Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-05-14
An Illinois Farmer in Western Cam
ada

formerly a prosperous farmer of that
ctote who recently emigrated TO West
arn Canada, taking up claim for him
sslf and for each of his three sons.
From Mr.. Kost's letter, which was
written Feb 8, 1904, we publish the
followiug. believing it will prove of
,,raat interest to those who have con
tapplated settling in the Canadian
Northwest:
81 had in August, 1902. secured
claim for myself, and filed on three
ararter sections for my sons. My claim
Is oue-half mile south of the EdmOn-
ton and Lake st. Anne trail.
Coming so late in the season, we
had little opportunity to break and to
nrepare ground for a first years crop,
sin we raised over 100 bushels of very
fine potatoes, and sowed a few acres
Of barley. but the season was too far
advanced for the barley. However, we
secured good feed from it, and on rent
ed ground 10 miles east of us, raised a
fine crop Of oats, so that we will have
nIantv of feed for horses. We cut
about GO tons of hay and thus will
have an abundance. We have, all told,
about 240 acres of hay meadow, which
would yield the past year over three
tons to the acre, and in an ordinary
season the meadow would furnish 600
tons of hay. The grass is very nutri-
tious, and cattle on the ranges become
very fat without being fed a pound of
grain.
ION the upland the grass grows from
eight to ten inches tall. This is called
range grass, and is suitable for stock
at any time. even in the winter when
the ground is not covered too deep with
snow Horses subsist on it alone, at
all times, provided they are native
stock The grass in the hay meadows
here is called red-top, and grows from
five to six feet i'll length, and when cut
at The proper time yields an abundant
cop of nutritious hay.
Our cattle have not cost us cent
since we came on our homestead. only
the small OUTLAY for salt and labor in
putting up hay and shelter. All cattle
have been doing well this winter, and
feeding up to the first of January was
unnecessary, as there was good range
UP to that time.
"Ali the SHOWS up to that date We're
followed by winds from the Northwest
that melt it very rapidly; these winds
are called Chinook winds. and are al
ways warm. In one night a Chinook
wind may take away three or four
inches of snow.
I'VE have built on our claim q com
Portable house of hewn logs, 20S2G
feet one and one-half stories in height,
with Il good cellar During the latter
part of June we RATED logs down the
Sturgeon to sawmill, about eight
miles away, and thus secured 5000 feet
of good lmber which was needed for
the house. Later in the season Il shin
gle mill located six miles away. To
this we hauled logs and had shingles
cut for the roof.
I'VE had an abundance of wild fruit
the past season. consisting of gooseber-
ries, strawberries raspberries. eyeber-
ries, bueberries, cherries and saska-
toonS. The latter are Il fine looking
berry, red, and quite pleasant to the
taste. but not much to be desired in
cookery. The strawberries are the
same as those that grow wild in Iii
nois. Raspberries are red IN color
large and equal to any of the tame
varieties, and so are the gooseberries
The cranberries consist of the high and
trailing varieties. The latter are most
sought and contiguous to the swamDs.
The ground is literally covered with
them as with a red carpet, but the best
and most sought is the burberry, so
called by the Indians. This is the
famous 'huckleberry' (Whortleberry) of
the Blue Ridge Mountains in Pennsyl-
Vania, and cannot be eXcelled for ex-
eelence by any fruit cultivated. 1t is
found here both on the prairie and in
the timber in immense quantities.
Game is very plentiful so far as
prairie chickens, pheasants, ducks of
all kinds and geese are concerned. We
nave taken nearly 800 chickens and
pheasants, also great many ducks.
An occasional deer is seen. but are
not plentiful, only one having been
taken during the season in this settle
ment.
Fish are very plentiful at all sea
sons of the year. Fish wagons and
sleds are passing almost daily along
the trail with heavy loads of fish, des-
uned for st. Albert and Edmonton.
from the latter point they are ship
pea south on the Calgary and EdIaon-
Ton railroad to points along the line,
and also to Assiniboia ON the Canadian
Pacific Railroad"
For further information apply to any
authorized Canadian Government
agent whose address appears else
where.
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Nearly all business transactions in
1oIumbia are based on United States
currency.