Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-02-01
WESTERN CANADA.


One of the Choice Spots on the Conti-
ncnt for Settlement.
The following extracts from an in
teresting letter to the Mason City,
Qowa) Republican, written by Mrs. 5.
A. Brigham, late of that place, but
now of Ross Creek, Alberta, Canada,
SO nearly describes most of the districts
of Western Canada that we take pleas
ure in presenting same to the attention.
OF our readers:
Ross Creek, Alberta, N. w. T.,
Canada, Aug. Z, 1899.
Editor Mason City Republican:
Dear Sir-We are located in the
Beaver Hills, thirty miles from Fort
Saskatchewan and fifty miles from Ed
monitor. To the east of these is an i'm
mense area Of bottom lands, which fur
nshes abundance of hay for the set
tiers. 1t is dotted with small lakes, the
largest Of which is called Beaver Lake,
sixteen miles in length.
There is fine shelter for the cattle
and horses now feeding there.
The Beaver Hills are covered with,
small green willows which are easily
gotten rid of before breaking up the
and tamarack trees abound. Small
meadows are numerous. The soil in
these hills is much richer than the bot
tom lands, being kind of black leaf
mold. There is no tough sod to break,
and it is very productive. Wheat, oats
and barley do finely, and vegetables
are the finest that can be grown. Po-,
tatoes especially are large and solid,
easily producing from 200 to 300 bush
els per acre, and best of all, never
''taty bug" to wrestle with. Wild
fruit, strawberries, gooseberries, saska-
toons Tor pine berries), raspberries and
cranberries are found in the hills.
Small tame fruit does finely, the red
and white currants in my garden being
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
three hours of dark1ess, and the birds
are singing at O'Clock. Then again,
it rains so easily, - You look toward the.
west and see little cloud coming up,
gentle shower follows, the sun shines
forth again. and in little while, you
forget 1t has rained.
Cyclones are unknown here and the
thunder and lightning is very light. We
had two storms this summer accom-
panied with wind and hail, but nothing
to lodge the grain. The average heat
is about 7S degrees. We had three or
four days in July al go. 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 % cents you are granted
permit at the land Office to cut logs up
on vacant lands. The roads are good
and smooth, for the snow never drifts,
not even around the buildings, and this
is great saving of time to the farmer.
Hay is hauled from the bottom lands
all winter long, and man can work
outside every day. as far as the wealth
er is concerned. There are cold snaps
when it reaches 40 and 46 below zero,
but the lack of wind prevents one real
izing it and the mountains $50 miles
west of us are great protection.
Our neighbors. are mostly Canadian,
Scotch, Swede, and we have a nice
sprinkling of people from the States.
The creek abounds in small fish. -
We are now in the midst of haymak-
ling Aug. y. Wheat wilr not be cut
until early September, this being lit
tie later season than common, but the
crop will be immense. | send you a
sample Of wheat. and barley. It's height
lis almost even with my shoulders, aver,
age 80 inches Newcomers lacking
binders can hire their. grain cut for rs
cents per acre. Prairie chickens are
In GRO hxA tho Thousands
The water is good We, have a fine
we'll fifteen feet deep. In the creeks
the water is, soft and of a yellowish
color. " $s rs ~ 4sYs
Then again we are surrounded with
bachelors; we have no. less than eight
cen single men in this neighborhood,
ON matrimony bent. Whensa feminine
gender of any age between Ii and 40
visits these hills we pity her, so great
is the demand for her company. Can
you aid us?
In conclusion, if the remainder of
our loved ones were here with us, we
should better enjoy life on Ross Greek,
and unless the unexpected develops,
consider this will be pretty fair place
to end our days.
MRS. S. A. BRIGHAM.