Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-01-28
EVERYTHING WAS FAVORABLE
SORRY HE DIDN'T MOVE TO WEST
ERN CANADA BEFORE

Mr.. Austin was a man who had
never had any previous experience in
farming, but Western Canada had al
lurements, and he profted. He got a
low-rate certificate from a Canadian
Government agent, and then moved.
What he says is interesting:
"Ranfurly, Alberta, May 10'0S.
81. 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. 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 fayorably everything COM
pared with my dream of what l want
ed to see in a new country.
Had never had any experience in
farming, but l was Immediately con-
verted into a farmer. And from that
moment l have prospered. Selecting
a homestead neal Birch Lake, l 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 we'll
settled, two miles from railway sta
ton, with churches and schools, tele-
phone and good road accommodations.
I'VE are 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 a
family of ten forever. After paying
for two horses and a COW, had just
$1,000 to go on. Did my first plough
ing in my life. l vas 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
| 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 So or 40 bushels
oats a pretty good yield per acre in
many States? Then the price OF
grain went out of sight, SO when had
sold my crop l found l 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
did not feed my cattle, excepting the
calves, a 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 tc
explain, but It's true, nevertheless, al
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 woulC
now certainly have been in a position
70 retire from hard work. Most WON
en- soon become satisfied as neigh
5ors begin to come round them
Have So acres in crop this year
besides two acres potatoes, which
nave always brought me a fail
price. We find a ready market fol
everything we produce To the Poo
Man-Here is a chance to establish
yourself. To the Rich Man-Here is
chance to buy land for $1,000 to $3.50
per acre which will produce more crop
than a half dozen acres of your $500
to $500 per acre land. And If no
very much mistaken, this year viii
prove an eye opener to those who ar
a little sceptical. The trouble witt
me is that / have SO much to say s.
favorable to Alberta It's hard to b
brief. Respectfully,
(Signed) "P. s. AUSTIN"