Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-07-17
LETTER PROM ALBERTA
Former Lake Elizabeth Resident
Tells of Conditions in Far
Away Territory.

always taken up. All new settlers
have plenty of work, and so far
have also had a heavy correspond
ence. Twill now let my friends
know that myself and family enjoy
ourselves here, after pulling thru a
"hardhanded" winter. Will also
describe this country as far as
have seen and have knowledge of it,
and when you read it you can be-
lieve every word of it. Last sum-
mer a fair crop was harvested,
but prices were low except on flax,
which sold for $1.0O up to $1.5C
for seed this spring. Wheat sold
at AZ to IS cents; oats at 10 to q
cents, and now brings IS cents, as
we have railroad work here.
Winter started in Nov. IA, and
kept on for seven months with lots
of snow and severe cold. We have
summer wood, but to get coal for
winter use we have to go about for
ty miles to the mines, and it was
very difficult to reach them on &C.
count of the deep snow. We had
late spring and the seeding was
consequently delayed, but now the
crops and grass look excellent. My
sons and I now have lis acres in
crop, IS acres of which is flax on
spring breaking, which may be too
late for ripening. There is quite
a demand for breaking here and
four dollars per acre is offered,
without getting enough outfits to
do it. Those that can buy steers
for doing this work find it the
cheapest, but they are hard to OBJ
tain, and the land must be broken
in order to hold the homestead,
All homestead land for some
distance from here is taken, except
some poor quarter sections. There
have been no sales of railroad lands
as yet, as the settlers do not know
how much land they want. One
farmer owns 100 acres adjoining a
TOWNSHIP, and he would not sell out
for 500 an acre. We are located
beteween 3 and 4 miles from a
TOWNSHIP, formerly called Viking,
now Harland. Grading is now in
full swing on both sides of the
TOWNSHIP, but it does not look as if
the "black horse" would reach us
this fall, but next fall we are sure
he will be ready to carry our pro-
ducts. Lots of business enterprises
have already sprung up, and a score
more have their eyes on our town,
so we are looking for lively bust
ness place in Harland.
Yesterday and today have been
cool days, but we enjoy the summer
Except for the mosquitoes which
for couple of weeks have been
bad. We have not had any ex-
tremely warm days but some fairly
warm. The nights are always cool.
Roads are being broken this year
in order to check prairie fires.
There has not been much road work
done here as yet, so we have nc
muddy roads. AS soon as the rain
stops we can haul a big load. We
are having nice rains often, but not
too much.
Taxes are four dollars per quarter
section. 1t can be worked out in
one day with man and team.
That is all the taxes, as there is
none on personal property before q
school district is organized. After
that from four to ten dollars per
quarter section can be levied and
must be paid in cash. We are just
organizing a school district now.
A drawback to this country is the
high price on lumber and farm ma
chinery. Lumber is now above $50
per thousand. A six-foot binder
sells for SITS on three payments or
$165 cash. Cattle and hay bring a
good price, as do also butter and
eggs. It is hardship for those
who do not have much to start
with, while those who have little
capital to begin with do not feel ii
so much. Most of the settlers like
the country, while a few are dissat-
isfed.
It may be interesting to our Min,
nesota people to know that we have
no potato bugs, and it is a pleasure
to see the way the potatoes grow.
We have planted apple trees and
box elders and they grow finely.
Sometimes we have hard winds, but
have so far not had any such hard
thunder storms as in Minnesota.
The last hard winter did not scare
people from coming here; there
have come in more this spring than
ever before.
would not advise those who
have good farm and are we'll fixed
to come here; but renters and those
who cannot get a farm in the states
and are willing to face the incon.
(veniences and hard work in a new
country will do well here.
have watched closely the doings
in my old Kandiyohi county since
l left, especially the doings Of the
Minnetoga Temperance League, OF
which | was member. Keep uI
81. XXLo hoxr<, Oh &c