In 1881 a census was taken. This census told that of the 19,000 people in Saskatchewan only 615 were landowners. These statistics were less than promising. But despite a less than promising start; an inrush of poeple to the prairies was about to develope due to the construction of new railway lines across the prairies.

In 1879 transportation fees were high: the cost of a passenger ticket from Fort Garry to Prince Albert was $230, and 14.5 cents a pound for freight. In 1880, the Government contracted the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. The CPR would construct a transcontinental line with the aid of $25,000,000 and land grant of 25,000,000 acres. A route was chosen that was economic, it went straight through the province instead of along the "Fertile Belt" like originally intended. In 1882, W. C. Van Horne was the one given the responsiblity of constructing line on the prairies. Within one year Van Horne had constructed 417 miles (667.2 km) of main line and 160 km (100 miles) of branch line. The line between Winnipeg and Calgary was functioning by mis-1883. With the aid of the Northwest rebellion Van Horne was able to compete the national line in 1885, paving the way with steel for the settlers to come. By this time the frontier in the United States had filled up, the Candian West was the last good place to start a homestead.