The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-02-20
VOLUMES MIGHT BE WRITTEN
OF the Success That Awaits the
Farmer In western CaHadn.


The story of wheat farming in West
trn Canada (that portion Of Canada
tying north of Dakota and Montana },
has been frequently told, but it will
stand a lot of telling and still retain
its touch of interest. During the year
just closed 277,376 persons made their
homes in Canada as compared with
215,912 for the year 1906, an increase
OF 61,464. Those from the United
States numbered 56,551.
A writer in Industry recently said
ATo-day the Dominion Of Canada is
witnessing a mishtier movement OF
population than ever stimulated
Biblical writer to pen chapter of
Scripture" The same writer says:
From the Rhine and the Rhone river
valleys; from the port cities Of Ger
many and the farms of the Father
land; from the peasant soil of Rus
sia; and out from the grimy Ian
cashire and over-populated Yorkshire,
the discontented and ambitious Of
every cline are seeking to take advant.
age Of the opportunities afforded by the
fertile soil and exhilarating climate of
the Empire Of the North"
Continuing, the same writer says:
While a million human beings throng
the shores Of the United States every
year, the smaller number arriving in
Canada come with q more weN-defned
purpose" The question has been ask
ed, why do these people come to Oan-
ada? The available land between the
exhausted, and the farmers within that
territory fiad that their sons have to
seek newer climes. Canada offers one
hundred and sixty acres Of land free
to each. This land yields from 20
to 40 bushels Of wheat to the acre.
belt of Canada, as high as 60 bushels
per acre have been harvested. Less
yields than the one mentioned have
netted the farmer as much as $S5 per
acre. There are no words that tell
the tale SO effectively as those Of the
farmer himself, the man who has
ploughed the fields, sowed the grain,
and with folded hands rests, while
nature, beunteous in that country, In
less than three months, placed at his
grain, now waiting the arrival Of the
reaper, and therefore we reproduce the
following letter. Any agent of the
Canadian government, whose adver-
tisement appears elsewhere, will be
pleased to give Information regarding
the district mentioned or any other
that may be in mind: .
ID. T. Holmes, Esq, Canadian Govern
ment Agent, st. Paul, Mimi. ..a a
Dear Sir-In 1905 I located on q
claim about 30 miles from the town
of Wadena, on the Canadian Northern
Railroad, have lived on my claim mOst
of the time since. consider this to
be one of the best districts In the
country for grain growing. In 1905
wheat averaged from 80 to 81 bushels
per acre on some Of my neighbors
farms, within 4 miles of my claim.
Oats 20 from Is to 100 bushels. 1t Is
also a good country for stock. Where
I am there Is plenty Of fuel. Hsms-
steads nearly all taken, the settle
meat being largely Germans and Amer.
loans, all wdl-to-do. i left Wadena
In February, 1907, returning April 2B,
50 that i missed part Of the winter,
which the old settlers tell me was one
OF the worst they ever saw, but there
was no suffering, as the people are
pretty well fixed, and there are No
billiards. in that country, at least
there never has been knewn to be one.
Wild land sells at from $40 10 31S;
closer to town 1t is higher.
In the summer we have all sorts
OF wild fruits very plentiful, and
never saw better vegetables, and game
is so plentiful "A man need not starvs
for want Of something to eat. Plenty
OF good water, too. You need not
hesitate to recommend this district, bat
the homesteads are ,neaIy all .takea,
most Of the homesteadefs are hvins
right on their claims.
(Ngnsd) FRANK MORRHY.