River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-02-06


The war having been brought to a
favorable conclusion more attention
can now be given to the agricultural
and industrial development Of Western
Canada. which were checked by the
SroubIous times OF the past four years
Row that these are over, the proper
DEVELOPMENT OF the country VIII De
continued
True, much agricultural progress has
been made during this time Crop pro-
duction has been greatly increased. the
number Of live stock has steadily
grown, and with each succeeding year
the dairying and wool industries have
become more important But despite
This forward march, many phases OF
development have been held In check
The activities OF farmers, too, have
been greatly hampered by shortage Oh
labor, and, under the circumstances
what they have achieved can only Do
described as marvellous
Exrepting those industries closely al,
aipd to agriculture, such as butter ana
cheese manufacture, industrial ACTIVITY
sn tha Prairie Provinces has been al
rsOsf at a s4andgtiII- And even In
these branches extensions have been
strictly limited to those of urgent ne
sqrgysTfv. Building las been consider
ably cg1rtaIled. especially In the towns
and cities, though many commonouS
and up-to-date dwellings, barns anu
ether buildings have been erected Dy
farmers in the country Indeed. the
amount of building farmers have done
as one of the outward signs OF their
prosperity; but considerably more OF
BIT would have been done had not the
sn0re important work OF food prOduc-
zion received priority in the labor
available. Railway construction work
has been almost entirely suspended
With more help available, and the
use OF the labor saving devices that
have been adopted during the last few
years great advances In the agrlcul-
anral Development OF Western Canada
might be looked for even If NO new
settlers were expected: but the COM
ing of thousands of prospective set
41ers who have hitherto been deferred
only by the unsettled conditions from
making their homes in this last great
West VIII give a considerable impetus
TO every phase of agriculture In these
Prairie Provinces
Hand in hand With the development
Of agriculture, there viii be a renewal
Of industrial activity For the estab-
aishrnent OF such industries as sugar
reflneries. canneries, and many other
Industries for the utilization or the
products Of the land, as well as for
the extension of the already lmpOr-
sant industries of butter and cheese
manufacture, are splendid Opportuni-
ties. Mining, numbering, Quarrying,
the manufacture of clay products are
MISC n few industries capable OF con-
siderable growth, and to which great
er attention can now be devoted
To provide accommodation for pres
ent business requirements alone would
keep the building trade busy, for a
Anng time, but with further develop
ment In the cities it is impossible to
foresee any slacknesS in any branch OF
this trade. And the number OF farm
ars whose needs have OutgrOwn their
present accommodation and who have
been awaiting an opportunity to re-
'Olace their buildings by larger and
more modern ones, is considerable and
constantly increasing. Municipal work
viii be gradually resumed, and the
railways have much work in contem-
plation.
!; All this points to a period of great
prosperity In Western Canada-agri-
cultural and industrial prosperity. The
former is the more important, for on
Ut the latter depends. Being prima-
fTIy an agricultural country, Western
Canada will probably pass through the
readjustment period with little diff
Guilty.
There is no reason to believe that
farming will be less remunerative than
Ut has been in the past; there are, on
the other hand, many good and sound
ReaSOns for believing that the returns
will be as large as ever. One thing is
certain: Intelligent farming on the
fertile prairies of Western Canada, re-
curing as 1t does the smallest posi-
ble capital outlay compared with that
required to get a. start in older set
tied countries, will continue to be one
IL the quickest and surest ways to in
dependence that can be followed by
the average NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.