Evening star., 1905-10-12

stock. The government also maintains iu-
migration houses at different points, where
free lodgings are furnished and guides
may be found to show land-iookers over
the country; but the latter are required to
furnish their own subsistence and pay their
own transportation.
The American Way.
The American immigrant, however, does
not trouble people that score. he
comes up, generally with party of friends
from his own neighborhood, and they look
around together and file adjoining claims
Then, after they have attended to the pre-
liminaries, they return to their homes to
suCnd the winter. 1t is common for them
to arrange for the erection of cabins during
their absence, and some of them hire teams
and plow I'D little land before going back.
Then early in the spring they come to their
new homes with their families and furn1-
ture, horses, wagons and implements, ana
gel their crops in promptly.
The land companies do a wholesale buSi-
ness, and bring up home-seekers by the
trainload; and they seldom fail to sell
farms to at least half or more OF the eXcur-
sicnists But the buyers are not all set
tiers. There is great deal or speculation
going on. Perhaps one-haif or the lahdS
bought from the railway and land com
penies are held for an advance In prices.
The BUYERS are well-to-do farmers from
the other side of the border, who realize
that Canadian land is certain TO increase
in value, and they are investing their say
ings in it. l am told on good authority
that several millions of dollars have been
drawn out fthe savings banks or Iowa
during the past two or three years TO De
invested in Canadian land ana the same 10
true in several other states. Several par
ties have bought large tracts intending 10
retail them later A considerable portion OF
the people who come up on the land excur-
sions are spectators.
One Of the land officials of the Canadian
Pacific told me that only half of their sales
were for investment
The largest class of buyers however, are
farmers who are selling their home farms
for $50 $50 and $T00 acre, and are buy
ing equally good lands for $5 and So, or
taking UP homesteads forfnothing Anoth-
er numerous class are buying Tor their sons
and their sons-in-law. A few years ago,
when an American farmer wanted cheap
land he moved across tlEe Mississippi river.
Today the only place he can get 1t Is In
Carada. Practically aliN of the accessible
farming land In the United States has been
taken up.
Scattered all over this section are colonies
of Americans-people from the same neigh
borhood in the United States who have To-
Gated homesteads or bought lands In the
same township here. / have heard of one
colony of 250 families from Washington
county, Iowa.
The Canadian government is doing every
thing In It's power to promote immigration
from the United States 1t is spending
million dollars year in advertising, IN
maintaining twenty-one immigration agen-
ces In different cities of the United States,
In distributing literature by the ton. in
paying the salaries and expenses OF boom
ers." who traFel throughout the United
Strtes, attending farmers conventions.
county fairs md similar gatherings, talk
ing up" Canada; in bringing free excursions
from st. Paul, Des Moines. Kansas City
and other convenient points. and In look
inS after iand-buyers and settlers upon
their arrival in this country.
Clifford Sifton's Work.
Clifford sifton, Manitoba lawyer. was
the author and first promoter of the Amer
lean invasion. He is familiar with agricul-
tural conditions in the United States. and