The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1903-04-09
THE IMPRESSIONS OF A WOMAN.
What a Woman Says About Western
Canada.

What a Woman Says About Western
Canada.
Although many men have written to
this paper regarding the prospects of
Western Canada, and its great possi.
bilitieS, it may not be uninteresting to
give the experience of a woman set
tier, written to Mr.. NJ. V. McInnes, the
agent of the Government at Detroit,
Mich. If the reader wishes to get
further information regarding West
ern Canada it may be obtained by
writing any of the agents of the Gov.
ernment whose name is attached to the
advertisement appearing elsewhere in
this paper.
The following is the letter referred
to:
Hilldown, Alberta, Feb. 5, 1908.
Dear Sir-I have been here now
nearly five years, and thought would
write you a woman's impression Of
Western Canada-in 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 800 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
have seen the finest fat cattle 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 greatest
business here. l know several in this
district who never worked a day on
the farm till they came here, and have
done well and are getting well off.
1 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 accordingly.
We have good schools; the Govern.
ment pays 20 per cent Of the expense
of education, which is a great boon in
q 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 its broad acres OF
fine farms, its ripping streams, its
beautiful lakes, its millions Of wild
flowers, its groves Of wild fruit Of ex.
Quisite 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 60 home for a visit some
time, but not to go there to live, even
if presented with the best farm in
Michigan. Beautiful Alberta, I viii
never leave it. And my verdict is only
a 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. 1 would sooner have 100
acres here than any farm where l
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 win.
ter people have been arriving in Al.
berta, and suppose in other parts rs
well, which is unusual, SO we expect
a 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 q dollar a ton.
Very truly yours.
(Signed) MRS. JOHN MLACHLAN