SOME ASPECTS OF CANADA

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 43, 14 November 1907, Page 8

SOME ASPECTS OF CANADA

A LAND OF UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES. A party of British journalists was invited by Sir T. Shaughnessy, president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, to go as his guests across the great ocean and railway system with wihch his name is identified, as far as the island of Vancouver, on the extreme «-ost of British Columbia. One of these special correspondents sets out in the •limes" his impressions. Ho says that tho history of tho recent development of Canada is largely bound up with that of tlio Cl R. to give the railway the designation by which lt is known from one c.fd pt the Dominion to tho other. Beginninc in 1382 with the 400 or 500 miles .which had been constructed by tho Government , when the corporation took over the line, the C.1..11. has now 10,239 miles of railway, and is tho great artery which connects tho I'ar West of Canada with the older and more settled provinces on the eastern border of tho Dominion. By its means the farmers on the great wheat-growing fields of. the north-west provinces aro enabled to convey their produce to tho ports on Lake Superior, whence it finds it way to tho eastern seaboard, for shipment to Europe, and whence, also, it is despatched to the United States of America., By its means, also, the manufacturers of tho provinces of Ontario and Quebec are taken in huge .freight cars, capable of carrying 40 tons apiece, across tho desolate and sterile tract of -country between Central Ontario and the northern shores of Lako Superior, which, before the construction of tho. line, constituted a natural barrier between the Eastern Provinces and the North-Wcst .with its proud aspiration to become tho granary,, of the Empire. -■/..'

Agriculture is, and always must be, : the greatest industry of Canada, and it is to pursue this vocation that the great majority of immigrants aro destined. Every settler who desires to dp so, can obtain- from the Canadian Government 160 acres of land as a freo gift, on his complying with certain very reasonable and easy conditions. Fifty thousand of these homesteads were given last year, the area covered, according to the system of allotment adopted, being 25,000 squaro miles. It is a remarkablo fact that, notwithstanding tho great influx of population during tho last- 20 years, hardly more than 3 per cent, of the agricultural land of the great North-West has as yet been placed under cultivation. There aro still in the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan 120,000,000 acres not settled; and it is believed that homesteads could be granted for the next fifteen years in the same ratio as those allotted last year. .

There is' no doubt that the conditions of life for one who goes out to the prairio in those western lands are hard—hard fbr a man, and still harder for a woman. Thn climate in winter is severe, and tho work laborious and exacting. Over and over again one hears the warning repeated, "Adviso no one to como out hero who is not able and willing to work, and to work hard. There is no place for such a person in' Canada, whore everyone must depend ■ on his own exertions or go under! If, however, a man is. prepared toflrough it, to faoa ■difficulties and hardships with courage- and resolution, thero is practically no doubt of his. ultimate success. Canada ■is a country of- unlimited possibilities fbr those who can take advantage of tho opportunities which she presents, and especially for men like the small holder who finds it difficult in the old country to gain a baro subsistence on four, six or ten acres of land. Such a man, with his 160 acres, is assured of a livelihood, from tho beginning, and .in the course of a few years can attain an independence which no amount of labour and industry would procuro for him in the land of-.his birth. This is all that tho Canadian Government aims at in making its grants of land. It is not concerned that men should grow rich, but desires to sec spattered over its territories a : ,laFge, contended" and prosperous' population. Such a' population •is 'steadily growing up'in tlio North-West 'provinces; but tho area is so vast that progress, though really rapid, seems'slow to those who -know tho country.'anb , realise'its. capacity for supporting millions of families whero now not a singlo settler is to be seen on the.unbroken prairie. Railways are being pushed on as quickly as the resources of the country will admit of their construction, and wherever they go prosperity follows in their wake. Practically all tho freo land in Manitoba suitable for British immigrants has now been taken up, though foreigners who caro to accept land, of an inferior quality can still secure it. Of course there is plenty of land for sale, as even in Manitoba not moro than ono aero in nine is under cultivation. :.'■'.,' The demand for labourers, which is great, is ono result of railway enterprise. The men on the railways this year exceed the number employed last year by thousands. The coal mines of the west have also absorbed additional men. The consequence; is that all" this year the immigration office at Winnipeg' has been unable to meet the ap--' plications for men on the. farms, notwithstanding tho fact that tho wages offered are 20 per cent, higher than last year. An. experienced'farm labourer can earn 30 dollars to 40 dollars a month (about 30s. t<; 40s. a week), .with board, less experience! men being paid in proportion.