The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-05-01
A.
Crop Prospects and Clfmate About ed
from MRS. n A. brigham, Late

from Mrs. ~ A. brigham, Late
of Mason City.
The following extracts from an in
teresting letter to the Mason City CIa.)
Republican, written by Mrs. S. A.
Brigham, late OF that place, but o 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 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 TT. 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
n tamarack trees abound. Small
meadows are numerous. The soil in
these hills is much richer than the bot
tom lands, being q kind of black leaf
mould. There is no tough sod to
break, and 1t 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 a 'taty 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 currants in my garden
are as large again as common sized
ones. s
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 2 o'clock. Then again, 1t
rains so easily. You look toward the
west and see a little cloud coming up,
a gentle shower follows, the sun shines
forth again, and in q 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 ac-
companied with wind and hail, but
nothing to lodge the grain. The aver
age heat is about rs 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. All the fencing is gotten out
then and logs for the farm buildings
BY paying 25 cents you are granted &
permit at the land Office to cut logs
upon vacant lands. The roads arr
good and smooth, for the snow never
drifts, not wen around the buildings
and this Is a great saving of time tt
the farmer. Hay is hauled from thu
bottom lands all winter long, and {
man can work outside every day as fal
as the weather is concerned. There ar,
cold snaps when it reaches 40 and Al
below zero, but the lack of wind pre-
vents one realizing 1t and the noun
tains $50 miles west of us are a grea
protection. Dur n%eighbors are mostl,
Canadian, Scotch, Swede, and we havt
a nice sprinkling of people from thu
states. The creeks abound In small
fish.
We are now in the midst OF hay
making (Aug. y. Wheat will not b,
cut until early September, this bein,
A@~eAN - tl1A tOLnntOhy Uu
the crop will be immense. l send yoi
a sample of wheat and barley-its
height is almost even with my shout
ders, average 90 inches. New corners
lacking binders can hire their grair
cut for rs cents per acre. Prairie
chickens are here by the thousands.
The water is good. We have a fin.
well is feet deep. In the creeks tn,
water is soft and of a yellowish color
Now for the drawbacks 1--WE hav,
them), but nothing very serious. Thu
mosquitoes are simply abominable, es
pecially after a shower. Then again
we are surrounded with bachelors; W,
have no less than 18 single men in thi
neighborhood, on matrimony bent
When a feminine gender of any ag,
between Ia and 40 visits these hills WI
pity her. so great is the demand 70
her company.
In conclusion, II the remainder 0
our loved ones were here with us, W,
should better enjoy life on Ross Creek
and unless the unexpected develops
consider this will be a pretty fair plac,
to end our days.
MRS. S. A. BRIGHAM.