Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1900-02-03
WESTERN CANADA.
Crop Prcspents and Climate Abou
Edmonton, N. w. 4.

Crop Prospects, and Climate About
Edmonton, N. w. r.
Interesting letter from Mrs. 8. A. Brig
ham. late Of Mason City.l
Editor Mason CRY Republican.
Ross Gre elk, Alberta, N. W. T.,
Canada, Aug. 2, 1899.
Dear Sir:
We are Loo atcd in the Beaver Hills,
30 miles from Fl. Saskatchewan and
so miles frc M Edmonton. To the east
of these IL an immense area Of bot
tom lands. which furnishes abundance
Of hay for the settlers. 1t is dotted
with small lal es, the largest OF which
Is called Bea yer Lake, 16 miles in
length.
There is sh elter for the cattle and
horses now fe eding there.
Tho Beaver Hills are covered with
small green willows which are easily
gotten rid o. before breaking up the
land. Here and there poplar, birch
and tamrrNck trees abound. Small
meadows are numerous. The soil in
these hills; Is much richer than the bot
tom lands, being kind of black leaf
mould. There is no tough sod to
break ncd it is very productive. Wheat,
oats nd barley do finely, and vege-
tables. are the finest that can be
grown. Potatoes especially are large
and solid, easily producing from 200
to 800 bushels per acre, and best OF
I'll never ''taty bug" TO wrestle with.
Wild fruit-strawberries, gooseberries,
saskatoons Tor pine berries), raspber-
ries and cranbcrries-are found in the
hills. Small tame fruit does finely; the
red and white currants in my garden
:are us large again us common sized
zones.
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 3 hours of darkness and the
birds are singing at 9 o'clock. Then
again, it rains so easily. You look TO.
ward the west and see little cloud
coming up, n gentle shower follows,
the sun shines forth again, and in a
Lftle while you forget it has rained.
Cyclones are unknown here and the
thunder and lightning is very light.
We bad two storms this summer &c.
,companied with wind and hail, but
nothing to lodge the grain. The nv.
,eragc heat is about rs degrees. We
had three or four days in July at DO.
The nights are always cool.
The winter season Is one OF great
activity. All the fencing is gotten
out then and logs for the farm build.
ings. by paying rs cents you are
granted q permit at the land Office to
cut logs upon 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 q man can work outside every
day as far as the weather Is con.
cerned. There are cold snaps when it
reachcG 40 and IS below zero, but the
lack OF wind prevents one realizing it
and the mountains $50 miles west Of
Jus are great protection.
Our neighbors are mostly Canadian,
Scotch, Swede, and we have nice
sprinkling Of people from the States.
The creeks abound in small fish.
We arc now in the midst of hay
making Aug. 7th). Wheat will not be
cut until early September, this being
q little later season than common, but
the crop will be immense. ] send you
q sample OF wheat and barley-its
height Is almost even with my shout
ders, average 80 inches. Newcomers
lacking binders can hire their grain
cut for rs cents per acre. Prairie
chickens are here by the thousands.
The water Is good. We have q fine
well IS feet deep. In the creeks the
water is soft and Of yellowish colour.
Then again we are surrounded with
bachelors; we have no less than IS
single men in this ncighbourhood. on
matrimony bent. When feminine
gender OF any age between Il ana 40
visits these hills we pity her, SO great
is the demand for her company.
In conclusion, IL the remainder Of
cur loved ores were here with us, we
should better enjoy life on Ross Creek,
and unless the unexpected develops,
consider this will be q pretty fair
rlace to end our finys.
MRS. S. A. BRIGHAM.
II All Depends.
81 suppose YOU arc believer in harmony"
aaid the Rarru Gals barber.