IMAGE EVALUATION
TEST TARGET (MT-3)

1.0

I.I

1.25

if 1^ IIIIM

•^ 1^ III 2.2

I ■- |||||M

u ^ — ^

1.8

1.4

^ # i^ / "ms, ^

Hiotographic

Sciences

Corporation

23 WeST MAIN STRUT

WIBSTER.N.Y. 14S80

(716) 872-4503

•sj

CIHM/ICMH

Microfiche

Series.

CIHM/ICMH
Collection de
microfiches.

[i]

Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques

Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques at bibliographiques

The Institute has attumpted to obtain the best
original copy available for filming. Features of this
copy which may be bibliographically unique,
which may alter any of the images in the
reproduction, or which may significantly change
the usual method of filming, are checked below.

Coloured covers/
Couverture de couleur

I I Covers damaged/

Couverture endommag^e

Covers restored and/or laminated/
Couverture restaurie et/ou pellicul6e

I I Cover title missing/

D
D
D
D
D

□

Le titre de couverture manque

Coloured maps/

Cartes g^ographiques en couleur

Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/
Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire)

Coloured plates and/or illustrations/
Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur

Bound with other material/
Relii avec d'autres documents

Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion
along interior margin/

La re liure serr6e peut causer de I'ombre ou de la
distortion le long de la marge int^rieure

Blank leaves added during restoration may
appear within the text. Whenever possible, these
have been omitted from filming/
II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout6es
lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte,
mais, lorsque cela dtait possible, ces pages n'ont
pas 6X6 filmies.

Additional comments:/
Commentaires supplimentaires;

L'Institut a microfilm* le meilleur exemplaire
qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details
de cat exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du
point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier
une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une
modification dans la mithode normale de filmage
sont indiquis ci-dessous.

I I Coloured pages/

This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/

Ce document est film* au taux de reduction indiquA ci-dessous.

Pages de couleur

Pages damaged/
Pages endommagies

□ Pages restored and/or laminated/
Pages restaurdes et/ou pellicul^es

Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/
Pages dicolordes, tacheties ou piqu6es

I I Pages detached/

Pages d^tachdes

Showthrough/
Transparence

Quality of prir

Qualit^ in^gale de I'impression

Includes supplementary materia
Comprend du materiel supplimentaire

Only edition available/
Seule Edition disponible

r~^ Showthrough/

I I Quality of print varies/

I I Includes supplementary material/

I I Only edition available/

The
to t^

The
posi
of t»
filmi

Orig

begi

the

sion

othe

first

sion

or ill

Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata
slips, tissues, etc., have been rsfilmed to
ensure the best possible image/
Les pages totalement ou partiellement
obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure,
etc., ont 6X6 film6es 6 nouveau de fa^on d
obtenir la meilleure image possible.

The
shall
TINl
whic

Map
diffe
entir
begii
right
requ
metl

10X

14X

18X

22X

26X

30X

12X

16X

20X

24X

28X

32X

The copy filmed here hat bean reproduced thanka
to the generoaity of:

University of SMkatchewan :
Saskatoon

L'exemplaire film6 fut reprodult grSce d la
g6n*roaitA de:

University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon

The imagea appearing here are the beat quality
poaalble conaidering the condition and legibility
of the original copy and in keeping with the
filming contract apeclflcatlona.

Lea imagea auivantea ont dti reproduitea avec le
plua grand aoin, compte tenu de la condition at
de la nettet6 de rexemplaire film6, at an
conformity avec lea conditiona du contrat de
filmage.

Original copiea in printed paper covera are filmed
beginning with the front cover and ending on
the iaat page with a printed or iiluatrated imprea-
aion, or the back cover when appropriate. All
other original copiea are filmed beginning on the
firat page with a printed or iiluatrated imprea-
alon, and ending on the Iaat page with a printed
or iiluatrated impreaaion.

Lea exemplairea originaux dont la couverture en
papier eat imprimia aont filmia en commen^ant
par le premier plat et en terminant aoit par la
derniire page qui comporte une empreinte
d'Impreaaion ou d'illuatration. aoit par le aecond
plat, aelon le caa. Toua lea autrea exemplairea
originaux aont fiim6a en commenqant par la
premidre page qui comporte une empreinte
d'Impreaaion ou d'illuatration et en terminant par
la dernlAre page qui comporte une telle
empreinte.

The Iaat recorded frame on each microfiche
ahall contain the aymbol — ^ (meaning "CON-
TINUED"), or the aymbol V (meaning "END"),
whichever appliea.

Un dea aymbolea auivanta apparaitra aur la
dernidre image de cheque microfiche, aelon le
caa: le aymbole — ► aignifie "A SUIVRE ", le
aymbole V aignifie "FIN".

Mapa. platea, charta. etc., may be filmed at
different reduction ratioa. Thoae too large to be
entirely included in one expoaura are filmed
beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to
right and top to bottom, aa many framea aa
required. The following diagrama illuatrate the
method:

Lea cartea, planchea, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre
filmia d dea taux de reduction diffirenta.
Loraque le document eat trop grand pour dtre
reprodult en un aeul cliche, il eat filmd d partir
de Tangle 8up6rieur gauche, de gauche d droite,
et de haut en baa, en prenant le nombre
d'imagea ndceaaaire. Lea diagrammea auivanta
illuatrent la mithode.

i i ^

L -'■.

L : * .;

IMELY

REMARKS

* * *

SEPTIMUS FIELD

-i^

■ ^. H*»"

And

LETTERS FROM

WESTERN

CANADIAN SETTLERS

OTTAWA

GOVERNMENT PRINTING BUREAU

1898

WESTERN CANADA,

BY SEPTIMUS FIELD.

Kesovirces of the Great West.

"Many patupliletr, and (k^JcTiplive letters have
lieen written by men with able i)ons, who have visit-
ed this couni^v for the ])iirpo5e of giving rehable
information to those who may have a desire to
seek " fresh fi.'lds and pastnres new," but who have
neither the meatis nor tiie time to spare to see it
for themselves and make a choice of locality, and
the result is that so much satisfactory evidence of
this kind is now available that it might be suppos-
ed that there could be no more to write and little
more to learn of the resources of the great Cana-
dian North-west. But as all do not see with the
same eyes, each succeeding description may still
contain some new features and be read with fresh
interest, and with this idea 1 take up my pen to
jot down my opinion of th.e country as a field for
im'nigration and investment.

T dare not hope that it may be a success as a lit-
erary composition, but T trust that what I write
may be accepted by my brother farmers in Eng-
land and elsewhere as a i^-actical and truthful ac-
count of what T have seen ; the conclusions T have
come to being the result of three years' close per-
sonal observation on the spot, backed by a previous
practical knowledge of agricultural pursuits in

4 TIMELY REMARKS

England, extending over a period of thirty years.
The development of the land is most undoubtedly
the first consideration in Western Canada, and the
country offers the finest field of enterprise to the
agriculturist.

There are no doubt large deposits of all kmds of
minerals ready to be brought to the surface when
the proper time arrives, but that time will best be
hastened by the settling up of the farming lands,
and it is my intention to address myself, therefore,
to the agriculturist alone ; and this I do with the
•greatest confidence, feeling sure that any one with
any practical knowledge of farming, and capital
sufficient to start with, can in this country make a
home for himself and family, and in a few years
reap both pleasure and profit.

AarricuUural Possibilities.

To those farmers in the old country whose cap-
ital is diminishing, but not yet all gone, I more
particularly address myself, and knowing the
struggle they are having for existence, I bid them
hasten to break away from their old moorings,
come out here and start afresh. To such I would
advise that where possible this should be done col-
lectively; if twenty men from one or more districts
Avould make up their minds to come out here in a
body with such capital as they can command, a
good district could be chosen, their several quarter
sections of i6o acres each selected, and a colony
Avould be established at once. They would be in
touch with each other and their interests being

7IMRLY REMARKS

furthered by mutual intercourse and assistance,
their advancement would be hastened, and success
would follow, where sins:le individuals, as some-
times happens, might tire of the isolation and the
sudden abandonment of social relations with their
friends. Co-operation in the use of farm machin-
ery, stud animals, &c., would all promote the
economy so necessary for new settlers. Schools
would at once be formed, and everything required
for the comfort and convenience of the settlers
would be obtained more readily and quickly than
might otherwise be the case. I most strongly ad-
vocate this system where it is at all possil)le to
adopt it. Let me, therefore, advise any one read-
ing this, whose circumstances may be forcing him
to try this country as a means of retrieving his old
position, to speak to his neighl>ours and friends
upon the subject, and try and form such a band
and come out here under the guidance of some one
familiar with the country. But, failing this, let him
come in any case, and I am sure such a step will
never be regretted.

Possibilities of Country.

The land is ready to fulfil all that is required of
it, if properly managed. It is rich in natural
grasses, and cattle quickly fatten upon them. The
North-west Territories are perhaps the most suit-
able for mixed farming, of any part of Canada, and
it has often struck me as an unfortunate circum-
stance for the country as a whole that the most
difiRcult lands to be brought under cultivation

ON WESTERN CANADA.

should have heen the first to he settled upon. If
ftll the immigration had come in on the west in-
stead of the east of the Domini >n, the country
would have advanced with more rapid strides, and
there would have been no such term as the '* settler
in the backwoods " to frighten people from com-
ing here. Still, it is fortunate for the present gen-
eration of colonists that the best and most easily
cultivated lands have been left to them to t J<e up.

Area of Territories.

The enormous extent of territory which is cap-
al)le of successful settlement and well within the
fertile belt, makes it unimportant for me to bring
before tiie reader's notice any lands that are now
in a more northerly latitude ; the time may come
when even these may be required, but it is not my
intention to suggest the necessity of any one going
further north than within easy distance of the
neighbourhoods of Prince Albert and Edmonton.
The present flow of settlers into these districts is,
however, steadily reducing the number of " prizes "
in the way of homesteads, the first comers, of
course, securing the choicest locations. The popu-
lation of the North-west Territories increased 21,-
276 between the date of the census of 1891 and
the summer of 1894, when a cer:us was taken by
the North-west motmted police, i.e., in two and a
half years ; still the area of good land remaining
available runs up into millions of acres, and those
who come now will have no difficulty in getting
suited.

TIM EL Y RE MA RKS

hr-tK

The country has everything to recommend it.
The soil is deep and of the richest description ;
well adapted for the growth of all cereals and cul-
tivated grasses, and it is well and evenly watered
and timbered, two of the most desirable and neces-
sary things required by the settler.

Climate.

The climate is not more severe than in Manitoba.
There is the same clearness and dryness which so
greatly modifies the extreme frost in mid-winter,
and it has all the early warmth of the spring months
that the eastern provinces are favoured with. The
western markets are increasing their demands
yearly for agricultural products and are already in
strong competition with the markets of Montreal
and other eastern centres. So that ihe settler will be
in as good a position, if not a better one, in regard
to markets for his produce than were the eastern
settlers in the early days of the country. We have
here, in short, a new country holding out advant-
ages in many ways greater than were ever enjoyed
by colonists of a former generation, and which an
ever-increasing number of people are recognizing
and taking advantage of. The rising towns of
Regina, the capital, and Calgary, will soon develop
into manufacturing centres, where all the machin-
ery and implements required by farmers can be
produced at a lower cost than in the eastern cities.
They have all the materials necessary for this at
their verj' doors, such as wood, iron and coal, only
awaiting the demand to justify the investment of
capital in their development.

OJV WESTERN CANADA.

The progress of an agricultural country like this
must be slower than that of the gold-mining dis-
tricts of Australia and Africa, which have absorb-
ed such large numbers of emigrants. But the
steady settling up of the agricultural districts will
bring about a more enduring state of prosperity.
We have Africa now as our chief opponent in bid-
ding for population, but there are still many who
will be too wise to overlook the less glittering but
more solid advantages ofifered by the Canadian
North-west as a field for settlement.

The people of this country are just now giving
increased attention to the development of dairy-
ing, and are being actively assisted thereto by the
Government, and from this they will undoubtedly
reap great advantages. The low cost of produc-
tion, climatic influences, and great fertility of soil,
nuist always be in the Canadians' favour when
brought into competition with other countries in
supplying dairy and general agricultural products,
and the increased knowledge and facility in manu-
facturing and in bringing out perfection in qual-
ity, will make Canada a formidable competitor in
the markets of the old country.

Cultivation of the Soil.

There has been a good deal said about the sys-
tem of old country farming not being adapted to
this, but I must say I fail to see the force of it.
Even the mode of breaking up new soil, which the
farmers here lay claim to a special knowledge of,
pertains to both countries, as also does the system

TIM EL Y REM A RKS

of cropping. I do not say that the old country
farmer follows the system here as far as autumn
sowing goes, but he can give the Canadian some
pretty straight pointers in the matter of cultiva-
tion and rotation of grain crops, and he w- ild not,
like some Canadian farmers, allow his land to be-
come exhausted before taking measures to reno-
vate it, and that in a proper manner. Nor would
he be extravagant enough to waste his straw, when
he has proved its value as a fodder for cattle at
home.

The great want of a proper knowledge of culti-
vation has been one cause of the backward condi-
tion of this country — the settling up of districts
by inexperienced men — men who have come out
with capital but little or no experience, who bv
the time they have gained some of the latter, the
former has taken wings and flmvn away, to their
mortification and the getting this country a bad
name, as every excuse has been given for their
failure but the right one.

Settlers' Needs.

There is no need for a farmer to bring out anv-
thing with him. other than a fair stock of clothes
and good warm imdorwear. Everything can be
got here at a moderate price and made to meet the
ref|uirements of the country. There is no trouble
in selecting and purchasing all the stock he may
require to start witli, of the very best description,
and at such a moderate price that will astonisli
him, after purchasing such stock in the old conn-

•T3

a;
u

TIMELY REMARKS

try. A little cash goes a long way here. The price
of good stock of all kinds is simply ridiculous
when compared with England. J do not think I
am wide of the mark when I say that it is three-
fourths lower than it is in England. At the time
of writing three-year-old steers, that would dress
1 60 pounds per quarter, are being sold at £y each,
and good milking cows of any breed at the same
rate. There is money to be made by sheep here,
but I must say with regret that they are not handl-
ed in a practical manner by most of the farmers
who have invested in them. There are many other
things that a practical farmer with capital would
very soon remedy after he had been here a short
time, such, for instance, as the time for selling
sheep and cattle for shipment to England. The
present system in this regard might very well, I
think, be improved on, and there are many reasons
why it should be changed ; reasons which a practi-
cal English farmer, knowing the state of the mar-
kets at home at various times of the year, would
see and take advantage of.

Let a man coming to settle in this country make
up his mind never to buy a thing unless he can
pay for it, and he will find the principle will con-
tribute very greatly to his success. Let him begin
with mixed farming and stick to it. He will then
always have a flitch or two of bacon in his house
and a fat sheep in his flock, and he can live on the
produce of his farm, without going to the stores
for them, as many have done and are doing now.
This has been the ruin of many men here, and I
speak from what I have seen. Farmers buying

ON WESTERN CANADA.

beef, bacon, butter, eggs r^nd cheese from stores,
taking the place of the consumer instead of being
the pro(Kicer. There is no country in the world
where a farmer can live so well and so cheaply as
he can here, and at the same time thoroughly en-
joy the advantages he has in the way of sport, the
produce'of his gun helping out his larder wonder-
fully if he is fond of shooting. I have had the best
of shooting in England, but have never so much
enjoyed it as I have done here, merely shooting
the quantity that was required for the house or
presents for friends.

Another great advantage is the freedom from
rents, rates and taxes, such bugbears to the Eng-
lish farmer. One cannot appreciate the feeling
of such relief until it has been realized. The rates
are very low in the agricultural districts, especially
in the North-west Territories where municipalities
are not so general. The school rate being the only
one and that too trifling to be mentioned ; statute
labour taking the place of money payments, such
labour being generally allotted and done on the
roads most used by the settler himself.

Agricultural Labourers.

Hired labour is fast finding its proper level, and
is now more in proportion to the price of meat
and grain. A farmer is now able to employ a cer-
tain amount of hired labour, the price before pre-
venting him from doing so in justice to himself.
I have known several men who dated their down-
fall from the time they began to hire labour. So

TIMELY EhMARKS

long as they confined themselves to a certain num-
of cattle and a limited acreage of grain, they did
well, but when they began to increase them and
outside labour was necessary, it soon ate up both
cattle and profit until the time come when the ser-
vant hired the employer. Instances of this have
come under my own observation. Many of the
now thriving settlers owe their position to the
wages earned from others, coupled with their own
thrift, gaining capital and experience at the same
time. Many others starting with capital and no
experience, hired men to do the work they should
have done themselves, and came to grief as above
indicated.

Kind of Settlers Wantetl.

There is now in this country an opening for any
number of men with some experience and capital
(say £ioo clear to start with) where both can be
applied with advantage, when the same men would
find such an amount as I have mentioned practi-
cally useless in England. The taking up of i6o
acres of land under the homesteading conditions
is subject only to the pay of an entry fee of £2.
There is no doubt that the class of settlers most
needed in the North-west is the same as in any
other part, that is the steady working man with
moderate means, who will more likely be a per-
manent and successful settler than the man with
larger capital going into grain or cattle* on an ex-
tensive scale or as an experimentalist. The cheap-
ness and ease of producing wheat have in the past
been sources of temptation and failure to many

ox WESTERN CANADA.

who have a; plied their capital, and that of others
who believed in them, in the raising of that cereal
in large quantities, flooding the grain markets at a
time when the tendency to low prices was show-
ing itself, and consequently bringing down all
those connected with the venture. But a steady,
progressive system in all farm products is more
likely to last and to keep prices at a fair and pay-
ing rate.

Where To Go.

The best part of the North-west to go to is the
next (|uestion, and I may well say I pause for a
reply. Where all are good it is difficult to choose.

Let me take one line to start with. From York-
ton, the present terminus of the Manitoba and
North-western Railway, which branches ofif from
Winnipeg via Portage la Prairie, right up to
Prince Albert (a distance of 250 miles), one passes
through some of tlie finest farming land in the
world ; well watered, well timbered and sufficient-
ly open for mixed farmin'-;-, one large area between
Yorkton and vSheho Lake the road runs through
for about twenty miles, is of a park-like appear-
ance and as I drove through it on my return from
Fishing Lake, in Alay last, was perfectly encliant-
ing, and one could not grnml^le were he made to
pitch his tent upon any one spot. Everything
looked fresh and green, the only things needed to
complete tlie picture to a farmer's eye were hu-
man habitations, cultivated fields and herds of
cattle. With the exception of a small portion of

TIMELY REM AUKS

Stony land l)ctween this and the Mill plains, the
land is all good and inviting to settlers. The same
description stands for all the rest up to Stony
Creek, where there are a number of settlers, all do-
ing well, and apparently persuaded in their own
minds that they are occupying the pick of the
country. Should any intending settler wish to
come to this district, the best thing for him to do
is to proceed direct to Prince Albert by the Cana-
dian Pacific Railway, by way of Regina. He will
then be able to explore the district, and will read-
ily find all that he may require. In a few years the
more direct line of railway will be extended from
Yorkton, when all along this projected line every
acre of land will be taken itp. But fortunate are
those who, taking time by the forelock, establish
themselves along the route, in advance of the ac-
tual construction of the railway. They will not
have long to wait, and their lands will be greatly
enhanced in value when the road does come, but,
of course, they must expect to have some incon-
veniences to put up with as pioneers, for which,
however, they will be amply repaid when they find
the railway at their doors.

Conclusions.

Concluding this short pamphlet, let me impress
upon my readers that I place myself in the'r posi-
tion and feel that I would gladly give credence to
what might be written by one who has known
farming in England in its best days, and is able to
have written T can sav is from facts which have

.t^.-.: ' ■^. .r^ijOl^i

■n

tfi

TIMELY REMARKS

come under my own observation, and I can truth-
fully say that this is the country to come to, where
true freedom reigns and every help is given to
those who will try to help themselves. I address
myself as a farmer to farmers, being well aware that
if the same energy is exercised here as in England
to th purpose of getting a good return for capital
and labour, tliis is the country to do it in.

The country is one of the healthiest that can
possibly be, far healthier than England in any
part of it. Far be it from me that I should utter
one word to draw any man from his home to come
out here to meet with disappointment, but I know
that the country is all that one can desire, and that
there is every prospect for any industrious man to
maintain himself and provide a home for his sons
and daughters.

Population is the only thing the country lacks
to complete the measure of its perfection, and
therefore T say come, and whilst making good this
deficiencv do well for vourselves at the same time!

Asessippi, Manitoba, July, 1895.

*%>

ON WKSTJiHtN CAXAlfA.\^ < 19

WHAT SETTLERS HA>)i^P SAY
OF WESTERN CANAD^f^

THEY ALL LIKE IT AND SPEAK WELL OF IT
TO THEIR FRIENDS.

TWO EXAMPLES.

Two examples of the actual experience of re-
cent new comers to the Winnipeg- district will de-
monstrate that what may be called the " theory "
of the advantageous condition of the lands around
Winnipeg can be borne out by positive facts.
These two examples are not by any means select-
ed. They have been merely picked up at haphaz-
ard without any trouble being taken to hunt for
excei)tional instances of success. They are not
exceptional, but are simply instances of what any
ordinarily intelligent and iJidustrious man can do
and they could be multiplied and exceeded a
dozen fold.

Mr. 1). Minorgan came from North Dakota and
settled near Rosser, in 1895, on a farm that was
partially improved. That year he had 15 acres in
wheat, which yielded an average of 53 bushels to
the acre. Tast year he reaped 18 bushels to the
acre from the oldest land under cultivation ; 21
bushels from some land not quite so old, and 28
bushels from a piece of new land. The crop was
all No. I hard, and sold for from 80 to 86 cents a
bushel.

Mr. Allan McRae, now of Suthwyn, bought, in
the fall of 1895, the N3/2 33-10-4 E, paying for the
half section $1,920. He l)roke and backset 45

TIUELY REMARKS

acres in 1897, ^^^ reaped therefrom 1,350 bushels
of vvlieat which he sold at 83 to 86 cents a bushel.
This is an average of over $25 an aero for the land
under crop — an exceedingly profitable figures, as
every farmer knows. Moreover, the gross amount
of revenue from wheat alone in tiie first year was
thus $1,140, being considerably more than half the
amount paid for the whole 320 acres, of which
only 45 were in crop.

C. Bonnycastle, of Katepwa, N.W.T., writes:

Last year I gave you some of my experience as
regards farming in the North-west, and now, as
another year has gone by, I should like to show
you what can be realized by the same. As the first
part of the season was so dry a good deal of grain
did not come up which, no doubt, caused quite a
shortage to the yield ; but still it was a wonderful
good year. I cut 200 acres, and threshed 6,000
bushels which, when sold, brought me a clear pro-
fit of 50 cents a bushel, the market price being 75
cents. My son, with his threshing outfit, threshed
75,000 bushels.

It is wonderful to see the changes on the prairie;
good substantial stone and brick houses and
stables are to be seen all over. 1 built and improv-
ed my own to the amount of $1,500 and bought
half a section more of land. This winter has been,
so far, a very fine one. Most of the time it has
been a very little below freezing, and my cattle
have never seen the inside of a shed, and all my
horses that are not working are out on the prairie.
I expect this summer to have between 300 and 400
acres ready for wheat.

b
>

TIMELY REMARKS

Suecessfiil Assiniboia Settlers.

T. E. Jackson, who has a homestead between
Fort Qu'Appelle and Indian Head, writes :

I came to this country in the spring of 1882 with
less than $200 — not much money, but full of days*
work. I took up a homestead and pre-emption in
what is now called the wide-awake settlement. I
consider the soil as first-class for wheat, a deep
clay loam ; built a " shack " about as small as it
was possible, but I had to make it do for a time. I
should have mentioned all my difficulties I had to
contend with, such as driving- oxen, &c. How-
ever, I pulled throuj^h and built a second house ;
after five years of struggle I exchanged oxen for
horses, although still not married.

The year 1890 was, however, really the com-
mencement of a good deal better luck, for I h.ad
nuich more land under cultivation. I raised about
5,o<jO bushels of grain, and in the last ten years
never less than this each year. I also bought an-
other quarter section of land. I have got all this
land under cultivation, and last year I built a brick
house, estimated cost, $3,000. I also had a mag-
nificent crop of 10,500 bushels. All my wheat is
No. I hard grade, which will average about 75
cents a bushel ; cost of crop, about 20 cents a
busliel. I now own nearly i.ooo acres of land en-
tirely free of debt, and a fair estimate of this pro-
perty would be $15,000, though I may say I would
not take this sum if it were offered.

I think tliis is a fair showin.g and a proof that
we have a good country for farming.

ON WESTERN CANADA. 23

Undecided which to Choose.

A delegate who was sent to Western Canada
says : In undertaking to give a description I fear
I shall not be able to give it justice, for I hardly
know where to begin or when to end. For a plea
for my judgment, I will assume, as an illustration,
the experience of a man who went from place to
place in searcli of a wife, and fmding so many of
good qnalities and attractions, was unaljle to de-
termine which to choose ; so in looking for a
home in Western Canada. I like the country well,
and two of my boys are going this fall (they have
since gone and each has a homestead), where I am
satisfied they will do well. The lands which I have
seen are far superior in every res]icct, and lieyond
my expectations. Lakes and streams, to be found
in all districts, abound with innumerable kinds of
water fowl, while fish are very abundai't. On all
sides we see innumerable stacks of grain, proving
beyond doubt the fertility of the soil. On either
side of tlie track can be seen, in addition to the
grain, herds of cattle, hun^cs and tlocks of sheep.

TIMELY REMARKS

Testimonial from Alameda.

Winnipeg, Man., Sept. lo, 1897.

Mr. M. V. Mclnnes,

Chief Colonization Agent,
Detroit, Mich.

Dear Sir, — We are pleased to state to you that
we have found the country in the vicinity of Ala-
meda fully up to what you and Mr. Keller had re-
presented it to be. It is, in fact, an ideal location
ior mixed farming. The soil is the best we ever
saw, and as the farmers were all busy at threshing,
we had an excellent chance to see its productive
•quality, which cannot be surpassed anywhere. The
cattle could not be in better condition. We saw
two-year-old sieers equal to three-year-olds raised
in most places, and these, as all others are about
Alameda, were fed on native hay in winter and
herded in summer. As we had, previous to this,
visited the north-western States in behalf of a
large number of farmers, to locate suitable land
for mixed farming, we are now in a position to say
that the Alameda district of Western Canada sur-
passes them all. The country is equal to that about
Thuringen, in Germany. W^e were rather sceptic
before starting, and our intention was to settle in
spring, if we were suited, but we have now decided
to move at once, that is, as early this fall as we
possibly can. We left Mr. Riedel at Alameda, and
take back his report, and we will take his familjfa*:^?'..*:
■with us when we go.

Yours sincerely,

ALBERT MAI,
FRED GOTTOW;

^'(■k^,;.

J . * •

'cnv^'l