Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-02-12
svnxTzmo WAS rAvoHA11A
DSssy He Didn't Move 10 Wsstsss
Canada Sooner.

NOO0B ~ OAMA
Canada sooner.
Mr.. Austin was O man who had
had any previous experience In
farming, but Western Canada had al.
lurements, and he profited. He got a
low rate certificate from q Canadian
Government agent, and then moved
What he says is interesting.
Ranfurly, Alberta, May 10, 1908.
]. N. Grieve, Esq, Spokane, Wash:
Dear Sir-After a dozen or more
years Of unsuccessful effort in the
mercantile Guinness in western Wash
ington, in August, 1903, decided tc
come to Alberta with q gentleman
who was shipping two cars of live
stock to Edmonton. l assisted this
man with the stock over 100 miles ou
In the Birch Lake country, east Of Ed.
monitor. Indeed, how surprised, how
favorably everything compared with
my dream of what l wanted to see In
a new country.
Had never had any experience In
farming, but / was Immediately con
verted into n farmer. And from that
moment / have p%rospered. Selecting
a homestead near Birch Lake, / re-
turned for wife and three small chill
dren and freighted out from Edmonton.
In March, following year, we shoveled
a spot clear of snow and pitched our
tent and commenced operations. At
that time we had no %neighbors. Four
years have passed. The locality Is
well settled; two miles from railway
station, with churches and schools, tel
ephone and good road accommodations.
We are enjoying the privileges
granted to any rural district in Wash
ington. The Birch Lake country is no
exception. This great transformation
is rapidly going on in every district in
western Canada.
1 estimate that every quarter section
In every direction is capable Of pro-
ducing a comfortable living for a fam
lily Of ten forever. After paying for
two horses and a GOV had just $40 to
60 on. Did my first ploughing In my
life: was very awkward In my work,
but nature was glad l came and abun-
dainty paid me for my efforts. Our
cattle have Increased 40 about fifty
head, which was very profitable on
account Of the abundance of forage.
To farm was compelled to buy about
$40O worth Of farm machinery on time,
and the payments fell due last fall, and
you may wonder how I expected to
pay for them when we had such q bad
year. Twas . little bad for western
Canada or for a Missourian. But is
not 35 or 40 bushels oats a pretty good
yield per acre in many States? Then
the price Of grain went out Of sight,
10 whom I had sold my crop I found
I was able to make my payments nice
~; besides, we had lots Of feed. No
n has any business raising cattle
without growing grain, or vice versa.
to the winters, did not feed my cat
tie. excepting the calves, a fork OF
hay until In March. Have found the
winters much more pleasant than w
did In western Washington. This is
strange and hard to explain, but tbs
true nevertheless; at 40 degrees below
zero we have more comfort than you
would ct 20 degrees above, SO still and
dry, with bright, sunny days. My wife
gays that the only regret she has is
that we did not come here ten years
ago, n we would now certainly have
been In a position to retire from hard
work. Most women soon become salts
6ed u neighbors begin to come round
them. Have % acres In crop this year,
2 acres potatoes, which have
brought me = fair price. We
find a ready market Tor everything we
produce. To the poor man-here is n
chance to establish yourself. To the
man-herc u . chancs to buy Land
for $40 to SIS per acre which Will pro-
duce NOR crops than a half dozen
acrss Of your $50 to SIS per acre land.
And IL not very much mistaken. this
year VIII prove An eye opener to- those
who are q little skeptical. The trouble
with me y that I have 70 much to say
% favorable to Alberta 'tis hard to be
brief. Respectfully,
(signsd) p. 8. AUSTIN.