The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-04-10

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eminent whose name is attached to the
advertisement appearing elsewhere in
this. paper.
The following is the letter referred
to:
Hilldown, Alberta, Feb. 5, 1903.
Dear Sir-1 have been here now
nearly five years, and thought 1 would
write you a woman's impression of
Western CANADIAN Alberta. There
are 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 head, and live out all Win
ter without any shelter than the pop
lar 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
l have seen the finest fat cattle I ever
saw that never got a peck of grain
only fattened or the grass. You see I
have learned to talk farm since I
came here-farming is the greatest
business here. I know several in this
district who never worked a day OH
the farm till they came here, and have
done well and are getting we'll off.
a L AAiAA l11S Will NC lllc SdIucll O1
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 broad smile accordingly.
We have good schools; the Govern
ment pays 70 per cent of the expense
OF education, which is a great boon in
Il new country. OF course, churches of
different denominations follow the set
Elements. Summer picnics and winter
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 ex-
quisite flavor, it's streams and lakes
teening with fish and it's prairies and
bluffs with game, to the crowded and
stiff state of society in the East? I
would like to go home for a visit some
time, but not to go there to I've, even
il presented with the best farm in
Michigan. Beautiful Alberta, I will
never leave it. And my verdict is only
Il repetition of all who have settled i'll
this country. This year, l believe, will
add many thousands to our population.
And if the young men, and old men
also, knew how easy they could make
Il home free of all incumbrance in this
country. thousands more would have
settled here. l would sooner have 100
acres here than any farm where I
anne from in Michigan; but the people
in the East are coming to a knowledge
Of this country, and as they do, they
will come West in thousands. All win
ter people have been arriving in Al
berta, and~I suppose in other parts as
| well, which is unusual, SO we expect
! Il great rush when the weather gets
warmer.
, We have no coal famine here; coal
can be bought in the towns for 50 to
So. according to distance from the
mines. and many haul their own coal
from the mines, getting it there for so
cents to a dollar a ton.
Very truly yours.
! (Signed) MRS. JOHN M'LACHLAN.