Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1907-09-20

would hold her own In any "fat stoc,
snow" She has never had a dron ~
MIX since she was four months old
ana mas never had mouthful Of grain.
a gentleman who saw her made the
remark, He bet that heifer had eaten
her head of with grain" but would
hardly believe she had never had any
grain.
Ihls Is great country for growing
all kinds Of vegetables and we are
certainly enjoying our garden. The
1avor OF the green peas is especiauy
hne. Last season Mrs. G. canned a lot
OF them, and we have enjoyed them up
to the fresh crop.
am sorry I did not have time th,s
past season to attend to trarsplanting
trees, but will keep the land had pre.
pared worked up for neyt seasons
planting. l received number of small
trees cash and maple) from the Gov.
eminent Experimental Farm at Indian
Head. I put them around the edge of
the garden and they are doing fine. I
also received quite lot Of other seeds,
oats. wheat, potatoes and rhubarb
roots which were acceptable.
1t is useless for us to bother with
garden flowers as wild ones grow in
profusion. We are located near a 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
now worth $14 per acre and steadily
advancing each year.
All kinds Of Improvements are going
on. Steam plows and large threshing
outfits are already in. Roads are be-
ing graded, bridges being built across
rivers and creeks. Last year ] took
my family. also wagon, across the Sas-
katchewan river in a row boat, swan
my team across and now the contract
has been let for $4,000 bridge at that
place.
The c. N. R. have run their final
survey from Rattleford to Calgary,
running west about one mile north of
US. The G. P. r. have run a survey,
which runs northwest passes about 500
feet from the northeast corner of our
farm. The country will soon be COW
cred with net work of railroads and
it will keep them busy hauling the out
put Of grain. 1t is certainly encourag-
ing to us settlers.
Two years ago, Harry, my son, and
I as you know unloaded our car at
Saskatoon and drove 100 miles to our
claim. Last fall we had only IS miles
to haul our wheat to railroad and as
you see, the prospects are we will have
a railroad at our very door and town
nearby. This district can support a
good town and it will be we'll patron.
ICED.
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 1t was eight 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 sons flour years of age)
health was so poor that almost de-
SPARED Of raising him, but he is GER
tainly a hearty, 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
you pass this way with your shotgun
this fall, we should be pleased to let
you shoot prairie chickens of our
grain stocks.
Respectfully yours,
CHAS. M. GERTS AND FAMILY.