The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1922-03-22
FARM CHEAP LAND
Why Western Canada Agricultu-
rists Are Smiling.
Low Overhead Expense and 6ounttful
Crops Have Enabled Them to
Overcome Agricultural
Depression.

The recent agricultural depression
brought to the eyes of the world the
fact that one of Its basic industries
was likely to suffer q severe blow un-
les steps were taken to secure q rem
edy. Physician after physician ap-
piled remedies. but even parliamenta-
rians and newspapers were unable
to place their finger on the pulse thai
would respond. AS it appears today
It was q spasmodic wave due to the
ebb and dow of the tide OF read1ust-
ment that was bound to follow a dis
turbance such as the Great War
caused.
Psychologically 1t was bound to
change there was certain to be q re-
mex movement that would bring agri-
cultural conditions back Il the place
where they normally and rightly De-
long.
Eficiency and sound business judg-
ment are needed more in agriculture
today than ever before and are as I'M
poetant to the farmer as to a railroad
company, or to a great steel corpora
tion.
The farmer must endca vvr to secure
On equal footing in the competition
for . lower cost Of production. In
Western Canada the farmer has come
through the dark era with that forti-
tude and determination 20 peculiar to
Z new country. and Is meeting the
changed situation with energy and q
slnlle. In Western Canada the farmer
II not hampered by an annual over
head expense Of heavy interest on
high-priced land. He is able to pro-
duce at q minimum, because his land
value seldom exceeds $50 an acre.
Owing to the fact that he Is farming
land the price Of which Is from $25
70 80 an acre, producing crops Of
wheat running from 20 to 40 bushels
per acre. and other grains In proper
don, be ID able to produce at q low
coet. In addition to this, q fact which
GhOuld not be lost sight Of, Ii the large
iarea that he can farm at low cost, CIV
lng him IN added advantage in reduc-
Ing the cost Of production.
The corn that the farmer fully ex-
pected 70 bring him over . dollar q
buahel, 10 saw carried away to the
fnarket and bring back a 80 or 40 cent
cAeck. Wheat for the whole Of Can
ada averaged IS cents q bcshel in 1921
- compared with 1852 In 1920: oats
~ cents a against s. cents; barley
~ cents ~ against IS cents. Other
grain prices similarly fell. While
ether parts Of the continent, where
grain-growing ID carried on. have sui.
fored IN like manner by defation In
prices, they have had to face q much
higher cost Ii production, such as high
rents, high-priced farms, and high
taxeA Farmers had calculated On re-
coiving wal or nearly war figures for
their grain and therefore we're amply
justified In submitting to the tax that
soaring land prices set upon them.
Weotern Canada fortunately did not
ouRer from inflated land prices. There
l1oee. when grain prices fell, the losses
sustained were not 30 great; they did
not cut ont the margin Of profit. ex-
cepting n some ases where some eli
matlc conditions caused II.
VIII not take advantage Of the
HOmeseekers rate to any point In
Western Canada. Of return rate single
6nte plus &2yO0. and ct information
1rom The nearest Canadian Govern.
ment Observation-Disclosures.