The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1922-03-24
FARM CHEAP LAND
Why Western Canada AgricuItu-
riStS Are Smiling.
Low Overhead Expense and Bountiful
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 severe blow I'M
less steps were taken to secure rem
edy. Physician after physician ap-
piled remedies, but even parliamenta-
rians and newspapers were unable
to place their finger ON the pulse that
would respond. AS it appears today,
1t was spasmodic wave due to the
ebb and flow of the tide Of readjust-
ment that was bound to follow dis
turbance such as the Great War
caused.
Psychologically it was bound to
change; there was certain to be a re-
flex movement that would bring agri-
cultural conditions back to the place
where they normally and rightly be-
long.
Efficiency and sound business judg-
ment are needed more in agriculture
today than ever before and are as inn
portant to the farmer as to railroad
company, or to a great steel corpora
ton.
The farmer must endeavvr to secure
an 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 so peculiar to
new country, and is meeting the
changed situation with energy and
smile. In Western Canada the farmer
is not hampered by an annual over
head expense of heavy interest on
high-priced land. He is able to pro-
duce at a 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 $50
to $50 an acre, producing crops of
wheat running from 20 to 40 bushels
per acre, and other grains in proper
ton, he is able to produce at low
cost. In addition to this, fact which
should not be lost sight of, is the large
area that he can farm at low cost, CIV
ing him an added advantage in reduc-
ing the cost of production.
The corn that the farmer fully ex-
pected to bring him over dollar a
bushel, he saw carried away to the
market, and bring back 80 or 40 cent
check. Wheat for the whole of Can
ada averaged sc cents a bCshel in 1921
as compared with S162 in 1920; oats
81 cents as against SO cents; barley
Al cents as against SO cents. Other
grain prices similarly fell. While
other parts of the continent, where
grain-growing is carried on, have suf-
fered in like manner by def1ation in
prices, they have had to face a much
higher cost in production, such as high
rents, high-priced farms, and high
taxes. Farmers had calculated on re-
ceiving war or nearly war figures for
their grain and therefore were amply
justified in submitting to the tax that
soaring land prices set upon them.
Western Canada fortunately did not
suffer from inflated land prices. There
fore, when grain prices fell, the losses
sustained were not so great; they did
not cut out the margin Of profit, ex-
cepting in some cases where some eli
matte conditions caused it.
Why not take advantage of the
Homeseekers' rate to any point in
Western Canada, of return rate single
fare plus $500, and get information
from the nearest Canadian Govern
ment agent? Advertisement.