn to
Rest Land, Says Alberta
Authority.
PRAIRIE PROVINCES DRY
Grain Growers Demand Com
pletion Of Hudson Bay
Railroad.
ssecial Correspondence 10 TIE sus.

WINNIPEG, March 15.-Every indca-
ton Is that the acreage devoted to the
raising OF grain in Canada this year will
be much less than last year, In the opin-
ion OF II. w. Wood. president of the
United Farmers of Alberta.
The necessity for the tremendou sly
high rate Of production of grain which
was In evidence during the war, he de-
clares. has disappeared. to a certain ex-
tent at least, with the signing OF the
Mmlstlce and the grain growers feel
that the land needs a rest. The chance
for obtaining the high war prices for
grain is much less too, he points out.
and this will be a big factor in deter
mining the amount Of grain 10 be pro-
d.ced
Western farms said Mr.. Wood.
since the war have been producing
every pound OF grain they could. This
has been induced by reason OF the
greater production campaign and fixed
profitable price. Now the policy must
necessarily change. The land must be
given a rest and the chances for high
prices are not nearly SO good.
Record Area to Lie Fallow.
Il believe the greatest area of sum-
mer fallow the West has ever seen will
be put in this summer. OF course this
means a very much increased production
in 1920, though d much smaller grain
acreage this summer. There Is another
reason for the adoption OF this policy.
There has not been a time in years when
the prairie provinces were 80 dry as to-
day. There was little rain last summer.
and little snow outside of Manitoba this
winter until recently"
In connection with the campaign for
as large a production OF grain as pos
sible the newspapers throughout the
West are unit in demanding that the
Government complete the Hudson Bay
Railroad this season. The grade is com.
plete to tidewater at the bay and the
rails are laid for the entire distance ex-
pit at the north end, where ninety-two
miles of steel are required to complete
the track The Grain Growers Associa-
ton is especially energetic In demanding
that this work be finished by the Gov
ernment.
There Is no local traffic In that terri
tory to be served. although the sup
porters OF the road believe that will de-
velop rapidly. The grain growers con-
tend that the Hudson Bay route will
force down the freight charges IN get
ting their grain to the ultimate consumer
overseas, and for this reason they want
10 see the line completed this season.
Bay terminals are ready to receive grain
at tidewater but no grain can be car
ried'to Europe by way OF this new line
until ships are especially constructed.
Must he Built to Thwart Ice.
Some OF the most enthusiastic advo-
Gates Of that ancient channel for COM
mercial relations with Europe contend
that common oceangoing vessels which
now handle shipments can be employed
for the Hudson Bay traffic. 1t is de-
clared. however. in authoritative quar-
tiers that the ships must be especially
constructed to withstand ice pressure
Because OF this many points in the West
that require railway connections feel
that their wants should be supplied be-
fore the Hudson Bay line is completed
The production Of grain this year will
reflect also the TaVages Of the epidemic
OF Spanish influenza which travelled the
whole Dominion. Victims OF the disease
west or the lakes are estimated AT very
close to 10000. including all OF those
who died OF influenza and its complIca-
tons up 70 January Of this year Mani
TOBIAS vital statistics are incomplete but
with the figures now at hand Il is indi-
Gated that the total III that province will
reach AT least 1000.
Saskatchewans official figures are
complete and show that the total Of
deaths from the disease and It's attend
ant complications is we'll In excess OF
$500 Alberta and British Columbia. both
OF which are incomplete as to official
figures, are expected TO number q little
less than 5000 each.
The housing problem is becoming one
OF outstanding seriousness in Winnipeg
Just now. Real estate men estimate that
5000 new homes OF FIVE TO seven rooms
could be rented or sold to-day at fair
values. There lbs been no building here
for four years and 10000 people have
since come TO the city, while an influx
OF %. 900 soldiers will take place this
spring.
The plans OF the -four provincial gov
ernments west of the lakes In response
TO the demands OF the Moral Reform AS
ISOLATION and Lords Day Alliance. to
employ an army OF police stool pigeons
TO enforce the prohibition laws is pro-
voking a storm Of protests.
In Alberta and British Columbia they
propose TO go TO the extreme OF permit
ting these stool pigeons TO make arrests
without warrants and search any place
except n private home without war
rant.