FIRST WHEAT SHIPMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17918, 24 October 1932, Page 10

FIRST WHEAT SHIPMENT

CANADA’S GRAIN TRADE START COMMEMORATED WINNIPEG, Aug. 17. A significant anniversary in the history of Canadian development was celebrated recently at Winnipeg. ,At the annual convention of the Canadian Seed Growers’ Association there was unveiled a monolith to commemorate the first shipment of wheat from Western Canada. This shipment—--857 3.-6 bushels of Red Fife —was consigned to a Toronto seed merchant, and left Winnipeg by- Red River barge on October 21, 1876. The monolith is a 12-ton. granite boulder found on the Manitoba prairie, ami it was set up, with an appropriate inscription, at a street corner in Winnipeg where stood the mill in which was assembled 'the material for this historic smpment. Accompanying the dedication ceremonies was a pageant reproducing transportation of the wheat to tho mill in carts and covered wagons, and the barge loading. Wheat had been grown in Western Canada for many years before 1876, but in small quantities and under difficulties, for tho tiny population possessed very inadequate implements and resources. In fact 12 farmers aided in making up the Toronto shipment of 1876. Tho following year the first, shipment of wheat to Great Britain from Western Canada was made, Then the movement' was interrupted for sonic years, because the rapidly-grow-ing population consumed all and more than the West produced. But; by 18,84 the railroad was cross-, ing the Western provinces and a shipment of 3000 bushels was landed in Glasgow 21 days from leaving Brandon, Man. The Canadian wheat export trade had been launched, and only a few years ahead was a business running into hundreds of millions of bushels each year.