The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1909-01-28
EVERYTHING Vas FAVORABLE
SORRY HE DIDN'T MOVE TO WEST.
ERIN CANADA BEFORE.

Mr.. Austin was a man who hat
never had any previous experience IL
farming, but Western Canada had al
lurements, and he prof1ted. He got G
low-rate certificate from a Canadian
Government agent, and then moved
What he says is interesting:
"Ranfurly, Alberta. May 1908.
y. N. Grieve. EsQr.. Spokane. Wash
ington.-Dear Sir: After a dozen or
more years Of unsuccessful effort in
the mercantile business in Western
Washington. In August, 1903. decided
to come to Alberta with a gentleman
who was shipping two cars live stock
to Edmonton. / assisted this man
With the stock over one hundred
miles out in the Birch Lake Country,
East OF Edmonton. Indeed, how sur
prised. how favorably everything com
pared with my dream OF what ! want.
Cd to see In q new country.
Had never had any experience In
farming, but | was Immediately con-
verted into a farmer. And from that
moment l have %prospered. Selecting
. homestead rear Birch Lake, / re-
turned for wife and three small chill
dren and freighted out from Edmonton
In March following year we shoveled
q spot clear of SNOW and pitched our
tent and commenced operations. at
that time we had no n%eighbors. Four
years have passed, the locality is well
settled. W miles from railway sta
ton. with churches and schools, tele-
phone and good road accommodations.
I'VE arc enjoying the privileges
granted to any rural district in
Washington. The Birch Lake Coun-
try Is no exception. this great trans
formation Is rapidly going on In every
district In Western Canada.
Il estimate that every quarter sec
ton In every direction is capable Of
producing a comfortable living for q
family Of ten forever. After paying
for two horses and a COW. had Just
$1,000 to 60 OH. Did my first plough
Ing In my life. ! was very awkward In
my work. but nature was glad and ! was
paul " III CAOltu. oui
cattle has increased to about fifty
head. which was very profitable on ac-
count Of the abundance of forage. To
farm was compelled to buy about four
hundred dollars worth OF farm ma
chinery on time. and the payments fell
due last fall. and you may wonder how
] expected to pay for them when we
had such a bad year. Twas a little
bad for Western Canada or for a Mis-
sourian. But is not IS or 40 bushels |
oats q pretty good yield per acre In
many States? Then the price of
grain went out Of sight, so when l had
sold my crop l found | was able to
make my payments nicely. besides we
had lots Of feed. No one has any bust ]
ness raising cattle without growing
grain, or vice versa. AS to the winters, !
not feed my cattle, excepting the
a fork OF hay until in March.
found the winters much more
pleasant than we did In Western Wash
This Is strange and hard to
explain, but It's true. nevertheless. at
90 degrees below zero we have more
than you would at 20 degrees
above. SO still and dry-with bright.
sunny days. My wife says that the
only regret she has 10 that we did not
here ten years ago. as we would
certainly have been in a position
10 retire from hard work. Most WON.
On soon become satisfied as neigh.
b0rs begin to come round them.
Have 9S acres In crop this year.
two acres potatoes, which
always brought me a fair
price. We And q ready market for
we produce. To the Poor
Man-Here IL a chance to establish
yourself. To the Rich Man-Here is a
to buy land for $1,000 to $500
per acre which will produce more crops
than q half dozen acres of your $50. 90
10 $500 per acre land. And II not
very much mistaken, this year will
prove an eye opener to those who are
little sceptical. The trouble with
me Is that I have 90 much to say so
favorable to Alberta tits hard to be
brief. Respectfully.
(Signed) "P. 8. AUSTIN"