=Agricultural Conditions.=--From the agricultural standpoint the season of
1913 was perfectly normal. Spring opened favourably for seeding
operations and at no time from seeding to threshing did unfavourable
conditions threaten a successful harvest. Copious rains in the growing
period, and bright dry weather in the cutting and threshing period kept
the farmer confident from the beginning. It was a season made, as it
were, to the farmers' order. The quality of grain was extra good. Wheat
weighed from 61-1/2 to 68 pounds to the bushel, oats 40 to 46, and barley
52 to 58.
Conditions were equally favourable to pasture and hay crops and live
stock. The first and second cuttings of alfalfa were especially heavy
and timothy made a good average yield. Abundant pasture continued
throughout the season making both beef and dairy cattle profitable
investments. Live stock, dairy products, poultry and eggs are worth four
times the value of grain crops. The value of the former is nearly 120
millions, while the total value of the grain crop is about 30 millions.
The income from the former reached 40 million dollars last year, that
from the latter about 25 million dollars.
=Public Works and Railways.=--About 600 miles of steel were laid last
year, bringing the railway mileage of the province up to nearly 3,600
miles. Equal activity is assured for 1914. This year the Government made
a step to provide transportation facilities for districts sidetracked by
the railway companies. The means adopted is guaranteeing the interest on
the securities of light railways up to one-half the estimated cost.
=Financial.=--The income of the farming community exceeds that of all
former years. It is estimated that the product of this year that will be
converted into cash for the liquidation of debts, is nearly 65 million
dollars. The farmer is therefore in a position to pay his machinery
debts, store debts, and other obligations. Consequently the farmers are
optimistic and are planning extended operations for the coming season.
Measured by every economical standard, Alberta shows sound prosperity
and justifies a continuance of the confidence of outside capitalists in
her established business, and increased investments in the development
of her vast resources of farms, mines and forests.
=Population and Live Stock.=--(Dominion Census Bureau):
1909 1910 1911 1912 1913
Population ...... ...... 374,663 ...... [2]500,000
Horses 263,713 294,225 407,153 451,573 484,809
Milch cows 116,371 124,470 147,687 157,922 168,376
Other cattle 910,547 926,937 592,163 587,307 610,917
Sheep 171,422 179,067 133,592 135,075 178,015
Swine 139,270 143,560 237,510 278,747 350,692
[2] Estimated.
[Illustration: One type of house built of logs in the park districts of
Central Alberta.]
[Illustration: Marketing the grain at one of the elevators that are
essential at every station in Western Canada.]
[Illustration: CENTRAL ALBERTA
Surveyed lands shown in colour.