The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-09-27
WHAT FATHER AND SON ACCOM-
An Illinois Man Writes Regarding His
Success in Western Canada. Changes
* in Homestead Regulations Make

an old and true saying having many
applications in Western Canada. The
following letter is an illustration. The
writer, Mr.. Gerts, left Chicago a short
time ago and the success he has
achieved may well be gained by any
one having pluck and energy by To-
eating on the free homestead lands
in Western Canada. A change re-
Gently made in the Canadian Land
Regulations concerning homesteads
makes it possible for any member of
a family to make entry for any
other member of the family entitled
to a homestead. For instance a
man may now make entry before the
local agent for his father or for his
brother or brothers, or for his son
or sons, or for a sister or daughter
who may be the head of the family
having minor children depending upon
her for support. A sister, daughter
or mother are also entitled to make
entry for any members of the fam
lily who are permitted entry upon
homestead. The only fee required is
$40 for each entry. A great saving
in railway expenses is thus made.
Read what Mr.. Gerts has to say:
Battleford, Sask., Aug. 4, 1907.
Dear sir
Thinking a letter from us north
west settlers might interest you,
write few lines to let you know we
are progressing finely and well pleased
with our new home.
When 1 think of the many hard
working, industrious men east with
families who are struggling for a
living and doing the strenuous, laying
up practically nothing for old age
and the thousands of acres of land
here yet to be plowed and cultivated
capable of raising sixty to eighty
bushels of oats, thirty to forty
bushels of wheat, it certainly seems a
pity the two cannot be brought to-
gether.
A man should have at least a team
of three good horses, better to have
mares, so as to have some colts COM
ing along each year. 1t is best to
bring them with him as good work
horses are high He should be able to
purchase pillow, disc and drag, harrow,
drill, binder, mower and hay rake. OF
course several taking up claims or
buying land near together can divide
up the purchasing of the above ma
chinery and exchange work.
Last year our oats run sixty bushels
per acre. 1 sold them for so cents
per bushel on the place.
The indications are for good crop
this year, though we were very late
in seeding owing to the late spring.
Last winter was the coolest known
in this country by the oldest settlers
but with comfortable house and
plenty of wood, which we hauled
four miles, we passed the winter quite
pleasantly. The air is clear and dry.
Some of the days / came from work
I was surprised to find the thermome-
ter registering 40 degrees below zero.
Though we never keep fire at night,
we had nothing freeze in our cellar.
Our stock and chickens wintered
fine. | have yearling heifer, that
would hold her own in any fat stock
show" She has never had drop
of milk since she was four months old,
and has never had a mouthful OF
grain.
This is a great country for grow
ing all kinds of vegetables and we are
certainly enjoying our garden. Inc
flavor of the green peas is especially
fine.
II is useless for us to bother with
Garden flowers as wild ones grow in
nrofusion. We are located near fine
creek, the water of which is soft ana
fine for bathing and washing. we
have well of twenty one feet OF wa
ter all the time, though it Is harder
than the creek water
Land which could be bought Tor
81 per acre three years ago Is now
worth $l4 per acre and steadily ad-
vancing each year.
All kinds of improvements are 60
inc on. Steam plows and large
threshing outfits are already in. Roads
are being graded, bridges being bu'it
a cross rivers and creeks. Last year
took my family, also wagon, across
40 Saskatchewan river in row
boat swan my team across and now
the contract has been let for $2oo'-
600 bridge at that place.
The c. n. R. R. have run their
final survey from Battleford to .a,-
oary. running west about one miie
north of us. The c. P. r. R. have run
q s,rvev. which runs northwest, passes
about 800 feet from the northeast
corner of our farm. The country
will soon be covered with a net work
of railroads and it will keep them
busy hauling the output OF gram. IL
Is certainly encouraging to us settlers.
Two years ago, Harry, my son. ana
as YOU know, unloaded our car a'
G. skatoon and drove 100 miles to our
LAIN Last fall we had only eighteen
niles to haul our wheat to railroad
aud az Won see the prospects are
wa will have a railroad at our very
door and a town near by. ms dis-