The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-05-20
FARM LANDS COMPARED
Value of American Regions
Over Canadian Northwest.
MANY RICH TRACTS PASSED BY.

A Correspondent who Has visited
the new Lands OF the Manitoba,
Assiniboia and Saskatchewan Conn
try Compares Them UnfavorabIy
with Those Easily obtained In Our
Northwest.
I have just returned from a visit to
the new lands of the Manitoba, Assini-
boia and Saskatchewan country, in the
Canadian northwest, says R. #. Gable
in the Oaks 1t is not true that $4,000
American farmers have moved to these
lands during the last year, but from in
vesugation l would say that some r.
600 have crossed the line to enter on
these lands, and 1000 or 5000 more
have visited them and made purchases
which they may occupy later.
The investors to a large extent come
from southern Minnesota, Iowa. I'LL
nois, Wisconsin and Indiana. They
have deliberately passed by numerous
rich tracts Of American land for areas
in foreign country. country in
which they must eventually become
the subjects of a monarch if they wish
to remain and engage In political as
well as agricultural pursuits. They
have chosen a climate which, l think,
can be surpassed in innumerable
sparsely settled regions OF the United
States. They have to a large extent
isolated themselves from native land
and friends. They have gone where
transportation facilities are almost I'M
known, and they have large and profit
able near by markets yet to create.
cite these points because / cannot
understand why Oklahoma. the Indian
Territory, certain valleys of New Mex
leo, certain parts Of Colorado, the Big
Horn country Of Wyoming and the
Black Hills should have been passed
over. particularly mention the Black
Hills because of the important connec-
ton Of that section now with the great
lakes and the Atlantic seaboard by a
trunk line.
The Custer expedition in 1874 brought
back to Fort Abraham Lincoln the def
mite information that the Hills con-
tanned silver and gold, fine grasses,
timber, excellent water and were suit
able for occupation by white settlers II
the Indians could be induced to relin-
| quish their rights.
Since then the Black Hills region has
become the third greatest gold produc-
ing district on this continent. But aside
4 from their record as being a district
for the most profitable kind of gold
production l was particularly interest
ed in passing through the Hills to note
their new industrial life and its grow
Ing relations with the rich and almost
undeyeIoped country Of southeastern
Montana and northeastern Wyoming
Isolated ais the Hills were in early his
tory from communication with other
parts of the nation, they hage since
commanded railway facilities that give
them close touch with Omaha, Denver
Sioux City and beyond to Chicago, tn,
great lakes and the eastern coast.
i ne IGsQA( Alds DGNA AAtN 4AtARAANA Aol
of the planning mill, the lumber yard
the marble workers, the cattle raisers
and the farmer. / saw wheat ia the
vicinity of Custer equal In quality L
| anything raised in any other section OF
South Dakota or in the famous Red
river valley.
| found comfortable farmhouses,
plenty OF water. good timber, especially
in pine; vast deposits Of natural marble
and gypsum and a delightful climate
The elevations Of the most prominent
lportions Of the Hills offer superb shell
ter in the valleys, the passes and the
plateaus. There is neither an extreme
of heat or cold nor such conditions Of
weather that fields cannot be freely
worked during the open seasons and
fiocks and herds be carefully guarded
during the colder periods
The population is decidedly Ameri-
4