Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-04-24
NEVER SAW SUCH LARGE YIELDS.
The Climate Is Healthy-The Winters
Are Pleasant In Western Canada.

Writing from Stirling, Alberta, to
one of the agents representing the
Canadian Government free homestead
lands, Mr.. M. Pickrell, formerly of
Beechwocd, KY, says of Western Can
ada:
In the first place we will say that
the summer season is just lovely in
deed. * 20 the winter, well, we never
experienced finer weather than we are
now enjoying. We have just returned
from Northern Alberta, and will say
that we found the weather to be very
mild, the air dry, fresh and invigorat-
ing. Considering everything we can
say that the winters here are most
pleasant, healthy and enjoyable to
what they are In the States. Here 1t
gets cold and continues so till spring
there are no disagreeable winds. In
South Alberta 1t is some warmer--two
to four inches of snow may fall and
in few hours a Chinook wind comes
along, evaporating the entire snow,
leaving terra firma perfectly dry; in
fact, we did not believe this part until
we came and saw for ourselves and
we now know what we herein write
to be just as we write it. There has
not been day this winter that could
not work out doors. Farmers here are
calculating on starting the pillow the
first Of March.
LAS to farm wages, we would not
advise a man to come here with the
expectation of living by his days
work, but all who do want home
advise to have nerve enough to get up
and come, for there never has been,
and may never be again, such a grand
opportunity for man to get home
almost free.
LAS to the crops, have been in the
fields before harvest, saw the grass
put up and the grain harvested, and
never saw such large yields. | saw
oats near Edmonton over six feet tall
that yielded so bushels per acre, and
talked to farmer rear st. Albert who
had field year before last that aver
aged no bushels per acre and weighed
40 pounds to the bushel All other
crops would run in proportion-ss to
potatoes and vegetables, the turnout
was enormous. l have such reports
as the above from all sections that
have visited, and that has been every
community between the Edmonton dis
trict and Raymond, in the Lethbridge
district.
"As to stock raising, would ad-
wise a man to locate in this place, or
any place, in South Alberta, but for
mixed farming I would say go up
farther north, say near Lacombe, We
taskiwin or Edmonton, where IL is not
quite so dry and where there is some
timber to be had. will say that no
where have I ever seen better oppor-
tunity for a man, whether he has
money or not, to obtain a home. No
where can be found a more productive
soil, better water and better gov
erned country than Western Canada
affords. Inducements to the home
seeker are unexcelled. met two men
near Ponoka on the c. & e. r. R.,
who borrowed the money to pay for
their homestead, and in four years
those two men sold their farms-one
for $500, the other for $4,000. l met
a man near Wetaskiwin who landed
here with 25 cents six years ago. He
is now worth $4,000. The advantages
for ranching are excellent. In fact,
do not believe this section can be
beat. Markets are good; as to living
a family can live as cheap hare as
they can in the States. The average
yield of oats in this neighborhood last
year was 20 bushels per acre; wheat
averaged 35, barley 40, and the beet
crop was good. In consequence OF
the successful cultivation Of the beet
large beet sugar factory is being
erected at Raymond, seven miles from
here.
an conclusion I will say that N. w
T. from Manitoba to long distance
north of Edmonton produces most won
derful crops. Lakes and rivers abound
with fish, and game is plentiful. Ano
that this is unquestionably the coun
try for man 10 come to if he desires
to better his condition in life. lwoult
advise the prospective settler to lool
over the Lethbridge, Lacombe, Wetas
kiwin and Edmonton districts before
locating.
81 will locate in the Edmonton dis
trict next fall and several familie!
from the States will locate with me
In the meantime l will receive m!
mail here and will be pleased to give
the interested all the information de
sired"
For information as to railway rates
etc. apply to any agent OF the Cana
dian Government. whose name appear
elsewhere in this paper.