The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1900-03-31

Crop Prospects and Climate About Ed
monitor, n. W. T.-Interesting Letter
from Mrs. s. A. Brigham, Late
of Mason City.


from Mrs. S. A. Brigham. Late
of Mason City.
The following extracts from an in
teresting letter to the Mason City Ua.)
Republican, written by Mrs. S. A.
Brigham, late of that place. but now Of
Ross Creek, Alberta, Canada, SO near
ly describe most of the districts of
Western Canada that we take pleasure
in presenting same to the attention of
cur readers:
Ross Creek, Albert, N. w. T., Canada,
Aug. 7, 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-
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 a kind of black leaf
mould. There is 10 tough sod to
break, and it is very productive.
Wheat, oats and barley do finely and
vegetables are the finest hat can be
grown. Potatoes especially are large
and solid, easily producing from 200
to 300 bushels per acre, and best of all
never a 'taty bug to wrestle with.
Wild fruit, Strawberries, g~ooseberries,
saskatoons Tor 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.
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, it
rains sc easily. You look toward the
west and see a little cloud coming up,
a gentle shower follows, the sun shines
forth again, and in a little while you
forget it has rained.
Cyclones are unknown here and the
.nunder 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 80. The
nights are always cool.
The winter season is one Of great &C
tivity. All the fencing is gotten out
then and logs for the farm buildings.
By paying 25 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
drifts, not even around the buildings
and this is a great saving Of time tC
the farmer. Hay is hauled from the
bottom lands all winter long, and a
man ear work outside every day as fal
as the weather is concerned. There are
cold snaps when it reaches 40 and As
below zero, but the lack of wind pre-,
vents IN realizing it and the noun.
tains $50 miles west Of us are a great
protection. Cur neighbors are mostly
Canadian, Scotch, SWede. and we have
a nice sprinkling of people from tbs
states. The creeks abound in small
fish.
We are now in the midst of hay.
making (Aug. y. Wheat will not bC
cut until early September, this beins
a little later season than common, bu
the crop will be immense. | send yOl
a sample Of wheat and barley-itl
height is almost even with my Shout
ders, average 80 inches. New conner.
lacking binders can hire their grain
cut for rs cents per acre. Prairil
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. TIL
mosquitoes are simply a~bominable, es
pecially after a shower. Then agail
we are surrounded with bachelors; W
have no less than Is single men in thi
neighborhood, on matrimony bent
When a feminine gender Of any ag
between ii and 40 visits these hills W
pity her, so great is the demand TO
her company.
In conclusion, if the remainder o
our loved ones were here with us, W
should better enjoy life on Ross Greek
and unless the unexpected develops
consider this will he a pretty fair plac
to end our days.
MRS. S. A. BRIGHAM,