Читать книгу Canada West - Canada. Dept. of the Interior - Страница 8

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M. V. MacINNES, 176 Jefferson Ave., Detroit, Mich.	J. M. MacLACHLAN, Drawer 197, Watertown, S. D.
C. A. LAURIER, Marquette, Mich.	W. V. BENNETT, 220 17th St., Room 4, Bee Bldg., Omaha, Neb.
J. S. CRAWFORD, 301 E. Genesee St., Syracuse, N. Y.	GEO. A. COOK, 125 W. 9th St., Kansas City, Mo.
W. S. NETHERY, Room 82, Interurban Station Bldg., Columbus, Ohio.	BENJ. DAVIES, Boom 6, Dunn Block, Great Falls, Mont.
G. W. AIRD, 215 Traction-Terminal Bldg., Indianapolis, Ind.	J. N. GRIEVE, Cor. 1st and Post Sts., Spokane, Wash.
C. J. BROUGHTON, Room 412, 112 W. Adams St., Chicago, Ill.	J. E. La FORCE, 29 Weybrosset Street, Providence, R. I.
GEORGE A. HALL, 123 Second St., Milwaukee, Wis.	J. B. CARBONNEAU, Jr., Biddeford, Me.
R. A. GARRETT, 311 Jackson St., St. Paul, Minn.	MAX A. BOWLBY, 73 Tremont St., Boston, Mass.
FRANK H. HEWITT, 5th St., Des Moines, Iowa.	J. A. LAFERRIERE, 1139 Elm St., Manchester, N. H.
W. E. BLACK, Clifford Block, Grand Forks, N. D.	F. A. HARRISON, 210 North 3d St., Harrisburg, Pa.

The present demand for food stuffs and the expense of their production on high-priced lands make it seem that Western Canada, with its opportunity for meeting this demand, came into notice at the crucial period. Its millions of acres of land, easily cultivable, highly productive, accessible to railways, and with unexcelled climatic conditions, offer something too great to be overlooked.

The provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta have the largest area of desirable lands in North America, with but 8 per cent under the plough. Their cultivation has practically just begun. A few years ago the wheat crop amounted to only 71 million bushels. To-day, with only 4 per cent of the available area in wheat, the crop is over 209 million bushels. What, then, will 44 per cent produce?

Then look at immigration. In 1901 it was 49,149, of which 17,000 were from the United States; in 1906 it was 189,064, of which 57,000 were Americans; in 1913 it was about 400,000, about 125,000 being Americans. Why did these Americans go to Canada? Because the American farmer, like his Canadian cousin, is a shrewd business man. When an American can sell his farm at from $100 to $200 per acre and homestead in Canada for himself and for each of his sons who are of age, 160 acres of fertile land, capable of producing several bushels more to the acre than he has ever known, he will be certain to make the change.

And then, following the capital of brawn, muscle, and sinew, comes American capital, keeping in touch with the industrious farmer with whom it has had dealings for many years. These two, with farming experience, are no small factors in a country's upbuilding. Nothing is said of the great mineral and forest wealth, little of which has been touched.

In so short a time, no country in the world's history has attracted to its borders so large a number of settlers prepared to go on the land, or so much wealth, as have the Canadian prairies. Never before has pioneering been accomplished under conditions so favourable as those in Western Canada to-day.

It is not only into the prairie provinces that these people go, but many continue westward to the great trees and mountains, and fertile valleys, the glory of British Columbia, where can be grown agricultural products of almost every kind, and where fruit is of great importance. The vast expanse of the plains attracts hundreds of thousands who at once set to work to cultivate their large holdings. But man's work, even in the cities with their record-breaking building rush, is the smallest part of the great panorama that unfolds on a journey through the country. Nature is still supreme, and man is still the divine pigmy audaciously seeking to impose his will and stamp his mark upon an unconquered half continent.

THE HOMEMAKING SPIRIT.—The most commendable feature in Western development to-day is the "homemaking spirit." The people are finding happiness in planting trees, making gardens, building schools, colleges, and universities, and producing an environment so homelike that the country cannot be regarded as a temporary abode in which to make a "pile" preparatory to returning East.

Confiding to his better half what they will do with the proceeds of their crop of wheat, which yielded 41½ bushels per acre.

THOUSANDS OF AVAILABLE HOMESTEADS.—The desire of the American people to procure land is strong. Agricultural lands of proved value have so advanced in price that for the man with moderate means, who wishes to farm, finding a suitable location has become a serious question. Fortunately, in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta, there are yet thousands of free homesteads of 160 acres each, which may be had by the simple means of filing, paying a ten-dollar entrance fee, and living on the land for six months each year for three years. No long, preliminary journey, tedious, expensive, and hazardous, is necessary. This homesteading has been going on in Canada for several years, and hundreds of thousands of claims have been taken up, but much good land still is unoccupied. Many consider the remaining claims among the best. They comprise lands in the park districts of each of the three provinces, where natural groves give a beauty to the landscape. Here wheat, oats, barley, and flax can be grown successfully, and the districts are admirably adapted to mixed farming. Cattle fatten on the nutritious grasses; dairying can be carried on successfully; timber for building is within reach, and water easy to procure.

In addition to the free grant lands, there are lands which may be purchased from railways and private companies and individuals. These lands have not increased in price as their productivity and location might warrant, and may still be had for reasonably low sums and on easy terms.

Nowhere else in the world are there such splendid opportunities for indulgence in the land-passion as in Western Canada. Millions of rich acres beckon for occupation and cultivation. Varying soil and climate are suited to contrary requirements—grazing lands for the stock breeder; deep-tilling soils for the market gardener; rolling, partly wooded districts for the mixed-farming advocate; level prairie for the grain farmer; bench lands and hillsides for the cultivator of fruits.