174 THROUGH CANADA 



The attractions of the Dominion for the young 

 and enterprising of all nations have annually swelled 

 the number of settlers. To this circumstance much 

 of the rapid strides she has made must be attributed. 

 Settlers have not come empty-handed. Many of them 

 possessed sufficient capital to start advantageously ; 

 and, coupled with industry, the success of that class 

 of emigrant was practically assured. 



Official statistics show how widespread the in- 

 flux has been. From 1897 to 1910, British settlers 

 amounted to 600,411, European continent, 445,766, 

 United States, 529,268. 



Of capital and money effects it is estimated that 

 "m five years, 1905-1910, over ;^65,ooo,ooo have 

 been brought into Canada. 



With the rapid growth of population and 

 industries, the cost of living has greatly increased. 

 Whilst this may be taken as symptomatic of the 

 march of wealth, the rate of the rise in commodities 

 has assumed such a high figure that the matter has 

 been made the subject of official inquiry, and a report 

 has been issued from the Government Labour 

 Department of the Dominion. 



In the year ending 1909, the cost of grain and 

 fodder rose 49^9 per cent. ; cattle, sheep and fowls, 

 48*6 per cent. ; dairy produce, 33 per cent. ; whole- 

 sale price of leather, boots and shoes, 35 per cent. 



Agricultural products, both raw material and 

 manufactured articles, show the greatest advance. 



