Alberta, the most westerly of the three Prairie Provinces, is twice the
size of Great Britain and Ireland, much larger than either France or
Germany, and has a greater area than the states of Maine, New Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey
and Pennsylvania combined. The area of arable land alone in Alberta is
estimated at 100 million acres, of which less than 3 million acres is
under cultivation. This provincial empire, with its great wealth in
agricultural lands, mines, forests, and fisheries, has less than 500,000
people.
Alberta is a vast plateau from 2,000 to 3,000 feet above sea-level, hung
by its western edge on the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It slopes
gently toward the east and north. Absolutely level plains form no great
proportion of the surface. While open, treeless country characterizes
the southern part of the Province, the greater part is undulating,
diversified by forest, stream, hill and open country, not unlike Ontario
or New York State. Beautiful lakes, fringed with forest and abounding in
whitefish are scattered over its central and northern area. Luxuriant
grasses cover the open country, which once formed the chief feeding
grounds of herds of bison.
The Province naturally falls into three divisions, exhibiting marked
distinctions in climate and topography--Southern, Central and Northern
Alberta.
=Available Homesteads= are to be found west and north of
Edmonton--territory made accessible by the Grand Trunk Pacific and the
Canadian Northern Railways--in an immense stretch of splendid country.
Wheat and oats are reliable crops. Rainfall is certain. Mixed farming is
highly successful. The wild grasses and pea vine supply ample feed for
stock; water is plentiful and easily secured. On into the foothills and
the mountains are stretches of prairie land, through which the Grand
Trunk Pacific and Canadian Northern Railways are now constructed.
The northern and western portions of Central Alberta have some "brush"
land with soil equal to that of the open prairie. The cost of clearing
is slight, and there is the advantage of shelter for cattle, and an
absolute assurance of splendid water. There is a good market for the
fuel and timber obtained in clearing. Practically all of the land
between Edmonton and Athabaska Landing--and between Edmonton and Lac la
Biche to the northeast has been subdivided for homesteading.