Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1901-06-05
THE SASKATOON DISTRICT.
One of the New Western Canada Dis.
tricts-The Great Advantages of
Settlement Where the Soil Il
of Unexampled Fertility.


During the past year or two large
number of American settlers Chose
going from the United States to Can
ada), have made homes in the Saska-
toon district in western Canada. They
have found the climate all that could
be desired, and their prospects are of
the brightest. In writing of it a cor
respondent says:
The lands for sale are choice selec-
tons from large area, and every
farm is within easy distance of a rail-
way station. Experience has shown
that this district enjoys immunity
from summer frost, from cyclones and
billiards.. The South Saskatchewan,
flowing through the tract, is one of
the finest rivers in the country, being
navigable and having an average width
of stream of 1000 feet.
The agents of the government of
Canada, whose advertisement appears
elsewhere in your paper, and who will
be glad to give full informa ton, tell
me that within the limits of the tract
there are two distinct varieties of soil.
One is rich black loan; and the 9TH
er is a somewhat lighter loan, contain
ing small admixture of sand. There
appears to be no appreciafble differ
enOe between the fertility of these
two kinds of soil. Both are alluvial
in their characteristics; both are mar
velously productive, and both rest
upon subsoil of clay. The advan-
tage of this formation is that it re-
tains the heat of the day during the
night, and is favorable to the early
maturity of crops. Every kind of
crop will here attain the highest per-
lection of quality. The land is ad-
mirably adapted for stock raising and
dairy farming, as well as growing
grain. Some idea of the richness of
be formed from the fact that more
than 200 tons of hay were gathered
within short distance of Saskatoon
and stored up for use during the win
ter. A growth so luxuriant demon
strates beyond all possible question
the suitability of the land for pastur-
ing cattle, and no doubt this important
industry will be largely carried on.
Nature has been lavish in her gifts
to this territory. Not only is the soil
of unexampled fertility, but the eli
mate is delightful and healthy. Such
is the testimony of every settler, and
this testimony is confirmed by enthu-
siastic opinions from every traveller,
explorer, missionary or newspaper
correspondent who has ever visited
this far-famed Saskatchewan Valley.
In former years vast herds of buffalo
came here to winter from the elevated
storm-swept regions south of the
United States boundary line, proving
thereby the adaptation of these roll
ing prairies to the purpose of raising
stock. The land is dry, with sufficient,
but not excessive, rainfall, capable of
early cultivation in the spring, and
free from summer frosts. The con-
fguration of the country renders arti-
fetal drainage unnecessary, and pre-
vents the accumulation of stagnant
pools; mists and fogs are seldom
seen. The days of summer are full
of sunshine, under the genial inhu-
ence of which crops rapidly ripen.
Autumn is characterized by an almost
unbroken succession of fine weather,
during which the crops are safely gar
nered. In winter it is cold, but ex-
tremely exhilarating and pleasant,
owing to the wonderful dryness and
bracing qualities of the air. The win
ter is a source of profit as well as en-
joyment to the people, being far
healthier than a humid climate.
Water and fuel, these two prime
necessaries of life, are plentiful
throughout the district.
Many an old bachelor proposes-te re-
rir, H.