The Green Forest tribune., 1909-01-29
EVERYTHING WAS FAVORABLE
SORRY HE DIDN'T MOVE TO WEST
 ERIN CANADA BEFORE.

Mfr. Austin was man who had never had any previous experience in farming, but Western Canada had al lurements, and he profted. He got d low-rate certificate from a Canadian Government agent, and then moved. What he says is interesting:
 'Ranfurly, Alberta, May 10-'0S.
 y. N. Grieve, Esqr, Spokane, Wash ington.-Dear Sir: After 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 10 Edmonton. l 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 l want ed to see in new country.
 Had never had any experience in farming, but l was immediately con- gerted into a farmer. And from that moment l have prospered. Selecting a homestead near Birch Lake, I re- turned for wife and three small chi dren and freighted cut from Edmonton in March following year we shGVeleC a spot clear of snow and pitched our tent ard commenced operations, at that time we had no neighbors. Four years have passed, the locality is well settled, two miles from railway sta tion, with churches and schools, teie- phone and good road accommodations.
 We are enjoying the privileges granted to any rural district in WashiR eton. The Birch Lake Coun- try is TO exception, this great trans formation is rapidly going on in every district in Western Canada
 T estimate that every quarter sec tion in every direction is capable of producing Q comfortable living for a family of ten forever. After paying for two horses and a COW, had just 5000 10 go on. Did my first plough ing in my life. 1 was very awkward in my work, but nature was glad and l was abundantly paid for my efforts. Our 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 I expected to pay for them when We had such a bad year. Twas a little JaJ Uyoc+orr o,, for sourian. But is not 35 or 40 bushels oats pretty good yield per acre in many States? Then the price of grain went out of sight, so when had sold my crop 1 found I was able to make my payments nicely, besides we had lots Of feed. No one has any busi- ness raising cattle without growing grain, CT vice versa. As to the winters did not feed my cattle, excepting the calves. fork of hay until in March Have found the winters much more pleasant than we did in Western Wash ington. This is strange and hard to explain. but 'tis true, nevertheless, at 40 degrees below zero we have more comfort than you would at 20 degrees above, so still and dry-with bright, sunny days My wife says that the only regret she has is that we did not come here ten years ago, as We would now certainly have been in position to retire from hard work. Most wom- en soon become satisfied as neigh boTs begin to come round them. Have 98 acres in crop this year, besides two acres potatoes, which have always brought me fair price. We find a ready market for everything we produce. To the Poor Man-Here is a chance to establish yourself. To the Rich Man-Here is a chance to buy land foc 5000 to S15.00 per. acre which will produce more crops than half dozen acres of your 5000 to $75.00 per acre land. And if not very much mistaken, this year will prove all eye opener to those who are a little sceptical. The trouble with me is that I have so much to say so favorable to Alberta lis hard to be brief Respectfully.
 tSigned) "P. s. AUSTIN"