The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1909-02-26
WELL PLEASED WITH WESTERN
CANADA.
GOOD CROPS, SPLENDID CLIMATE
AND WELL ENFORCED LAWS.

Mr.. George E. Hunter is a Maid
stone, Saskatchewan Central Can
ada), farmer, who writes to a Cana
dian Government Agent as follows:
1T was the first week in November,
1907, when we arrived here. There was
very little snow or cold weather until
after the holidays, then the snow and
cold increased, but to no great extent
l think the coolest I heard Of was 80
degrees below zero, but that degree of
cold would not be felt here any more
than 10 degrees below zero would be
back home in Michigan, owing to the
beautiful dry atmosphere of this
try. There came a good thaw every
month that settled the snow, the fields
soon became bare, and on the 18th OF
April I commenced ploughing. The
nov was then all gone and summer at
hand. This last season vas some
thing more han an average year
around here, with fine crops gathered
from a large acreage. In parts the
crops were less than average, but gen.
orally speaking they were above it.
The price of wheat was quite good.
Some fine yields sold at $1.10 per BUSH
ell, while some were marketed at much
less, but hardly any went below about
go cents a bushel.
"Oats started on the market at IS
cents a bushel, barley about SO cents,
bushel.
"As this was my first year in this
country, 1t was a hard year for my
horses, owing to their being eastern
horses, and not used to the western
climate, but they will soon get eli
matized.
1.-THE soil on my farm is a black
loan, about one foot in thickness, be-
low that we find about six feet of
clay, and below that again gravel and
sand, with an abundance Of excellent
water. This was the condition of the
ground as l found it when I dug a
well. l a say that the water is as
sweet and as free from alkali and i'm
p~urities as I eve ia
my opinion is that the man who
comes here with a little means can do
no better than invest $500 or $1,000 in
cattle, after locating a homestead adj
joining or ear some hilly part Of the
country where it will not be taken up
as soon. There is plenty of grass and
hay to be found in the billy country
and small lakes and sloughs will afford
sufficient water for any amount Of cat
tie. The bluffs with a few hay or
straw sheds will make sufficient shell
ter for them. There is no need to
worry about the market for cattle, as
there is already a great call for stock
of all kinds to satisfy the continued
demands of the large packing house at
Edmonton, established by Swift and
Company.
THE dairy business should by no
means be forgotten. 1t is n of the
paying enterprises of this great west.
The price Of butter seldom goes below
25 cents and reaches as high as
40 cents a pound. Also the new cream
cries that are fast being erected along
the lines of railroad are calling on the
farmers for their cream
These creameries are greatly well
COh1Ou IA AL SoA4l1ul1AtAS0, oOSooSS
ing cream is better than making but
ter, even at an average price of 25
cents a pound. For a new country the
railroad transportation facilities are
good; not yet, of course, what they
are in older countries, but the new
lines are swiftly gaining as the coun-
try gets more settled and supplies
them with produce to ship. 1t is hard
to say too much in favor Of this coun-
try. All one needs is a little money
with grit and ambition. I have seen
homesteads that were filed On a little
over three years ago that the owners
have refused $4,000 for.
There is much more that can be
said in favor of Western Canada, but ]
think my letter has been long enough"