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.