The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-03-02

were actually within Its boundaries after
the disputes OF that date were settled
and II was still known Us the Postage
Stamp" province until 1912. when Its
boundaries we're enlarged to the present
limits of l51 ,S32 square miles, a region
with untoll possibilities and great fu-
ture.
Population Then and Now.
The population OF Manitoba at It's ere
alton nifty years ago was 1900, To-
day II is well over 100000. Fifty years
hence there Is no reason why II should
not be 10000. 900. because II stands at
the threshold of It's real growing time
and It's resources are such that II can
easily maintain such a population. while
Its present ratio Of increase Of popula-
tion Is faster than that Of any State In
the Union In the past fifty years
The new province had no debt TO be
taken over, so It was given a small capl-
tai account to its credit the interest on
$4,000 being its income, plus sub
sidy of $4,000 and an allowance OF so
cents per head OF population up to a
definite limit. The present subsidy from
the Dominion as interest on its capital
account (now put Mt 1881, ,6S3.S5), an
allowance In lieu OF lands Of $409 900
and 80 cents per head on its last census
population amount to a total OF nearly
Sl.50O,O00 ger r'annum, while its revenue
from all sources is about $1,000 900 pGr
apnum.
Progress In the new province was for
many years slow. Settlers from East
ern Canada had to come around through
the States and down the Red River from
Grand Forks, or across the old Dawson
trail. The building OF the Canadian Pa
cihc Railway. and even more the enter
prise OF the Northern Pacific which
FIRST brought In a line from the south.
began to change the prospects of the
province. and its population at last be-
gan to grow TO respectable proportions
1t had to suffer from the usual draw
backs, including boom times with their
Inevitable reactions. those OF the eighties
being perhaps the worst. but II is no.
table that old timers with few excep-
tions showed their grit and stayed on,
with the result that their hopes were JUS
tined and to-day our leading men in all
branches OF business are either pioneers
or their descendants.
Rich in High Grade Grains.
1t is as a grain growing province
that Manitoba has made It's reputation
In the past. reputation likely TO con-
tinue for many years, but we are on
the verge OF big changes which will at
tract attention to other fields of riches
which may surpass even our agricul-
tural wealth.
Manitoba No. Hard" has become
world famous and its No Northern"
standard grade for wheat The wheat
crop Of 1886 was only 1852 500 bushels.
but In 1915, which was n banner year.
we produced over 96.600,000 bushels Of
wheat alone, other crops and agricul-
tural products being proportionate. The
last two or three years have cllmatically
been abnormal but in 1918 the total
value OF agricultural production was
$S16.972,S20, and for 1919, the figures
not yet complete or verified are expected
to reach In the nelghborhood OF $780,
900, 900.
Remembering that 4S per cent. Of our
small population is In the urban dis
tricts, and that we have only about
$1,000 farmers on the land, these flg-
ures are remarkable enough. out fg-
ures fail to tell the real story or to
portray all of II.
To develop agricultural production IN
Manitoba 1t was necessary to overcome
certain natural prejudices and real dis
abilities. Soil tillage methods which had
been found profitable in eastern Canada
and the United States did not prove
satisfactory here. The development of
the livestock industry was considered
doubtful, becaTse of what were con-
sidered severe climatic conditions Rail-
way facilities did not exist or were very
Inadequate for many years tariff restric-
tons. especially cn implements. and the
long railway hauls for our produce were
a handicap. Credits were not estab-
lished. and the quality of our products
was not recognizod.