The Colfax chronicle., 1903-05-30
TIE IMPRESSIONS OF A WOMAN
What . Woman says About westsr,
Canada.

Canada.
Although many men have written
to this paper regarding the prospects
OF Western Canada, and its great pos
abilities, it may not be uninterest
ing to give the experience of wom-
an settler. written to Mr.. NJ. v. Nc
lnnes, the agent of the Government
at Detroit, Mich. If the reader
wishes to get further information re-
garding Western Canada it may be
obtained by writing any of the agents
OF the Government whose name 10
attached to the advertise APP
pearing elsewhere in this paper.
The following is the letter referred
to:
Hilldown, Alberta, Heb'y. S, 1903.
Dear Sir:
l have been here now nearly five
years, and thought 1 would write
you woman's impression of Vest
ern Canadian Alberta. There arc
several ranchers in this district
who. in addition to taking care Of
their cattle, carry on farming as
well. Their herds of cattle number
from 100 to 200 or 300 heads, and live
out all winter without any shelter
than the poplar bluffs and they como
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 l have seen the finest fat
cattle ever saw that never got a peck
of grain-only fattened on the grass.
1ou see l have learned to talk farm
since L came here-farming is the
great business here. / know several
in this district who never worked q
day on the farm, till they came here,
and have done well and are getting
well off.
think this will be the garden OF
the Northwest some day, and that
day not very far distant. There has
been great change since we came
here, and there will be 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
tent to damage crops, which were
large average yield, and the hay was
tmmense-and farmers wore a broad
smile accordingly.
We have good schools, the Govern.
ment pays 70 per cent. Of the ex.
pcnse of education, which is a great
boon in new country. OF course,
churches of different denomina ations
follow the settlements. Summer pic.
mics and winter concerts are all well
attended, and as much, or more, en-.
5oyed as in the East. Who would not
prefer the pure air of this climate
with its broad acres of fine farms
its ripping streams, its beautiful
lakes, its millions OF wild flowers, its
groves of wild fruit of exquisite
havor, it's streams and lakes teem.
Ing with fish and its prairies and
bluffs with game, to the crowded
and stiff state of society in the East
4 would like to go home for visit
sometime, but not to go there to
live, even il presented with the best
farm In Michigan. Beautiful Alberta,
will never leave it. And my verdict
Is only repetition of all who have
settled in this country. This year, ]
believe, will add many thousands to
our population. And If the young
men, and old men also, knew how
easy they could make a home free Of
all incumbrance in this country,
thousands more would have settled
here. ! would sooner have 16O acres
here than any farm where 1 came
from in Michigan; but the people in
the East are coming to knowledge
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 well, 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 fer So
to So, according to distance from the
mines. and many haul their own ccal
from the mines-getting it there for
50 cents to dollar a ton.
Very truly yours.
: (Slgned) Mrs. John McLachlan.