Newport daily independent., 1903-04-08
TIE IMPRESSIONS or A WOMAN
What a Woman Says About western
 Canada.

Although many men have written to this paper regarding the prospects of Western Canada, and it's great pos abilities, it may not be uninterest- ing to give the experience of wom- an settler, written to MT. NJ. V. Me- 1nnes, 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 is attached to the advertisement ap-, bearing elsewhere in this paper.
 The following is the letter referred to:
 Hilldown, Alberta, Feby. 5, 1903. Dear Sir:
 l have been here now nearly five years, and thought I would write you a woman's impression of Vest ern Canada5in 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 heads, 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 1 have seen the finest fat cattle 1 ever saw that never got peck of grain-only fattened on the grass. ! ou see 1 have learned to talk farm since l came here-farming is the great business here. I know several in this district who never worked a day on the farm, till they came here, and have done well and are getting we'll off
 I 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 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 ex- tent to damage crops, which were a large average yield, and the hay was immense-and farmers wore a broad smile accordingly.
 We have good schools, the Govern ment pays 70 per cent. of the ex- pense of education, which is a great boon in a new country. Of course, churches of different denominations follow the settlements. Summer pie nics and winter concerts are all we'll attended, and as much, or more, en- joyed 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, it's millions of wild flowers, it's groves of wild fruit of exquisite flavor, 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. l would like to go home for visit sometime, but not to go there to live, even if presented with the best farm in Michigan. Beautiful Alberta, l 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 a home free of all incumbrance in this country, thousands more would have settled here. 1 would sooner have 160 acres here than any farm where I came 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 winter, people have been arriving in Alberta, and l suppose in other parts as we'll, which is unusual, so we ex- pect great rush when the weather gets warmer.
 We have no coal famine here; coal can be bought in the towns for $2 to $3, according to distance from the mines, and many haul their own ccal from the getting it there for 50 cents to a dollar ton.
 Very truly yours.
 (Signed) Mrs. John Mel achlan.