Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1898 — THE HOPE OF THE CONTINENT. [ARTICLE]

THE HOPE OF THE CONTINENT.

Western Canada the “Bread Basket of the Empire.” The attention directed to the wheat fields of Western Canada during the past year has caused thousands of settlers from different parts of the United States to make their homes thertTduring the past few months. They report that their experience corroborates what had been told them of that wonderful country, and they are sending back to their friends most favorable reports. During the past summer a number of Wisconsin aqd Michigan and Minnesota editors visited Western Canada, and the following extracts are from a very flattering letter written by the Germania of Milwaukee by its able contributor, Prof. Sheridan. “The numerous elevators along the line, towering so far above the surrounding country that they may be seen for many fniles distant, sufficiently indicate that the chief industry is the growing of wheat. At the village of Indian Head more than a million bushels of wheat was marketed last year. This was but a fraction of the amount of the same product marketed at the larger cities of Brandon and Regina. At Indian Head the representative of the Germjtnia was told by a farmer that he wad about to harvest his third crop of wheat from the f»rm upon one plowing given it the fall of 1895; the crops of the current year and of last y?ar having been sown upon the stubble of the preceding crop. This farmer expected a yield of not less than forty bushels to the acre. The farms are very large. The absence of hills and rocks contributes to making farming on a large scale an easy matter. There was an abundance of evidence that the country surrounding the cities named above is an extensive region of fertile lands furnishing as great an opportunity for cattle raising and dairying as for the growing of wheat.” "We were surprised to find here a rich growth of nearly every species of cultivable plant known in Wisconsin. Various species of trees were growing, showing that its soil and its climate are favorable to the growth of forests. The writer had never seen a more promising growth of wheat, oats and garden vegetables than was observed here. The Experimental Farm of Wisconsin, located at Madison, produces nothing better.”

“The people along the line of the railroad, however, assured us that we were still far distant from the northern limit of the wheat-growing belt, and that five hundred miles farther north wheat and other agricultural products were cultivated with success. The inhabitants do not depend solely upon the growing of wheat, but utilize vast acres in raising cattle. The growing grain and vegetables showed that a plentiful supply of rain had fallen during the current, year,” n From this city (Calgary) our party was taken north 200 miles to Edmonton, a town of 5,000 people, situated on I the north Saskatchewan river. The | country at this point is beautiful, presenting very much the appearance of many sections in central and southern Wisconsin. The people are engaged in mining for gold, and in raising wheat, potatoes and cattle. Dairying is also followed. This valley seems to be favored with sufficient rain fall to produce a luxuriant growth of grain and vegeI tables. The soil is very fertile and timi her is abundant. Fields of wheat were observed that promise a yield of forty * bushels per acre. The many good ; farm houses seen from the railway are evidence of the prosperity of the set--1 tiers. Edmonton is the terminus of the road and the place where the overland j expeditions start from for the Yukon, I it being about 800 miles from Dawson j City.” “The members of the association made the acquaintance of the Cana--1 dians of the Northwest and learned J something of the vast extent of their territory and of its great resources, which are destined to make it our most formidable commercial competitor in the world’s markets for the sale of agricultural products. We learned that the Northwest Territory of Canada, instead of being a barren waste as taught by our geographies of a quarter of a century ago. is capable of sustaining an empire of fifty millions of people.”