Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-06-08
BILLY ELLwANeER WRITES.

Eultor IlmeS-hepubllcan: Each is
sue of the T.-R. as it comes to us is
like meeting an old friend from the
states and getting all that is going on
in Iowa.
So I want to tell you a few facts
about this country away up in what
was formerly called British America,
now western Canada. The spring, as
everywhere else, has been late and very
cold; we still can see snow banks
along the, river bank.
But it is now getting warm and has
been fine the past week, with good
warm rains Seeding is not all done
yet, but the ground is in splendid con-
dition for a seed bed, and the pros
poets are good for big crop, even
tho it is late, forat the days of sunshine
are SO long during June and July
that crops grow very rapidly and you
o'clock. even now.
Things are quite lively here, three
bridges being built over the Sasaktch-
evan river, the average length of each
about 1880 feet. Building is a little
late in starting, but will now go on in
earnest. This town (Saskatoon) has.
grown remarkably. in the last three.
years, having now a population of
nearly 5000, and the rapid advance in
real estate is astonishing. some BUSH
ness lots selling for fabulous prices.
All modern methods for doing business
are used We have fine large stores.
American ideas and goods prevail in all
branches of business, and the stamp
of u. s.. manufacture is evidence of the
superior quality of the various articles
used and sold. The steel for the traf-
fic bridge here twenty car loads)
comes from Pittsburg, and has the
name Carnegie" stamped. on every
piece. The breaking and stirring ploWs
1 see going out every day have an old
familiar Illinois name and trade mark
and it makes a fellow feel good to see
the old reliable plow of his boyhood
days still taking the lead in the pio-
neer work. 1 was out on farm the
other day and the man using a seed
drill with four horses told me 1T was
the best drill that could be made, did
perfect work in all kinds Of soil and
condition of surface. I looked and 1t
was made in Indiana. American meats
have the preference. The Americans
seem to be far more progressive than
others that come here and the more
advanced business men and the OFF,
Gals of the railroads are glad to have
the Americans come in. for they know
how to do things-and do them. But
the average Canadian looks on the
with feeling of suspicion,
as the Yankees pick up all the good
things. 1t is American brains that have
developed the railway organization in
this country.
I don't find as many Americans here
as one would suppose. There are a
great many English in this place, peo-
pie Of moderate means who have come
out to get homesteads, having little
idea what it means to live on the west
ern prairies but these plain people
have wonderful patience and endur-
ance. You will find very few of them
of their surroundings.
They adapt themselves very readily to
new conditions. have known of
young ministers being sent out from
England this spring that were to- be
stationed out ninety miles from the
that started on foot to their
new charge where they were to locate
and preach in the new settlements, and
were real cheerful about it. as tho it
were an ordinary occurrence.
Here one can see the real Hudson's |
Bay Indians, two reservations of them |
near town. They are more civilized in
dress than most American Indians |
have seen, having been under the in
fuence of civilization for 200 years tho
dealing with the Hudson's Bay Com
pany. They cut hay and wood which |
they sell in town, and instead Of riding