Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1906 — FILLING UP THE CANADIAN WEST [ARTICLE]

FILLING UP THE CANADIAN WEST

The Americas Settler la Welcomed to Canada. A number of the leading newspapers on this side of the line have been noticing the growth of the Canadian West in recent years, and draw attention to the fact that there seems to be no abatement of the influx of settlers to that great grain-growing country. The Buffalo Express thus refers to the subject: ‘ t" “Canada West continues to grow. There were 4,174 homesteads entries there in July of this year, as against 3,571 in July, 1905.. Canada plumes herself over, this fact with becoming pride. But what- appears to make our neighbors happiest is the statement that of these 4,174 homesteaders, 1,212 were from this side of the line. Little is said about the 97 Canadians who recrossed the border to take op homes in Canada West, of of the 808 from Great Britain, or of the 1,236 from non-British countries. It appears that the item in this July report that makes Canada rejoice most is this of the 1,212 American farmers who decided to try their fortunes in’ Canada West.

“The compliment is deserved. The 1,212 were mostly from Dakota and other farming States, and go into Canada fitted better than any other class of immigrants for developing the new country. They take capital with them, too, say Canadian papers proudly. In every way they are welcome over there.”

As the Express well says, the American Is welcomed to Canada, and the reasons given are sufficient to invite the welcome. The American farmer knows thoroughly the farming conditions that prevail in the Canadian prairie provinces, and is, aware of every phase of agricultural development In recent years. In practical. knowledge of what is wanted to get the largest return for labor and investment he is by long odds superior to any European settler. He knows what is required to bring success, and he is able and willing to do it; and his future causes no apprehenslbn tb the successful Canadian farmer.

The agent of the Canadian Government, whose address appears elsewhere, says that the difference between the manners and customs of the farmer from Dakota, Oregon or Minnesota and the farmer from Manitoba, Saskatchewan or Alberta Is not nearly so marked as that between the farmer of the Maritime provinces and the untarlo tiller of the soil. Hence the welcome to the free homesteads of the Canadian Wfest (and there are hundreds of thousands of them left) that is extended to the settler from the Western States.