Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1901-12-13
Farn.sr.n Asser,..

FaFAiag In Albersa.
"A man who formerly resided ia
Minnesota writes as follows to Farm,
Stock and Home, Of Minneapolis.
II have lived here for eight years.
Edmonton district isa very level coun-
try. II
1.-THE town is located on the north
side of the Saskatchewan river, three
miles north Of the g. & e railroad sta
tion, Stratchcona. It has a population
of about 1000; Stratchcona about 1900.
There is no enterprise of any kind in
Edmonton except electric lights and
one -four and one saw mill. The chief
grain crop is oats.ts When it ripens 1t
yields from 65 to 100 bushels per acre.
Wheat seldom ripens on low land.
Barley is generally good crop; 40 to
IS bushels per acre on high, rolling
land; but such land is very scarce. The
soil here is a very light, black loan,
with gumbo or heavy clay bottom.
The timber is poplar and willows,
thatfgsow on theetillable land. Tim
Der used for building purposes is ma
tive spruce and tamarack shipped IN
from British Columbia. There is no
prairie land in this district to speak
Of. 1t is brush and poplar. There is
70 large prairie country 50 miles east,
but 1t Is very poor land. Some
parts are claimed to he good for stock.
A large per cent of cattle die here
every winter. The supposed cause is
the water, which all over this coun-
try contains much alkali. The we'll
In this town is not tit for house use.
"The water used In Edmonton is
hauled In tanks from the Saskatche-
wan, and barrels sell for dollar.
Horses died by the hundreds here this
season. Hogs died in large numbers.
There are very few sheep raised here.
Potatoes are very poor, except where
planted on sandy land, and seldom
ripen. The season is too short. On
ions cannot be, raised for winter use;
cabbage is; good and plenty; beets only
medium; carrots good. Hay is not
abundant. Grain that doesn't, ripep
is the principal forage for stock.
There Rno fall plowing here; It. is all
done from about May l tos.June Is.
Harvesting Of wheat and cats began
about Sept. 8. We had a very heavy
frost here Sept. S, that destroyed all
vegetab bles. Hail storms are numerous
and severe. On Sept. 2l we had ten
inches Of snow. About 70 per cent Of
the grain was uncut, and was after
ward 90 bad that it is impossible to
cut It with a machine. Thrashing
commenced about October 8.
's.rhere have been hundreds of dele
gates here in the past three years
from the states; but about Is per cent
Of them became delegates back to the
states In short order. Americans To-
Gated here are crazy to 60 back to
Uncle Sans land. We have had snow
on tile ground eleven months in the
last year. There was q snowfall OF
four inches on August "a last, that
damaged abOnt SO per cent OF the
grain in the Edmonton district. Sept.
"a, 1900, six inches Of snow fell. The
thrashing of the grain Of 1900 was
finished in January, 1901, nn account
of the fall rains and the condition Of
the roads.
'There are no grain elevators 10 this
country, to speak Of. All grain is
handled In fiat houses. The market
price Of oats here in the fall ranges
from II to q cents, wheat from 25 to
SO cents. Dressed pork, s5 . hundred;
beef, dressed, S to s cents. Potatoes,
1s to 25 per lb. Onions, 10 to 12t per
H.; tomatoes. 10 to Is per lb.; grapes,
l2f per lb.; apples. dried, 10 cents per
ID. There is very little picked pork
to be got in the markets; 1t is all dry
salted. Butchers here don't know
what corned beef is. / will say to my
Minnesota friends, when you leave
dear old Minnesota you leave the best
country on the North American con-
iitlnent. Farm machinery costs about
[ SQper cent more here than In Mime
sota!a a wagon that can be bought In
Minneabolb Tor et6, costs III Edinon.