Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 216, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1916 — MAKING RAPID STRIDES [ARTICLE]

MAKING RAPID STRIDES

Canada Improving In Every Way —Agriculturally, Commercially and Financially. The reports coming to hand every day from all branches of industry In Canada speak highly of the constructive ability of that country. ■Recently the managing directors of the Canadian Credit Men's Association gave out the statement that business in Western Canada was good. In every branch it is better than in 1913, and everyone will remember that in that year business was excellent He says: “The beauty of it is the way in which payments are coming in. Merchants all over the West are taking their cash discounts. Such a transformation I never saw. “From the records in the office I knew it was getting better. We clear here every retail merchant in the country every three months, and we are therefore In the closest touch and have intimate knowledge of the way trade is going and how payments are being made. Conditions at the present moment are better than I had dreamed it was possible that they should be. “The statements which we are receiving with reference to the standing of country merchants indicates that there will be very few failures this fall. It is quite remarkable. Men who have been behind for years and In the hole are actually paying spot cash for everything, and taking their cash discounts. Banks and loan companies this fall will have more money than they know what to do with. “This is about the condition of trade, and I am glad to say there is no exaggeration in what I have, said. The business of-the prairie provinces is in splendid condition.” Crop reports are also good. From all parts comes the word that the crop conditions were never better, and the situation at the time of writing is that there will be fully as great a yield as in 1915, when the average of wheat over the entire country was upwards of 30 bushels per acre. The harvest therefore will be a heavy one—and, following the magnificent harvest of last year, the' farmers of Western Canada will all be in splendid shape. Old indebtednesses, much of which followed them from their old homes, are being wiped out, improvements are now being planned, and additional acres added to their present holdings. During the past year there was a large increase in the land sales both by the Canadian Pacific and Canadian Northern land companies, as well as by private individuals. A great many of the purchases were made by farmers who thus secured adjoining quarters or halves, the best evidence probably that could be had of the value of Western Canada land when those who know the country best are adding to their holdings. A number of outsiders have also been purchasers, but very little land has changed hands for speculative purposes. An evidence of the prosperity of the country is found in the fact that such a large number of farmers are purchasing automobiles. Alleged hard times in Manitoba have not dampened the ardor of motorists or prospective ones. The automobile license department reported a few days since that there are 1,600 more private owners of cars in the province this year than last. The number of licenses issued this year was 10,400, as against B,SOO last year. At an average cost of SI,OOO each the newly purchased cars represent a total outlay of $1,600,000, ‘while the total number of cars in the province are worth approximately $10,000,000. The new cars are of modern types. Many people, for some unexplained reason, have feared and continue to fear that this country vylll experience a period of industrial and business dullness after the war. There seems to be no justification for such a speculation. On the contrary, there are sound reasons for belief In the prediction of Mr. Kingman Nott Robins, vice president of the Farm Mortgage Bankers’ Association of America, who. In the Monetary Times, declares that Canada will experience her greatest proportionate development in production Immediately after the conclusion of the war. The country will certainly have exceptionally favorable commercial conditions to take advantage of. There will be the great need of Europe in the w-ork of reconstruction,

and along with thia, the natural tendency of the allies to trade among themselves, and perhaps special trading privileges. Mr. Robins points out that the greatest development in the United States followed the costly and destructive civil war. Mr. Robins, in an address before the Bondmen’s Club of Chicago, expressed the opinion of a far-thinking mind and the review of an experience of the last of his numerous trips through the Canadian West When he said he regarded the spirit of _Jhe Canadian people, as he found it, the most admirable and encouraging feature of the entire sltuatloh. They are facing the sacrifices of war courageously and with calm confidence as to the result and in similar spirit they face the economic future, confident, but expecting to solve their problems only by dint of hard and intelligent effort An important part. of Mr. Robins’ address, which invites earnest attention, is that in which he refers to the land situation, and when his remarks are quoted they carry with them the impression gained by one who has given the question the careful thought of a man experienced in economic questions, and specially those relating to soil and its production. He is quoted as saying: “Agricultural Canada was never so prosperous, and immigration of agricultural population both during and after the war seems a logical expectation, finding support in an Increasing immigration at present from the United States, in spite of numerous canards spread broadcast throughout the United States to discourage emigration to Canada. The lands of Western Canada, however, as long as they are as at present the most advantageous for the settle? of any on the continent, must continue to attract, despite misrepresentation, and on the increase of its agricultural and other primarily productive population depends the economic future of Canada. All other problems are secondary to this, and the large interests of Canada, recognizing this fact, are preparing to secure and hold this population both during and after the war. They are content to let city development and other secondary phases and superstructure follow in natural course. This recognition of the true basis of economic development is an encouraging augury for the future.” “The war has brought the United States and Canada nearer together economically than ever before. The total investment of United States capital in Canada doubtless exceeds $1,000,000,000, of which $300,000,000 has been invested since the war began. Except for Great Britain, Canada is the United States’ best customer. Our exports to all of South America in the last three years were less than a third of our exports to Canada in the same period, although Canada has been rigidly reducing her imports since the war began. Even France, a good customer of the United States, bought $70,000,000 less than Canada during 1913, 1914, 1915. And yet Canada’s purchasing power is in the first stages of development only. It has been estimated that the United States can support a population of 600,000,000. Using the same basis of calculation in reference to natural resources, Canada can support a population of 400,000,000. “Canada is potentially the most populous, and, in primary production, at least, the richest unit of the British empire, and it behooves us in the United States to know our Canada.” The social conditions throughout Western Canada are everything that could be desired. Schools have been established in all districts where there may be ten or twelve children of school ;ige, and these are largely maintained by liberal government grants. A fund for this purpose is raised from the revenue derived from "the sale of schoolland, one-eighteenth of all lands being set aside as school lands. All the higher branches of education are cared for, there being high schools at all important centers, and colleges and universities in the principal cities. The different religious denominations prevail, each having its separate church, and religious services are held In every halnlet and village, and in far-off settlements the pastor finds an attentive congregation. The rural telephone is one of the great modern conveniences that brings the farm home nearer to the market. It is not saying too much to state that In matters of social importance, in the most remote settlements they carry with them the same influence as is to be found in the most prosperous farming districts of any of the states of the Union. —Advertisement.