Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1900-02-10
WESTERN CANADA.
monitor, N. W. T.-Interesting Letter
from Mrs. S. A. Brigham, Late
of Mason City.

of Mason City.
The following extracts from an in
teresting letter to the Mason City Qa0
Republican, written by Mrs. S. A.
Brigham, late of that place, but now OF
Ross Creek. Alberta, Canada, so near
1y describe most Of the districts OF
Western Canada that we take pleasure
in presenting same to the attention OF
our readers:
Ross Creek, Albert, N. w. T., Canada,
Aug. z, 1899.
Editor Mason City Republican-Dear
Sir: We are located in the Beaver
Hills, 80 miles from Fit. Saskatchewan
and so miles from Edmonton. To the
east of these is an immense area of
bottom lands, which furnishes abund-
ance of hay for the settlers. 1t is dot
ted with small lakes, the largest OF
which is called Beaver Lake, 16 miles
in length:
The Beaver Hills are covered with
small green willows which are easily
gotten rid of before breaking up the
land. Here and there poplar, birch
and tamarack trees abound. Small
meadows are numerous. The soil in
these hills is much richer than the bot
tom lands, being a kind of black leaf
mould. There is no tough sod to
~ Cdh, anu IL Is very
Wheat. oats and barley do finely and
vegetables are the finest that can be
grown. Potatoes especially are large
and solid, easily producing from 200
to 300 bushels per acre, and best of all
never 'ttaty bug to Wrestle with.
Wild fruit, strawberries, gooseberries,
saskatoons Cor pine berries), raspber-
ries and cranberries, are found in the
hills. Small tame fruit does finely, the
red and white curTants in my garden
are as large again as common sized
ones.
We have long days during the
months Of June and July; one can see
to read many evenings until 10 o'clock
in the twilight. Some nights less than
hours of darkness, and the birds are
singing at 2 o'clock. Then again, it
rains SO easily. You look toward the
west and see little cloud coming up,
a gentle shower follows, the sun shines
forth again, and in a little while you
forget it has rained.
Cyclones are unknown here and the
| thunder and lightning is very light.
We had two storms this summer ac-
companied with wind and hail, but
nothing to lodge the grain. The aver
age heat is about 70 degrees. We had
three or four days in July At 80. The
nights are always cool.
The winter season is one of great ac-
| tivity. All the fencing is gotten out
then and logs for the farm buildings.
| By paying 25 cents you are granted a
permit at the land Office to cut logs
| good and smooth, for the snow never
| drifts, not even around the buildings,
and this is a great saving Of time to
the farmer. Hay is hauled from the
bottom lands all winter long, and q
man can work outside every day as far
| as the weather is concerned. There are
cold snaps when it reaches 40 and 4S
below zero, but the lack of wind pre-
vents one realizing it and the noun
tains $50 miles west of us are great
| protection. Our neighbors are mostly
Canadian, Scotch, Swede, and we have
a nice sprinkling of people from che
| states. The creeks abound in small
fish.
We are now in the midst of hay
making (Aug. y. Wheat will not be
cut until early September, this being
a little later season thsn common. but
the crop will be immense 1 send you
a sample of wheat and barley-its
height is almost even with my Shout
ders, average so inches. New corners
| lacking binders can hire their grain
cut for 20 cents per acre Prairie
chickens are here by the thousands.
The water is good. We have a fine
well Is feet deep. In the creeks the
water is soft and of a yellowish color.
Now for the drawbacks 1--WE have
them, but nothing very serious. The
mosquitoes are simply abominable, es-
peciaIly after a shower. Then again
we are surrounded with bachelors; we
| have no less than Is single men in this
neighborhood, on matrimony bent
When a feminine gender of any ags
between II and 20 visits these hills Va
pity her. SO great is the demand FOL
her company
In conclusion, If the remainder Of
our loved ones were here with US, W
should better enjoy life on Ross Geek
and unless the unexpected develops
consider this viii be pretty fair plaea
70 end our days
MRS RRIGHAH