Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 February 1916 — WONDERFUL PROGRESS IN CANADA [ARTICLE]

WONDERFUL PROGRESS IN CANADA

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“There are opportunities for 1 »Yestment in Canada'now that may proves* attractive to American capital. L&tfdP prices in the west are low and vages less than on this side of the line, t trtla * whatever the outcome of the war, tile future of the Dominion is assured as one of prosperity in the development of its vast resources.” Chicago Tribune. A short time ago the Canadian government asked for private subscriptions to a loan of fifty million dollars. Less than a month was given for completion of the subscription. On November 30th. the day upon which sub Bcriptions were to cease, it was found that 110 million of dollars had been subscribed or 60 million dollars more than the aidount asked. If there were any so pessimistic as to imagine that Canada was passing through a period of hard times the wonderful showing of this subscription should put aside all doubts of Canada's rapidly increasing prosperity.* The bank clearings of Winnipeg for 1915 were a billion and a half of dollars. Think of it. Then, in addition, there were the bank clearings of the other cities throughout Western Can ada. Regina, Saskatoon and Moose Jaw also show big increase in dear tngs. The Winnipeg statistics show that the city has done the biggest, financial, commercial and industrial business in its history in 1916. A billion and a half are big clearings, representing business on a per capita basis of over |7,000 per head for every man, woman and child in the city, and has gone ahead of big manufacturing cities like Buffalo, and runs a close second to Detroit. It has shown bigger bank clearings than the middle west citieß of Minneapolis and Duluth, and has exceeded Los Angeles, Seattle and other noted ship ping centers. It is.now side by side with the ten biggest cities in North America in amount pf bank clearings. But because the war helped Canada recover quickly from a natural economic depression it does not fellow that, at the end of the war, the country must suffer a relapse, and straightway return to a state of inactivity and hard times. A Winnipeg paper, with a wellknown reputation for conservatism in economic matters says: Canada’s undeveloped fields should prove a mighty factor after the war in adjusting the country’s business from one period to another. The staggering figures of this year’s crop, showing increases in production of 50 per cent over last year, give a slight idea of the future wealth stored in vast stretches of prairie plain yet untouched by the plow. The Northwest Grain-Dealers’ Association on September 1 estimated that the wheat crop of the three Prairie Provinces would amount to 250,800,000 bushels. On November 10 that estimate was Increased to 307,230,000 bushels. The Dominion government on September 13 estimated the Western wheat crop at 275,772,200 bushels, but on October 16 those figures were changed tc 304,200,000 bushels. Monetary Returns for the Western Crop. And the amount of money which the west is receiving for its grain has not yet been wholly appreciated. Up to the 10th of December the Canadian west had received some 170 million dollars for 182 million bushels of its grain crop, of which 149 million bush els was wheat. The average price of No. 1 Northern wheat for September was 93% cents; for October 98% cents, and for the first three weeks pf November f 1.03%. On the 10th of December there was fully 120 million bushels of wheat to be marketed. This would leave about 30 million bushels for local consumption In the Prairie Provinces. Bradstreet says: “Confidence seems to have returned in Canada; grain crops are exceptionally large, prices pay the farmer, and the war-order lines provide work and aid in circulating much money. Credit is more freely granted, and interior merchants are disposed to buy rather liberally.”—Advertisement