Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1900-02-01
WESTERN CANADA.
One of the Choice Spots on the CONT
neut for Settlement.


neut for Settlement.
The following extracts from an In
teresting letter 10 the Mason City
(IowaJ Republican, written by Mrs. 5.
\. Brigham, late Of that place, but
now of Ross Creek, Alberta, Canada,
so nearly des RIDES most OF the districts
of Western Canada that we take pleas
ure in presenting same to the attention
of our readers
Ross creek, Alberta, y. w. T.,
Canada, Aug. !. 1899.
Editor Mason City Republican,:
Dear Sr-We are located in the
Beaver Hills, thirty miles from Fort
Saskatchewan aud fifty miles from Ed
monton. To the east of these is an inn
mense area Of bottom lands, which FUR
nishes abundance of hay for the set
tiers. 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 mp the
land. Here ana 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
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 a
"taty bug" 10 wrestle with Wild
fruit, Strawberries, gooSebelTies, saSka-
toons Tor pine berries. raspberreS 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 ana July; one can see
to read many evenings until 10 o'clock
in the twilight. Some nights less than
three hours of darkness. ana the birds
are singing at o'clock. Then again,
it rains so easily. You look toward the
west and see n little cloud coming mp,
gentle shower follows. the sun shines
forth again. and in little while YOU
forget IL has raiued.
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 IS degrees, We had three or
four days in July at 30 The nights are
always cool
The winter season is one Of great ac-
tivity. An the fencing Is gotten out
a f.U Q Ia. IA
BY paying - cents YOU are granted
permit at the land office TO cut logs up
ON vacant lands. The roads are good
aud smooth, TO" the SNOW never drifts,
not even around thc buildings. and this
is great saving of time TO The farmer
Hay is hauled from the bottom lands
all winter long, aud a man can work
outside every day as far aS the wealth
er is concerned. There are cold snaps
when it reaches 40 and Is below zero.
but the lack Of wind prevents one real
izing 70 and the mountains $50 miles /
west of Us are Il great protection.
our neighhorS are mostly Canadian
Scotch, Swede, ana we have a nice
sprinklins of people from the States.
The creek abouuds IN small fish.
We are now I'm the midst OF haymak. F.
ing Aug. =. Wheat Will not be cur
until early September, this being H. /
lie later season than common. but the
crop viii be immense. send YOU \ /
sample of wheat ana barley. Its height |
is almost even with my shoulders aver .
age 20 inches Newcomers larkiny I
binders can hire their grain cut for - /
cents ver acre Prairie chickens are .
here by the thousands.
The water is good We have fine
Well fifteen feet deep In the creeks
the water is soft ana ~ 4 yellowiSh 4
color
Then again we are surrounded with
bachelors we have no les, than eight
cen single men in this ueighborhood
on matrmouy bent When a feminine
gender ot any age between IA and 40
visits these bills we pity her. 50 great
Is the demand for her company. Can
you aid US
III conclusion IF the remainder or
Dur lowed aue> were here with rs. we
should better enjoy lie on Ross Greek.
lnd unless the unexpected develops
consider his viii Be pretty fair place
10 end uUr days
MRS. 5. A. BRIGHAM.