=Central Alberta= extends from the Red Deer River northward to the height
of land between the Saskatchewan and the Athabaska. Its great wealth is
its deep black humus varying in depth from ten inches to three feet,
overlying a warm subsoil.
=Mixed Farming.=--None of the three central provinces afford greater
advantages for mixed farming than Alberta. In the south the great ranges
of vacant area affords excellent pasturage. The central portion
furnishes pasturage of equal quality, and the groves and park lands
provide shelter, making it possible to raise cereals, as well as feed
for cattle and hogs. Dairying and poultry raising meet with undoubted
success.
=Dairy Products= have an unlimited market; cattle can be pastured most of
the year; every variety of grass including clover and alfalfa thrive;
the climate is healthful and water abundant. More than a million head of
cattle could have been fed on the wild hay that went to waste last year.
Hundreds of thousands of acres are literally overrun with rich wild
grasses and pea vine. The dairy yield approximated $1,250,000 in 1913,
and 50,000 cows could be added without affecting the price of dairy
products. The government operates a travelling dairy to instruct new
settlers, and manages permanent creameries which produced over three
million pounds of butter last year. Fattening hogs on milk adds to the
revenue.
=Poultry Raising.=--The winter price of fresh eggs ranges from 50 to 60
cents a dozen, the summer prices rarely falling below 25 cents.
Extensive developments along this profitable line cannot be long
delayed.
=Crops of 1913.=--With an average rainfall of 10.92 inches during the
growing season in that part of the Province including Edmonton and
southward, an average daily sunshine record of 10 hours, and a mean
temperature of 53 degrees Fahrenheit for the months April to September
inclusive, good crops were certain. Spring seeding began early in April.
The season was highly favourable and a big crop was harvested in
excellent condition. Marquis wheat at one point went as high as 62.5
bushels per acre as a field crop, and oats and barley relatively as
high. Yields of all kinds of grain and forage crops have been most
excellent.
The census bureau of the Dominion Government give the following returns:
Area Area Average Total Total
1912 1913 1912 1913 1912 1913
Fall wheat 212,000 202,000 21.83 21.00 4,628,000 4,242,000
Spring wheat 1,378,000 1,310,000 21.54 23.00 29,675,000 30,130,000
Oats 1,461,000 1,639,000 46.30 43.65 67,630,000 71,542,000
Barley 187,000 197,000 33.05 32.15 6,179,000 6,334,000
Rye 15,000 16,000 25.56 24.89 377,000 398,000
Flax 132,000 105,000 12.83 11.00 1,693,000 1,155,000
The Provincial Department of Agriculture for Alberta placed the total
yield of all grains at 81,500,000 bushels, but as the acreage is less,
the average yields are about the same.
The average yield per acre of potatoes from 25,000 acres was about 170
bushels; turnips and other roots about 250 bushels. Alfalfa yielded
about 2.77 tons per acre and sugar beets about 9 tons per acre; hay and
clover 1.56 tons, with a total value of all these products of
$3,700,000.
=Government and Other Telephones.=--The Government operates the telephone
system, including about 7,000 miles of long distance wires, pursues an
active policy of stimulating the organization of rural companies by
giving as a bonus all poles required. These rural companies are
connected with local exchanges and toll offices wherever possible.
=Railways.=--During 1913 considerable was added to the railway mileage.
Besides its main line the Canadian Pacific has two branches from
Calgary--one north to Strathcona, the other south to Macleod. Two
running eastward diverge at Lacombe and Wetaskiwin, the latter a through
line via Saskatoon to Winnipeg. Another leaves the Canadian Pacific near
Medicine Hat, passes through Lethbridge and Macleod and crosses the
mountains by the Crow's Nest Pass, a branch connecting with the Great
Northern at Coutts and extending to Cardston and west. Another branch
will connect Lethbridge with Weyburn, on the "Soo" line. Provincial
mileage 1,523. Other branches connecting the system are being built; as
shown on the maps.
The Canadian Northern enters Alberta from the east at Lloydminster on
its way to Edmonton. From Edmonton lines are projected and partially
constructed north and west. One starting at Vegreville connects the main
line with Calgary, and then extends southeasterly toward Lethbridge and
Macleod. From this line a branch is being built into the coal fields
west of Lacombe and will form part of the transcontinental line of that
system. Its extension from Saskatoon to Calgary is about completed.
Mileage 593.
The Grand Trunk Pacific serves the territory lying between the Canadian
Northern and the Canadian Pacific, operating trains through productive
territory and for some distance into British Columbia. This Company has
completed its line south from Tofield to Calgary, a part of the
transcontinental line of that system. Through trains now run from
Edmonton to Toronto, Provincial mileage, 545.
Another road is now under construction northward from the international
boundary through Pincher Creek, with Calgary as a northern terminus.
The Provincial government has outlined a policy of railway development
throughout the Province, particularly in the north, opening vast
agricultural lands which will attract settlers desirous of taking up
free homestead.
=Lakes and Rivers.=--The Saskatchewan and the Mackenzie rivers rise in the
Province. The former is divided into two great arteries, one of which
with its tributaries, the Bow, Belly, St. Mary's, Old Man and Red Deer,
waters the south, while the north branch, with the Brazeau, Clearwater,
Sturgeon, Battle, Blindman and Vermilion as tributaries, waters the
great central plains. The Peace and the Athabaska drain the north. Lake
Athabaska, 120 miles long, Lesser Slave, 60 miles long, and many smaller
bodies of water are chiefly in the northern part.
=Mineral Resources.=--Alberta has enormous coal and lignite areas. The
production of coal in 1913 was over 3-1/2 million tons, valued at over
7-1/2 million dollars. The coal supply is practically inexhaustible, and
underlies much of the whole Province in seams from four to twelve feet
thick. It is found in all grades, lignite, bituminous and anthracite, on
the banks of every stream, and in the shafts from 20 to 150 feet deep.
The total formation contains 12,800 square miles; contents 71 billion
tons.
Natural gas has been found at Medicine Hat, Tofield, Dunmore Junction,
and Bow Island on the South Saskatchewan, and at Pelican Rapids on the
Athabaska. Recently considerable interest has been taken in the oil
fields south of Calgary and north of Edmonton. Important commercial oil
fields will soon be located. There is also petroleum, gypsum, salt and
tar sands. Excellent brick and fireclay.
=Fish and Furs.=--The Great Lakes of the North furnish yearly half a
million pounds of incomparable whitefish, while the fur wealth of the
north is important.
[Illustration: This shows that it is not all work in Western Canada.
There are many spots as beautiful as this, the resort of the sportsman
and pleasure seeker.]
[Illustration: Coal mining at Tofield, Alberta, where an excellent
quality is obtained, and where natural gas is abundant.]
[Illustration: SOUTHERN ALBERTA
Lands within irregular line along railway in British Columbia are
administered by the Dominion Government.
Surveyed lands shown in colour.