Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 85, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 April 1918 — CHANGE IN THE FARMER'S LIFE [ARTICLE]

CHANGE IN THE FARMER'S LIFE

“Making a Living” Idea Has Developed Into a “Money Making Fact.” A few years ago—and not so many at that —most farmers were satisfied if they saw ahead of them the opportunity to make a fair living, a reasonable competence In their failing years, and an assurance of an existence for their families. They worked hard, and tilled their acres with this end in view. Honest struggle, earnest effort and a true conception of upright manhood, together with the increasing knowledge that upon the fruits of their endeavor rested the structure of the wofld, whose people had to be fed and maintained. Economy in method, improved conditions of working, have added to the farmer’s possibilities, and today Instead of being a plodder for an existence, which his early training had bred into him, he has become the bulwark of the nation, and, as such, has become elevated to a position where his word and his work are recognized as the factors it was always intended they should be. He is now the man of business —of big business. He has forced an appreciation of his work, and the true value has been placed upon it. The big men of the country today are the farmers, who, with business acumen and forensic forethought are able to tell you—from their books —what it costs to produce a bushel of wheat or a pound of wool. All of which is intended to prove that farming is a business, as much as banking or selling a suit of clothes. It is an industrial business, with more certain profits than accompany any other line of trade. It is a manufacturing enterprise, devoid of any of the dangers that the frills of fashion’s follies and desires force upon ordinary pursuits. Food is something that all must have and the farmer produces it. The cheaper it can be produced the less will be the cost to the consumer. And this is one of the chief thoughts of the farmer. Within the memory of the ten-year-old boy there have been improvements in aiachinery, changes in methods, scientfic discoveries of chemicals as adapted to agriculture,-all of which have lessened cost of production and made possible the cultivation of increased acres. In -some parts these things have brought about more intensified agriculture, growing heavier crops on less acres. Improved machinery and demand for greater production have led another class in search of larger areas, where their ability may cope with the growing of a greater number of bushels. That is one of the reasons why Western Canada lands have recently come into such demand. These, tit from twenty to thirty dot lars an acre, and producing the prodigious crops that are claimed for them, have attracted thousands of American settlers, while other thousands have gone out into the lands in the Western states. But, as to the Canada lands, there is this to say of them, today they are cheap, and if they will yield sufficient In one year to pay the cost of the entire purchase, why should not there be a demand. The country is well settled, and settlement is increasing. As evidence of the growth of the three Western Provinces Into whose territories the Canadlan Government invites settlers, recent reports show the following increases from 1913 to 1917 Inclusive: Value of Field Crops 1913 1917 Manitoba ...$ 64,557,000 $137,470,550 Saskatchewan.l29,376,ooo 349,488.200 Alberta 46,712,000 176,965,800. Tptal $240,645,000 $663,924,550 The total value of field crops for 1917 was $663,924,550, produced on less than 59,000.000 acres of land. Further evidence of prosperity and progress is found in the Government estimate of the value of farm lands, and increase in value since 1908: v 1908 1916 Manitoba 27.30 32.03 Saskatchewan 20.40 23.07 Alberta 18.20 22.18

It will be observed that the average price of lands has not kept pace witn their producing value. It is therefore pointed out that the opportunities for the purchase of high-class land is still within the reach of those with limited means. A good idea of advancement in ft country’s progress may be obtained by a knowledge of what has been done in the production of cattle, and whenthese figures are studied in connection with Western Canada, a country whose fame having been heralded as a graingrowing country, giving the Idea; that that was what it was mostly adapted to, it will be realized that there Is there a vast storehouse of wealth awaiting those who choose to take advantage of it. In the three provinces tn 1912 there were—horses, milch cows, other cattle, sheep and swine, four million head, while in 1917 the number was seven* million. In 1901 the entire population was 419,512; in 1916 1,698,220. One marvels at the rapid progress of the United States during the nineteenth century. But America’s opportunities for growth at the beginning of that century were nothing compared to the opportuni ties nada’s at the present time. The fact that Canada lias as its next door neighbor a nation of over 100.000,000 —the richest nation in the world — is bound to have a stimulating effect on' Its progress. Already one sees signs of it on every hand. Canada not only has the largest area of unoccupied, but fertile, land of any country, but this land Is already made available by a network of railways. Cost of production of grain is. lower than elsewhere, while the prices are on a basis of those of the United States. —Advertisement.