Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1905 — BEEDING IN PROGRESS IN WESTERN CANADA. [ARTICLE]

BEEDING IN PROGRESS IN WESTERN CANADA.

Mild Weather le Bringing Thousand* of Settlers. The splendid yields of wheat oats and barley produced by the farmers of Western Canada and the excellent prices received ’for the same, have been the means of giving an increased interest throughout the United States. As a result the inquiries made of the agents of the Canadian Government have nearly doubled over those of the same period last year. Railroad companies are putting on increased carrying capacity to meet the demand made upon tfa.em for carrying passengers and freight. ,E very thing points to a most prosperous year. There is room for hundreds of thousands additional settlers, much new land having been opened up for settlement this year.* It is quite interesting to look through the letters received from the Americans who have settled in Western Canada during the past few years, and considering the large number, it is surprising how few there are who have not succeeded. An extract from a letter written by Mr. Geo. W. Gris wold, of Red Deer, Alta., formerly of Greber, Mont., written on the 2d of January, is aS follows: “I am located one and one-half miles from a beautiful lake ten miles long, where there is ehurch, school, three stores, creamery and two postofiices. The fine stock, both cattle (cows and steers), horses, hogs and sheep are roiling fat, grazing in pastures to-day, just a little snow, hardly enough for good sleighing, as we just had a Chinook which has melted the roads and laid bare the fields and pasture. There are fine wheat, oats, barley and flax raised here, also winter wheat and timothy hay for export to British Columbia. This is a mixed farming and dairy country. This is the right time to get a foothold in the Canadian West, as it was some years ago in the United States. We are free from wind gumbo and alkali here and have fine, clear, soft well and spring water at a depth of from five to twenty-five feet, and lots of open overflowing springs.” Telegraphic advices from Medicine Hat say that seeding has commenced at Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, and other points. At the former place the temperature moderated gradually until on the 19th the maximum was 45 and the minimum 26. Thermometer readings since then have been as follows: 20th, 47 and 38; 2’st, 54 and 34; 22d, 5G and 39; 23d, 48 and 40; 24th, 48 and 26. During the last few days in February considerable ploughing was done near Lethbridge. P. A. Pulley, a recent arrival from Montana, ploughed and harrowed fifteen acres and E. Laliborty about the same amount. Rev. Coulter White has also been harrowing his farm. All report the ground frost free and in excellent condition. Bricklaying has also begun in town. At Hartney, further east, on the 25th of February, the sun was warm and bright, wheeled carriages were in use and the plowed fields look as if they are ready for the press drills. There is every appearance that spring has arrived, but farmers do not wish to be deceived by appearances and consequently have not commenced to use their bluestone and seed wheat.