The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1905-08-03
SETTLE BIG TRACTS OF LAND
American Thrift and Industry Build
ing up Great Farm Empire for
Edward I.-Assimi1ate
American Ideas.
MELITA, Manitoba, July "a, 1905.

north of our republic, referred to by
many as the wi1ds of Western Can
ada. But to the intelligent observer
a very different impression results
from a careful survey and investiga-
ton into actual conditions which one
is sure to meet in a newly settled dis
trict.
| It must be said that before leaving
Kenosha was pretty we'll impressed
with the idea that the Canadian prai-
RE held within it's borders great op-
portunities for an aggressive people,
and It is my pleasure to say to my
good friends and acquaintances in
Kenosha and Kenosha county that my
enthusiasm has not abated. On the
contrary the country as a whole has
surpassed my expectations, the same
experience being shared by the vast
majority Of newcomers from the
United States.
1t must not be understood, however,
that it is land of luxury. It is not
rich in all the modern comforts and
conveniences of our American cities,
but it is rich in the wonderful fertility
Of its soil, rich in the purity and
health giving quality of its atmos-
phere, and rich in the progressive
spirit of it's people. And here l may
say that it is the American citizen
that is contributing largely to the
country's spirit of activity, whole dis
tricts of large extent being peop1ed
with citizens of our great republic.
Leaving Milwaukee on the evening
| of July 18th, N. F. Chamber1in, a
prominent United States government
contractor and consulting engineer Of
Washington, D. c., was my travelling
companion. The following morning,
| after leaving St. Paul, we awoke to
find ourselves crossing the inter
national boundary line at Portal, N.
Dakota, where the Canadian West be-
gins to spread itself into what seems
to be unlimited space. Continuing
over the Soo-Pacific r. r. to Moose
jaw, distance of 100 miles, we passed
through an unbroken stretch Of prai-
RE, settled for most of this distance
with farmers from Uncle Sans do
mains, whose homes could be seen for
miles in every direction.
Moosejaw, on the transcontinental
line of the G. p. r. railroad, is a.
thriving little western city of 5000
people, although when you see it first
from the depot it has the appearance
Of being only half it's actual size ow-
ing to the fatness of the prairie. You
can form some idea of the city's pro-
gress when you understand that half
a million dollars are being spent there
this year for buildings alone, both
public and private. A fine system of
waterworks is being installed, first
class electric light plant is in opera
ton, and fairly well equipped indie
pendent telephone plant is doing a
good business, not being able to sup
| ply telephones as fast as they are
called for by the public. Moosejaw
gets its name from the experience of
the early c. P. r. surveyors, who
could find nothing with which to re-
pair their broken wagon but the law
bone of a moose.
AT this point began the most inter-
esting part of our trip as land seek
ers, requiring three days and two
nights to travel $50 miles over the
prairie, being pi1oted by r. E. Denny
and F. A. Thompson, of Me1ita, Mani
toba. The first part of the journey
for forty miles was made in an auto
mobile, but the "Autocar,' which
carried five of us, broke down, neces-
stating the hiring of horses and rigs
from the nearest homesteaders. You
see we were not fortunate enough to
have Rambler at our disposal. 1t
was surprising, however, to see what
excellent roads are at the farmers
service, and some day, not far dis
tant, automobiles will be used very
freely, and the people will have the
money to buy them too. We had the
advantage of following on our trip
what is known as the Saskatoon trail.
used many years ago by travellers of
the Hudson Bay Company in the early
days of the fur trade. This trail will
be replaced in a year or two by al
branch of the G. P. r. road. In fact.
network of competing railroads will
cover the whole country in a few
years. Following this trail north
westerly for a hundred miles we
crossed literally thousands of buffalo
trails leading to the distant streams
and to low places or sloughs where
water might be found. AT short in
tervals could be seen heaps Of bones
bleached to a snowy white, the only
remains Of unfortunate buffalos that
tell by the way not many years ago
when the shaggy-headed race roamed
the prairie at will.
Arriving at the elbow of the Sas-
katchewan river, we spent our second
night with Mr.. Holmes, a genial
Wisconsin farmer, who gave us
royal welcome and the best accommo-
dation at his disposal. Mr.. Holmes,