The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-09-19

show" She has never had a drop Of
milk since she was four months old
and has never had mouthful of grain.
A gentleman who saw her made the re-
mark "he bet that heifer had eaten her
head off with grain," but would hardly
I, believe she had never had any grain.
This is great country for growing
all kinds of vegetables, and we are GER
tainly enjoying our garden. The flavor
of the green peas Is especially fine. Last
season Mrs. G. canned a lot of them,
and we have enjoyed them up to the
fresh crop.
am sorry 1 did not have time this
past season to attand to transplanting
trees, but will keep the land had pre-
pared worked up for next seasons
planting l received number of small
trees Cash and maple) from the Gov
ernment Experimental Farm at Indian
Head. put them around the edge of
the garden and they are doing fine.
also received quite lot of other seeds,
OotS, "hCul, lVt6to0B anu ioobo.
which were acceptable.
1t is useIsss for US to bother with
garden flowers. as wild ones grow in
profusion. We are located near 8
fine creek, the water Of which Is soft
and fine for bathing and washing. We
have a well Of water near the house,
80 feet deep and 81 feet of water all
the time, though it is harder than the
creek water.
Land which could be bought for five
dollars per acre three years ago, is how
worth $14 per acre, and steadily ad-
vancing each year.
All kinds Of improvements are going
on. Steam plows and large threshing
outfits are already in. Roads are being
graded, bridges being bnilt across riv-
ers and creeks. Last year took my
family, also Wagon across the Saskat-
chewan River in L. row boat. swan my
team across, and now the contract has
been let for a 100000 bridge at that
place.
The G. N. r. have run their final
survey from Battleford to Calgary,
running west about one mile north Of
u.s. The c. ?. r. have run q survey,
with runs northwest passes about 500
feet from the northeast corner Of our
farm. The country will soon be COW
cred with a network of railroads, and
it will keep than busy hauling the out
put of grain. 1t is certainly encourag-
ing to us settlers.
Two years ago Harry, my son, and l
as you know unloaded our car at Sas-
katoon and drove 100 miles to our
claim. Last fall we had only eighteen
miles to haul our wheat to railroad,
and, as you see, the prospects are we
will have a railroad at our very door
and a town near by. This district can
support good town, and it will be well
patroniZed.
Harry arrived home at II p. m. last
night after going fourteen miles to
blacksmith shop to get plowshares
beat out. The shop was full Of work
and it was 8 p. m. when Harry left for
home and parties still in line to have
work done. We will need stores nearer
and good mechanics.
We are all enjoying the best Of
health, which Is great blessing. When
we left Chicago over year ago my
youngest sous a years Of age) health
was 50 poor that | almost despaired Of
raising him, but he is certainly a hear
ty, healthy little fellow now. The pure
fresh air has done him worlds Of good
So, to sum up the whole: Why should
we not be glad we made the break. A
good farm, stock increasing, health and
an independent life. What more can
we expect?
Did we have to make an effort?
You can bet we did and hustle, too.
Should ysu pass this way with your
shotgun this fall, we should be pleased
to let you shoot prairie chickens off our
grain stocks.
Respectfully yours, Chas. NJ. Gerts
and family.
A gale blowing eighty miles an hour