The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-02-11
EVERYTHING WAS FAVORABLE.
Sorry He Didn't Move to Western
Canada Sooner.

Sorry He Didn't Move to Western
Canada Sooner.
Mr.. Austin was Il man who had
never had any previous experience in
farming. but Western Canada had al
lurements, and he profited. He got a
low rate certificate from Canadian
Government agent, and then moved.
What he says is interesting.
Ranfurly, Alberta, May 10, 1908.
]. n. Grieve, Esq, Spokane, Wash:
Dear Sir-After dozen or more
years of unsuccessful effort in the
mercantile business in western Wash
ington, in August, 1903, decided 10
come to Alberta with gentleman
who was shipping two cars of live
stock to Edmonton. I assisted this
man with the stock over 100 miles out
in the Birch Lake country, east of Ed
monitor. Indeed, how surprised, how
favorably everything compared with
my dream of what 1 wanted to see in
a 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 near Birch Lake, 1 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.
l estimate that every quarter section
in every direction is capable of pro-
ducing a comfortable living for fam
lily of ten forever. After paying for
two horses and a cow had just $40 to
go 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 to about fifty
head, which was very profitable on
account OF the abundance of forage.
To farm was compelled to buy about
$500 worth of farm machinery on time,
and the payments fell due last fall, and
/ you may wonder how 1 expected to
pay for them when we had such bad
I year. Twas a little bad for western
Canada or for a Missourian. But Is
not 80 or 40 bushels oats pretty good
yield per acre in many States? Then
+ the price of grain went out Of sight,
so when l had sold my crop found
/ was able to make my payments nice
! ly; besides, we. had lots Of feed No
one has any business raising cattle
without growing grain, or vice versa.
AS to the winters, did not feed my cat
tie, excepting the calves, fork Of
hay until in March. Have found the
winters much more pleasant than we
did in western Washington. This is
strange and hard to explain, but tits
true nevertheless at 40 degrees below
zero we have more comfort than you
would at 20 degrees above, 30 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 a position to retire from hard
work. Most women soon become salts
fed as neighbors begin to come round
+ them. Have 9S acres in crop this year,
besides 2 acres potatoes. which have
always brought me fair price. We
find ready market for everything we
I produce. To the poor man-here is
chance to establish yourself. To the
richfman-here is a chance to buy land
i for SO to SIS per acre which will pro-
duce more crops than half dozen
acres of your $50 to SO per acre land.
/ And IL not very much mistaken, this
year will prove an eye opener to those
who are little skeptical. The trouble
with me is that | have so much to say
so favorable to Alberta tbs hard to be
brief. Respectfully,
| (Signed) p. S. AUSTIN.