Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1900-03-03
WESTERN CANADA.
crsD Prospects and Climate About Ed
noatca, n. ", T.-Intsrssting Letter
from Ars 3 A. Brigham, Late


Of Mason City.
The following extracts from an in
teresting letter to the Mason City Qa)
Republican. written by Mrs S. A.
Brigham. late of that place, but now OF
Ross Greek, Alberta, Canada. so near
ly describe most OF the districts of
Western Canada that we take pleasure
In presenting same to the attention OF
our readers:
Ross Greek, 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-
anee of hay for the settlers It 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 tamaraek 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, and it is very productive.
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 800 bushels per acre. and best of all
never "taty bug" to wrestle with.
Wild fruit, Strawberries, goose berries.
Saskatoons Tor pine berries), raspher-
ries and cranberries, are found in the
NILS. Small tame fruit does finely. the
red and white currants 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
10 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 a little cloud coming m
gentle shower follows, the sun shines
forth again, and in little while you
forget it has rained.
cyclones are unknown here and the
thunder and lightning is very light.
we mad two storms this summer ac-
companled with wind and hail. but
nothing to lodge the grain. The aver
age heat is about 7s degrees. We had
three or four days in July at 80. The
nights are always cool.
Inc winter season is one of great ac-
tvity. All the fencing is gotten out
then and logs for the farm buildings.
by paying 70 cents you are granted a
permit at the land Office to cut logs
upon vacant lands. The roads are
good and smooth, for the snow never
drllts, not even around the buildings
ana this Is great saving of time to
the farmer. Hay is hauled from the
bottom lands all winter long, and a
man can work outside every day as far
As the weather is concerned. There are
colo snaps when it reaches 40 and IS
below zero, but the lack of wind pre-
vents one realizing 1t and the noun
talns $50 miles west of us are a ereat
protection. Our neighbors are mostly
canadian, Scotch, Swede. and we have
nice sprinkling OF people from the
states. The creeks abound in small
hsh.
We are now in the midst of nav
making tAug. y. Wheat will NOT he
"~Aiy ocPtclHDcT, LlIS DGlDE
little later season than common hut
the crop will be immense. / send Won
sample of wheat and barlev-fts
height Is almost even with nv shouI-
GERS, average 90 inches. New comers
lacking binders can hire their grain
cut for IS cents per acre. Prairie
ehlckens are here by the thousands
The water is good. We have a fine
well 10 feet deep. In the creeks tbe
water is soft and of a yellowish color
Now for the drawbacks 1--WE have
theml, but nothing very serious. The
mosquitoes are simply abominable. es-
peclally after shower. Then again
we are surrounded with bachelors: we
nave no less than IS single men i'm tbis
neighborhood, on matrimony bent
When a feminine gender of any age
between IA and 40 visits these hills we
pity her, so great is the demand for
her company.
In conclusion, II the remainder of
our loved ones were here with US. we
should better enjoy life on Ross Creek
ana unless the unexpected develops
consider this will be pretty fair nIace
to end our days
MRS. s. A. BRIGHAM.
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