The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1904-04-06
SCANNED BY SCHO0LEY.
Former Delhi Resident Gives Some Inter-
esting Facts About N. w. Territory.

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endeavor to give you an account of
how / have found it, both as to a
residence and a financial country.
So far, the residence part is per-
feet. not extreme cold. The coolest
recorded during the entire winter
was % below zero, there being no
appearance of winter until the first
of February, except for four or five
DAYS ia November. About four
inches of snow fell and the merry
ring of the bells and the crack of
the whip could be heard as the
many that had cutters enjoyed the
beautiful past time. Since then
there has not been more than one
or two inches of snow at time on
the ground, and during all the time
that I have been here we have had
but bali day storm, the wind
blowing like it often does in Mime
sofa.
Imagine on going out in the
bright still morning, after it had
showed during the night, the snow
laying heaped upon the edge of a
board and remaining that way until
it got some jar. or the sun or the
chinook wind removed it, and you
have the winter as it has been since
/ came here. Old residents tell me
that this has been the coolest win
ter-that is, the steadiest cold that
they have experienced here for 20
years.
I speak of the chinook winds.
Yes, to be9sure, they are winds,
but they are mild-not a strong
wind just breeze and they seem
to suck up the moisture, as very
little water runs from the melting
snow.
Old farmers tell me that the wind
blows very hard at intervals, and
that great sand and dirt storms
rage for short time.
I will give you the conditions as
they were up to the first of Febru-
airy. One large warehouse was
built during February. 1t is all
frame. I saw them laying the iron
roof the same day that it was 20 be-
low zero, but if it had not been for
the light covering of snow on the
ground one would have thought it
was day in May. Such are the
remarkable changes that come and
| go. The nights fare cold and are
nearly so the summer through.
Corn, tomatoes and cucumbers do
not do we'll here. Peas, lettuce,
potatoes and fruit, such as currants,
raspberries and strawberries do
well, but there is an absence OF in
terest in anything except stock
raising, and the people of Alberta
boast of the. best stock raising in
the world. | will refer you to the
bunch of steers that Archie Stew
art year or two ago had in the
stock yards at Delhi! for shipment
to Chicago. Just as fat and nice
animals can be seen feeding on the
dry grass on the ranges here. I
am convinced that they are entitled
to their boast. The grass is thick
er than it is in Minnesota, and when
one is walking in it it is like walk
ing in tangled grain. The river
bluffs are not so, and the fields can
be eaten bare while the prairie and
vacant lots near town are similar to
the pasture fields in Minnesota.
The town of Calgary is situated
on the fiat lying between the rivers
bow and elbow, land about IS miles
from the foot hills of the Rockies,
which only appear a short distance
away.
I walkedithrough field of wheat
and oats soon after | came here and
to all appearances the grain was
growing on breaking.E Neither the
oats nor the wheat were fully ma
tured. The green young English
man driving the binderItold me that
it was seeded in June. It was q
fine stand with very large berry.
The heads of wheat, at distance
appeared ripe, but on examination
the grain was soft and the straw
quite green. Such grain is used
for food and,brings about 30 cents
i npr huShnl T have hnnn told hx