Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1903-04-11
THE lMpaEssIoNs OF a WOMAN.
What 3 Woman says About western
Canada.

this paper regarding the prospects Of
Western Canada and it's great possi-
biIities. II may not be uninteresting to
give the experience OF a woman set
tier. written 20 Mr. n. V. McInnes. the
agent OF the government at Detroit,
Mich. II the reader wishes to get
further Information regarding Western
Canada 1t may be obtained by writing
any Of the agents OF the Government
whose name is attached to the adveT-
tisement appearing elsewhere in this
paper.
The following is the letter referred
to:
Hilldown. Alberta, Feb. 5. 'o3.
Dear Sir-I have been here now
nearly Eve years. and thought would
write you woman's impression OF
Western Canada-in Alberta. There
are several ranchers in this district
who, in addition to taking care or
their cattle. carry on farming as weIl:'
their herds of cattle number from 100
to 200 or 500 head, and live out all
winter without any SHELTER than the
poplar bluffs, and they come in in the
spring in good order. Most OF the
ranchers feed their cattle part OF the
time, about this time of the year, but
have seen the finest fat cattle I ever
saw that never got a peck of grain
only fattened on the grass. You see
/ have learned to talk farm since /
came here-farming is the great bust
ness here. I know several in this
district who never worked 8 day on
the farm till they came here, and
hoN
of.
I think this will be the garden of
the Northwest some day, and that day
not very far distant. There has been
a great change since we came here,
and there will be a greater change in
the next five years. The winters are
all anyone could wish for We have
very little snow, and the climate is
fine and healthy. Last summer was
wet, but not to an extent to damage
crops, which were a large average
yield and the hay was immense-and
farmers wore a broad smile accord
ingly.
We have good schools, the govern
ment pays 20 per cent of the expense
of education, which is a great boon
in new country. OF course churches
of different denominations follow the
settlements. Summer picnics and win
ter concerts are all well attended, and
as much, or more, enjoyed as in the
East. Who would not prefer the pure
air of this climate with it's broad acres
of fine farms, its ripping streams, it's
beautiful lakes, its millions of wild
flowers, its groves of wild fruit OF
exquisite flavor, its streams and lakes
teeming with fish and its prairies and
bluffs with game, to the crowded and
stiff state of society in the East. ]
would like to go home for a visit
some time, but not to go there to live,
even if presented with the best farm
in Michigan. Beautifui Alberta, I will
never leave it. And my verdict is only
a repetition OF all who have settled in
this country. This year I believe will
add many thousands to our population.
And if the young men, and old men
also, knew how easy they could make
home free of all incumbrance in this /,
country, thousands more would have
settled here. I would sooner have 160
acres here than any farm where I
came from in Michigan, but the peo-
pie in the East are coming to knowl-
edge of this country, and as they do,
they will come West in thousands. All
winter people have been arriving in
Alberta, and / suppose in other parts
as we'll, which is unusual, so we ex-
pect a great rush when the weather
gets warmer.
We have no coal famine here. Coal
can be bought in the towns for So to So,
according to distance from the mines,
and many haul their own coal from
the mines, getting it there for SO cents
to dollar ton. Very Gruly yours,
(Signed) Mrs. John McLachlan.