CCopjn*i‘, 1it>. bj J.P. JUppiosott Oo.)
CHAPTER VII.—Continued.
She turned upon him quickly.
“Was it an accident, Mr. Jastrow?’’
“How could It be anything else?”
he inquired, mildly.
“I don’t know. But there was an
explosion; I heard it. Surely Uncle
Somerville wouldn't—”
The secretary shook his hpad.
“No; I think you may exonerate Mr.
Darrah, personally; in fact I am quite
sure you may.”
“But someone planned it. You
knew it was going to happen—you
were out here watching for it.”
“Was I?" The secretary’s smile was
a mere baring of the teeth. His blood
was the sycophantic lymph which
flows in the veins of those who do
murder at a great man’s nod.
“It is horribly unfair, ’ she went on.
“I understand the sheriff is here.
Couldn't he have prevented this?”
Jastrow's reply was an evasion.
“Oh, it's all legal enough. That bare
place up there is a placer claim. Sup
posing the owners found it necessary
to put in a few sticks of dynamite to
loosen the frozen ground. It is Mr.
Winton's misfortune if his railroad
happens to be in the way, don't you
think?”
“But it was planned beforehand, and
you knew of it,” she insisted. Her
eyes were flashing, and the secretary’s
desire for possession warmed into
something like admiration.
“Did I?”
“Yes. you did.”
“It would be impolite to contradict
you."
“It is more impolite not to answer
my question. Couldn’t the sheriff
have prevented it?”
“Supposing he didn't want to pre
vent it? Supposing he brought the
men who did it over on his train Iasi,
night?”
“Then I say again it is horribly un
fair."
The secretary's rejoinder was a
platitude: “Everything is fair in love
or war.”
“But this is neither.” she retorted.
“Think not?” he said, coolly. “Wait
and you'll see. And a word in your
ear. Miss Carteret: you are one of us,
you know, and you mustn’t be dis
loyal. I know what you did yesterday
after you read those telegrams.”
Virginia’s face became suddenly
wooden. Until that moment it had
not occurred to her that Jastrow’s mo
tive in showing her the two telegrams
might have been carefully calculated.
Though she would have disavowed it
emphatically. Miss Carteret was an
aristocrat of the aristocrats; and the
conviction that the secretary had de
liberately gone about to establish a
confidential relation filled her with
cold anger.
“I have never given you the right
3to speak to me that way, Mr. Jas
strow,” she said, with the faintest pos
sible emphasis on the courtesy prefix:
and with that she turned from him
to focus her field glass on the con
struction camp below.
At the Utah stronghold all was ac
tivity of the fiercest. Winton had
raced back with his news of the catas
trophe. and the camp was alive with
men clustering like bees and swarm
ing upon the flat cars of the material
train to be taken to the front.
While she looked, studiously ignor
ing the man behind her, Virginia saw
the big octopod engine come clamor
ing up the grade, shoving the flats be
fore it, losing itself quickly in the
doubling of the gulch loop to reappear
presently on the scene of the disaster.
,ln a twinkling the men were off and
tit work, and the frosty morning air
rang with the battle shout of labor
triumphant—or meaning to be.
Virginia’s color rose and the brown
eyes filled swiftly. One part of her
ideal—her masculine ideal—was cour
age of the sort that rises the higher
for reverses. So the prompt counter
stroke filled her with joy, and at the
moment Winton was as near gaining a
partisan as the Rajah was to losing
one. But at the heart-thrilling instant
she remembered the cold-eyed secre
tary, and, lest he should spy upon her
emotion as he had upon her sympathy,
she turned quickly and took refuge in
the car.
In the open compartment of the
Rosemary the waiter was laying the
plates for the early breakfast, and
Bessie and the Reverenu \\ illiam were
at the window, watching the stirring
industry battle now in full swing on
the opposite slope. Virginia joined
them.
“Isn’t it a shame!" she said. “Of
course. I want our side to win; but it
seems such a pity that we can’t fight
fairly.”
The flaxen-haired cousin looked her
entire lack of understanding, and Cal
vert said: “Isn’t what a shame?’
thereby eliciting a crisp explanation
from Virgini in which she set well
founded suspicion in the light of fact
touching the cause of the landsl.de.
The Reverend Billy shook his head.
It was his metier to deprecate vio
lence, and he did it.
“Such things may be within the law
—of business; but they will surely
breed bad blood and lead to reprisals.
*1 hope—”
The interruption was the Rajah in
his proper person, bustling out fierce
ly to a conference with his myrmi
dons. By tacit consent the three at
the window fell silent. There was
battle and murder and sudden death
in the Rajah’s eye.
The event for which they waited did
not linger. There was a hasty muster
ing of armed men under the windows
of the Rosemary, and they heard
Sheriff Deckert’s low voiced instruc
tions to his posse.
“Take it slow and easy, boys, and
don’t get rattled. It’s the majesty of
the law against a mob, and the Micks
won’t fight when it comes to a show
down. Keep in line with the car as
long as you can. There ain’t going
to be a shot fired from up yonder so
long, as there’s a chance of hitting tae
car instead of you. Now, then; guns
to the front! steady!”
The Reverend Billy rose, and the
veins in his forehead stood out like
whip cords.
"What are you going to do?” said j
Virginia. She was standing, too, and j
her hand, trembling a little, was cn
his arm.
The clerical meekness in the ath
lete’s reply was conspicuous by its ab- i
sence.
"I'm going to give Winton a tip if
it's the last thing I ever do. They'll
rush him like a rat in a corner! ”
She shook her head and pointed
eastward to the mouth of the lateral j
gulch. Under cover of a clump of fir
scrub a man in a wiae-flapped hat and i
leather breeches was climbing swift- j
ly to the level of the new line, cau- !
tiously waving a handkerchief as a !
peace token. “Tha't is the man who
arrested Mr. Winton yesterday. This
time he is going to fight on the other
side. He'll carry the warning.”
“Think so?" said Calvert.
“I am sure of it. Open the window,
please. I want to see better.”
As yet there was no sign of prepara
tion on the embankment. For the
moment the arms of the track force
were laid aside, and every man was I
plying pick or shovel as if his life de
pended on the amount of earth he '
could add to the re-forming dump in a
given number of minutes.
Winton was in the thick of the pick
and-shovel melee, urging it on, when
Biggin ran up.
“Hi!” he shouted. “Fixin' to take J
another play-day in Carbonate? !
Lookee down yonder!”
Winton looked and came alive to j
“COME DOWN:'' HE BELLOWED.
the possibilities in the turning of a i
leaf.
“Guns!” be yelled; ana at the word
of command the tools were flung
aside, and the track force, over 200 j
strong, became an army, not with
banners, but well-weaponed withal.
Winton snapped out his orders like a
martinet major of drill squads.
“Mulcahy, take half the men and go
up the grade till you can rake those
fellows without hitting the car.
Branagan, you take the other half and
go down along till you can cross-fire
with Mulcahy. Aim low. both of you;
and the man who fires before he gets
the word front me will break his neck
at a rope's end. Fall in!”
“By Jove!” said Adams. "Are you
going to resist? That spells felony,
doesn’t it?”
Winton pointed to the waiting octo
pod.
“I’m going to order the 215 down
out of the way; you may go with her
if you like.”
“I guess not!” quoth the technolo
gian, calmly lighting a fresh cigar
ette. And then to the water boy, who
was acting quartermaster, “Give me a
rifle and a cartridge belt. Chunky, and
I’ll stay here with the boss”
“And where do I come in?” said
Biggin, reproachfully.
“You'll stay out, it your head's level.
You’ve done enough now to send you
to Canyon City, if anybody cares to
take it up. Heavens and earth, man!
Do you forget that you are a sworn
officer of the law?”
“I ain't a-forgettin' nothing,” said
Peter, cheerfully, casting himself flat
behind a heap of earth on the dump
edge and sighting one section of his
hip battery over the breastwork.
Winton pounced upon him, gasping.
“Here, you fire-eater! you mustn’t
shoot!” he protested. “It’s only a
long bluff, and I’m going to raise the
limit so those fellows can’t come in.
There are Ladies in that car!”
“You play your bluffin’ hand and
lemme alone,” said the ex-cowboy. “I’m
jest goin’ to have a little fun with old
Bart Deckert while the sun’s a-shin
in\”
It was at this moment, while the
sheriff's poase was picking its way
gingerly over the loose rock and earth
he ignored Peter Biggin as a person
who could Vi ,-argued with at leisure
and turned his attention to Winton.
"Come down!” he bellowed.
Winton laughed. The tide had
turned, and he knew it.
"Let me return the invitation. Come
up, and you may read your warrants
to us all day.”
The crisis was past. Deckeft with
drew his men, and at Winton’s signal
the track layers came in and the earth
began to fly again.
Virginia sighed her relief, and Bes
sie plucked VP courage to go to the
window, which she had deserted in the
moment of impending battle.
"Oh-h-h! I wish Uncle Somerville
would take us away!” she gasped.
“Can't you peusuade him, Virginia?”
“I’ll try,” said Virginia, gravely,
foreseeing future tragic situations too
terrifying to be witnessed.
"Breakfast is served ” announced the
waiter as calmly as if the morning
meal were the only matter of conse
quence in a world of happenings.
They gathered about the table, a
silent trio made presently a quartette
by the advent of Mrs.. Carteret, who,
from having her stateroom on the
peaceful side of the Rosemary, had
neither seen nor heard anything of the
warlike episode with which the day
had begun.
Having weighty mt'ters to discuss
with Sheriff Deckert, Mr. Darrah was
late, so late that when he came in Vir
ginia was the only one of the quartette
who remained at table. She stayed to
pour his coffee and to bespeak peace,
knowing full well that the time was
unpropitious, but believing that the
crisis was its own best excuse.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
What Willie Asked.
“ ‘And he rent his garments and
went upon his way,’ ” quoted the teach
er. “Now, which little boy or girl
can tell me where he was going?”
The little wise boy lifted his hand.
“You may answer, Willie.”
“Why, if he rented his garments, ha
must have been going to a masquerade
ball.”—Judge.
The women of Chili maintain a high
average of beauty. They are well fea
tured and have beautiful complexion*
dam formed oy the landslide, that the
window went up in the Rosemary and
Win ton saw Virginia. Without mean
ing to, she gave him his battle-word.
While she looked on he would fight to
win. and that without violence.
“We are a dozen Winchesters to
your one, Mr. Deckert, and we shall
resist force with force. Order your
men back or there will be trouble.”
Winton stood out on the edge of the
cutting, a solitary figure where a few
minutes before the earth had been
flying from a hundred shovels.
The sheriff's reply was an order, but
not for retreat.
“He's one of the men we want;
cover him!” he commanded: and Vir
ginia caught her breath. Was she to
see him shot down before her eyes?
Happily the tragedy was only poten
tial. Unless the public occasion ap
peals strongly to the sympathies or
the passions, a picked-up sheriff's
posse is not likely to have very good
metal in it. Winton was covered by
three or four of the guns, pointed awk
wardly, ana Peter Biggin Jaughed.
“Don’t be no ways nervous,” he said
in an aside to Winton. “Them profes
sional venlry chumps couldn't hit the
side o’ Pacific Peak.”
Winton held his ground, waiting the
turn of events and looking on, not
without interest, while the sheriff
tried to drive h*s men up a bare slooe
commanded by 200 rifles to right and
left. The attempt wa: a humiliating
failure. Being something less than
soldiers trained to do or die, the depu
ties hung back to a man. hugging the
backgrounding shelter of the Rose
mary as if they were shackled to the
private car by invisible chains.
Virginia, standing at the open win
dow and trembling with excitement,
could not forbear a smile. It was too
much for the sheriff, the added straw,
and his exhortation to his foot-posse
burst into caustic profanity. Where
upon Mr. Peter Biggin rose up in his
place, took careless aim, and sent a
bullet to plow a little furrow in the
ice and frozen snow within an inch
of ueckert’s heels.
“Ex-cuse me, Bart,” he drawled,
“but no cuss words don't go in this
here highly moril show. They pains
us extreme.”
Under ordinary circumstances the
sheriff would have replied to Mr. Big
gin’s salutation in kind. As it was,
THE LADY AND THE GOBLET
By HENRY A. HERING
"Mr. Septimus Toft, sir,” the letter
ran. “The tecs are on the scent. If
you want any further information meet
me at the Blue Lion Inn at 9:30 to
morrow evening. J. Driver.”
It was 9:45 the next evening when
Septimus Toft entered the inn.
"J. Driver” was a dark-haired man,
with a bold, clean-shaven chin. His
voice was deep and emphatic, and his
eye was piercing.
“Now to business,” said Mr. Driver.
"You know my name and I know yours.
That’s where we’re equal. You're in a
beastly hole and I aren’t. That's where
the difference comes in.”
“I don’t understand.” said Mr. Toft.
“In fact I haven’t the faintest idea
what jou are alluding to.”
"Well,” said J. Driver, with a dig in
the ribs that made Mr. Toft jump.
"What about government contracts?”
“What about them?” asked Mr. Toft,
shrinking from hi3 familiarity.
“What about them?’’ echoed the
other. “What about work you never
did, for which you’ve got false re
ceipts? What about contracts executed
with inferior stufT? What about com
missions to officials, tips to men, and
plunder all ’round?”
Mr. Toft paled at this catalogue of
his business achievements.
"Now,” said J. Driver, “I’ve come
for the loan of a key and one of your
visitin’ cards.”
“A key?” said Mr. Toft, relieved,
thougn much surprised.
“The key of the plate chest of the
Fellmongers’ company.”
Mr. Toft raised his eyebrows.
"Hand me the key.”
“1 can’t.”
“You can’t!” said Mr. Driver, rising.
“At present the admiralty only sus
pect. To-morrow they’ll know, and
you'll know, too, Septimus Toft, when
you get five years without the option of
a fine.”
Mr. Toft scarcely heard him. He was
thinking over the pros and cons of the
situation as rapidly as his nervous sys
tem would allow. He was treasurer of
the Fellmongers’ company, and he
alone had the key of the plate safe
J
■
The Man Obeyed v/ith the Promptitude
of a Soldier.
Mr. Toft hesitated no longer. From
one end of his watch chain he detached
a gold key, which he handed covertly
to Driver.
“Now' your visitin' card.”
Mr. Toft produced one, and handed it
over.
"Now. Toft, my boy, don’t worry.
You’ll have that key back by Friday,
and all your spoons’ll be in the box.”
With this Mr. Driver rose and
stalked out of the room. After a mod
est interval Mr. Toft followed.
At nine a. m. on the following morn
ing the bell of the Fellmongers’ com
pany pealed vigorously. The porter
hurried to answer it and found a lady
on the doorstep. She was neatly
dressed and war strikingly handsome.
She might be 25 years old.
"Is this the Fellmongers' hall?” she
asked.
“It is, miss.”
“I want to know if you will be good
enough to allow me to copy a painting
you have on your walls? I do not know
if it is necessary to have any written
permission, or where to apply for it.”
“The hall is open to the public un
der my supervision,” said the porter,
pomi»usly. “Come inside, please.”
“Thank you," replied the lady.
“The painting I want is the one near
est to the door of the plate room.’
"Then it’s a good bit away from it,
miss. The plate room is off the ban
queting ’all, and they are all windows
on that side. The pictures are oppo
site," said the porter.
"Dear me,” said the lady. “How
very stupidly I have been informed.
Please show me the room."
The porter led the way, and threw
open the door with pardonable pride.
"I’ll tell you what, Maria," said Mr.
Jeckeil, some hours later, to his wife,
“if she’s a hartist I ought to be presi
dent ot the Royal Academy. I never
saw such drawin’ in my life. She can’t
get his face right nohow. She must
be what the papers call an himpres
sionist. She spoke twice about the
plate room, so I’ve wheeled my chair
into the ’all to keep my eye on her.
I'll go back now and see what she’s up
to.”
While Mr. Jeckeil was on his way to
his chair there came another peal from
the <frent entrance bell. A man in a
•derby hat and carrying a hand-bag was
outside.
"Mr. Toft has sent me for the Nelson
goblet,” he said.
The porter was surprised. "Got a
note?” he asked.
“The guvn’r gave me this,” said the
man, handing a card, “and the key.”
“Come along,” said the porter,
shortly.
Barely had they entered the plate
room when the artist ran from behind
her easel into the outer hall.
"Mrs. Jeckeil! Mrs. Jeckeil!" she
called out
J
The porter's wife appeared.
“A man has gone into the plate roon
with your husband. I’m sure he is a
thief. Warn Mr. Jeckell to get full au
thority before he does what this man
wants."
The wife rushed across to the plate
room and in a minute a storm of
voices proceeded therefrom. Finally
the three emerged, two hot and flur
ried, and the stranger, looking cool
and determined, carrying a bag in one
hand and a gold cup in the other.
The artist was in front of the door.
When she saw the man with the bag
and cup she gave a little gasp of sur
prise, and a wave of color overspread
her face.
The man seemed equally astonished.
“You!" he said at last.
“They’re both thieves,” whispered
Mrs. Jeckell to her husband. “They’re
actin’ in collision. I’ll shout for the
perlice while you keep ’em.” And she
ran from the room.
‘You are in danger,” said the artist
rapidly in French. “Put the cup in
your pocket. Give me the bag and
knock the porter down."
The man obeyed with the prompti
tude of a soldier. Leaving Mr. Jeckell
prostrate on the floor they hurried
from the hall. At the street door was
Mrs. Jeckell wildly beckoning to a dis
tant policeman.
“You go down there,” said the artist.
"Good-by.” She ran off in the opposite
direction, still holding the bag, and
dived down a side street.
The nest gathering of the Burglars’
club proved the most important in its
history.
It vas held at Marmaduke Percy s
rooms, his grace of Dorchester, the
president of the year, being in the
chair.
The secretary read the minutes, and
concluded: “The business of the eve
ning is the payment of an entrance fee
—the Nelson goblet of the Fellmongers'
company—by Robert Legendre Craven,
fourth baron Horton, a cadet member
of the club/'
Lord Horton entered, bowed, and
amid generai applause placed on the
table a richly chased goblet of pure
gold.
“My lords and gentlemen,” he said,
“I thank you. In accordance with
the usual custom of your club
I will explain how I have been
able to fulfill my appointed duty.
I received an intimation that the Nel
son goblet of the Fellmongers’ com
pany was my entrance fee, and at once
took steps to procure it. A list of the
company showed me the treasurer and
plate-keeper was a Mr. Toft. The di
rectory informed me that he was a
steamship owner and a contractor to
the admiralty. Inquiry there told me
that he was under suspicion of bribery
and corruption. I played on this little',
weakness of his, and, if I am not mis
taken, I frightened him into the paths
of virtue for the rest of his days. In
return, he lent me the key of the plate
safe of his company. In broad day
light I preceded for my booty. To my
surprise I found that I was expected.
An agent had been placed on the spot
to warn the custodian of the building
of my intention. An alarm was raised
by the agent. This agent was a lady
who did not know that she was be
traying an old friend. A minute later
we were face to face. Instantly she
pierced through my disguise, and by
her presence of mind alone did I es
cape.
“My next step was to trace the lady.
I did not know she was in England, but
being here I concluded that the foreign
othce would have her address. I waa
not mistaken. I found my friend.
“The fame of your c'ub had reached
me, ana the novelty of its membership
appealed to me. I felt that its risks
would give a pleasing zest to civilian
life; but I did not count on recent de
velopments. Gentlemen, you have
done me the honor to elect me as a
member of your club. I have paid my
subscription, and now I beg to tender
my resignation.'
“No! No!” resounded an all sides.
“Wait,” smiled Horton. “Two years
ago this same lady I have mentioned
saved my life in Russia. I asked her
to marry me, and she refused, because,
absurdly enough, she thought it would
spoil my career. We did not meet
again till yesterday. A week ago I was
offered the post of British resident at
Kabul. It was a post after my own
heart, tut single-handed I should have
failed in it. With this lady as my wife
anything would be possible. Yester
day I begged her to reconsider her de
cision, and to help me in my career, r
am proud to say that she consented.
We arc to be married to-morrow. Be
cause bachelors alone are eligible as
members of your club I am forced to
tender my resignation. Gentlemen,
good evening.”
Thus did Lord Horton leave the
Burglars' club for married life, happi
ness, aDd his brilliant after- career.
(Copyright, 1906. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
OCEAN GIANT HAS MANY USES.
Blubber Not the Only Valuable Thing
Taken from Whale.
We are only just beginning to rec
ognize the great value to mankind of
the whale. Prof. Muller, who has
spent several years on and near the
Canadian coast, has found a means of
extracting the milk of the whale, and
analysis of this shows it to be quite
as nutritious as ordinary cow's milk.
It contains, at the same time, addi
tional valuable medicinal properties
somewhat similar to those contained
in cod liver oil and it is distinctly
pleasant to taste.
The professor has also had various
inner skins of the whale scientifically
tanned by a new process, with the
result that he can supply an excellent
leather in a single piece, measuring
300 feet long by 3% feet broad. Such
dimensions have never been possible
before.
The flesh has been subjected to a
treatment which makes it quite edi
ble, and the mammoth skeleton is
ground to bone powder, making a
splendid fertilizer, while the gristle
and cartilage are converted Into glue.
Wheat in Western Canada
A Good Crop of Excellent Quality Has Been
Raised This Year.
The grain crops estimates from the
Canadian West make a range of from
87,000,000 to 115,000,000 bushels, and
an accurate statement will be some
where between these figures—prob
ably not far from 90,000,000 bushels.
This year a larger acreage was sown,
estimated at an increase of from 18
to 20 per cent., and had the average
yield of last year been maintained,
the aggregate would assuredly have
gone considerably beyond the 100,000,
000 bushel mark. The exceptionally
large influx of settlers was responsible,
to a considerable extent for much of
the increased area. and. there can be
no doubt, is also responsible for a
part of the decreased average yield.
The first crop raised by the new set
tler—often unacquainted with the
conditions of western agriculture—is
not usually prolific, and 1905-06 placed
a very large number of amateur farm
ers behind the stilts of the plow; but
they will learn, and learn fast, and
with another season or two will help
to raise the average instead of de
pressing it.
Of the estimates to hand, that of
the Northwest Grain Dealers’ asso
ciation is the lowest; Wheat. 87,203,
000 bushels; oats, 75,725,800 bushels,
and barley, 16,980,600 bushels. The
Winnipeg Free Press sent out five
special correspondents, who returned
1904.
Manitoba .39,162,458 36.2S9.279 U.OT.MD
Saskatchewan .15,944,73') 10,756,350 598.336
Alberta . 786,075 5.609,496 1,608,211
55,893.263 52.665,125 13,384,547
1905.
Manitoba .55.761,416 43,484.023 14,064,025
Saskatchewan .26.107,286 19.213,055 893.396
Alberta . 2,297,524 9,514,180 1,773.914
84.166.226 74,211,260 16,731.335
This year, the lowest returns, as we
have stated, are estimated at: Wheat,
87,203,000 bushels; oats, 75,725.600,
and barley at 16,980,600 bushels, which
is very satisfactory, if not absolutely
satisfying. To better appreciate this
fact, ail that is necessary to do is to
go back 25 years in the history of
Western Canada. At that time the
agricultural product of the whole
country was confined to Manitoba,
and consisted of 1,000,000 bushels of
wheat, on an acreage of 51,300 and
1.270,268 bushels of oats. The entire
crop was at that time required for
local purposes, and the export trade
was an unknown quantity. To-day,
allowing nearly 20,000,000 bushels of
wheat for local consumption and seed
ing, there will be about 70,000,000
bushels for export, which at 70 cents
per bushel will bring in outside money
to the extent of nearly $50,000,000.
The barley and oats exported are
good for an additional $25,000,000, and
Wheat and Oat 'arms, Elbow Valli
after 20 days with a somewhat better
report and gave reasons for the faith
that was in them. They had traveled
all through the spring wheat district;'
had driven 1,400 miles through the
grain country, besides traveling thou
sands of miles by rail; and they had
visited 93 localities and knew where
of they spoke. They reported: Wheat,
90,250,000 bushels, on 4,750,000 acres,
with an average yield of 19 bushels
per acre. The western division of
the Bank of Commerce also investi
gated with the following result:
Alberta.
Yield.
Acres, per acre. Bushels.
Wheat . 141,421 20 • 2,828,420
Barley . 75.67S 30 2.270,340
Oats . 822,923 40 12,910.920
540,022 1S.O15.6S0
Saskatchewan.
Wheat .1,331.649 22 2S.296.27S
Barley . 41.273 3o 1.238,190
Oats . 542.4.63 40 21.699,320
1,915.403 52.233,768
Manitoba.
Wheat .3.141.537 19 59.6S9.203
Barley . 474.242 30 14.227.260
Oats .1,155,961 40 46.238.440
4,771,740 120,154.903
Total. Bushels.
Wheat .91,813.300
Oats .60.S54.660
Barley .17,735,790
All of which goes to show that a
wheat crop of nearly if not fully 90,
000,000 bushels may be safely counted
>y, Twelve Miles West of Calgary.
the combined amounts, together with
that received from dairying and oth
er sources, are bound to make finan
cial conditions very easy in the Cana
dian West until the next harvest ma
tures.
In the iast week of August a tour
of inspection was made along the line
of railway n the wheat area by the
Northwest Grain Dealers’ association
and a number of American grain ex
perts. What they saw convinced
them that not only was the crop a
good average one, but the quality of
the grain grown was admittedly of
the best quality, and more than one
of the visitors stated that although
the yield might have been larger, the
quality could hardly have been im
proved. Speaking on this point. Mr.
J. P. Whalley. the well-known wheat
man of Minneapolis, said:
“The quality of the crop is excel
lent, and I think the average will be
Xo. 1 Northern. I was up with the
grain men two years ago, and I am
very much struck with the improve
ment that has taken place in these
two years. The growth is certainly
marvelous: there is not a better coun
try in the world than the Canadian
Northwest.”
The past few years, in which agri
culture has been carried on to any
great extent, have brought the prob
_jg "A:
A Still Better Outfit Seven Miles Wes-: of Morden.
upon. This is less than was looked
for by some enthusiastic western peo
ple, who maintained that increased
acreage necessarily meant an in
creased aggregate. Still, 90,000,000
bushels of wheat is 6.000,000 better
than what was looked upon last year
as a good crop, and we do not think
Western Canada has much cause to
feel down in the mouth because the
acme of its anticipations on the wheat
crop may not have been realized.
Taking one year with another, that
country has demonstrated that it can
be depended upon as a great wheat
growing territory, and has to be reck
oned with in the markets of the
world.
The yield in oats has been in
creased this year by nearly 1,500,000
bushels, the aggregate estimate being
75,725.600, with the average at 41.2
bushels to the acre. The estimated
crop of barley is placed at 16,980,600
bushels, which is a slight increase
over the total of last year. Of flax the
estimate given is 690,184 bushels,
which is a material increase upon last
year’s figures.
Following are the figures in detail
for wheat, oats, and barley in West
ern Canada for the three years last
past:
1903.
Wheat. Oats. Barley.
Manitoba .40.H8.87S 23,035,774 8,707.252
Saskatchewan .15.121.015 9.164.007 665,393
Alberta . 1,118,180 5.187.511 1.077,274
66,356,073 47,387,292 10.450,119
lem of transportation very prominent
ly to the front, and there is a railway
development in Manitoba. Saskatche
wan, Alberta and British Columbia,
Such as has never been seen
anywhere. There are at present
over 6,000 miles of railway in
operation in that country, and
a conservative calculation of the
lines now in course of construction
places the extent at 5,000 additional
miles: a large portion of which will
be completed during the present year.
This means the opening up of a con
siderably increased agricultural area,
and there is every reason to believe
that in a very few years the agricul
tural wealth of the country will be
developed -.o such an extent that in
stead of “A Hundred Million Bushel
Crop" it will not be out of place t.o
refer to the crop as "500,000.000 bush
els of wheat for export.” This may
look like drawing the long bow at the
present time, but, in the light of what
has been done by Western Canada
in the pas1: five or ten years, there
is no limit that can be placed upon
what may be done in the five or ten
years immediately in front of that
lusty young giant of the West.
An Odious Comparison.
"Doesn’t Scrubbly look cheap beside
that magnificent, well-dressed wife of
his?”
“I should say so! He looks like a
bar-tender's shirt-stud beside the Koh
i-noor.”—Judge.
France Revives Lace Industry.
France is reviving some of her hand
made lace industries with much suc
cess. In 1903, the French legislature
provided for girls being instructed in
making hand-made laces in the schools
and for more advanced courses in the
chief lace centers, and the results are
now showing themselves; 135,000 are
said to be engaged in. lace-making, but
this is nothing compared to the num-1
her employed in old times. Hand
made lace in our day will never oust
machine-made lace, but there is room
Iron Industry in Sweden.
Extensive projects for the establish
ment of iron works on the west coast
of Sweden are now under considera
tion, but it is alleged that such works,
in order to be successful, must not bo
dependent on the home markets, but
be in a position to manufacture cheap
ly and compete with other produce
in the markets of the world. This, it
is admitted, is of more importance to
the new ir.dustry than either an ex
port duty on iron or heavy customs
duties on foreign produce introduced
