Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1909-02-11
EVERYTHING WAS FAVORABLE

EVERYTHING WAS FAVORABLE.
Sorry He Didn't Move TO Western
Canada Sooner.
Mr.. Austin was man who had
never had any previous experience In
farming but Western Canada had al
lurements. and he profited. He got
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:
years of unsuccessful effort in the
mercantile business in western Wash
ington, in August 1908, decided to
come to Alberta with gentleman
who was shipping two cars of live
stock TO Edmonton. 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 | wanted to see in
new country.
Had never had any experience IN
farming, but ! was Immediately con-
verified into farmer. And from that
moment | have prospered. Selecting
a homestead near Birch Lake. l re-
turned for wife and three small chill
dren and freighted out from Edmonton.
In March. following year. we shoveled
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
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.
estimate that every quarter section
in every direction is capable of pro-
ducing comfortable living for fam
| lily of ten forever. After paying for
| two horses and COW had just $40 to
go OH. Did my first ploughing in my
I life; was very awkward in my work,
] but nature was glad l came and album
dainty paid me for my efforts. Our
i cattle have increased to about fifty
4 head, which was very profitable on
4 account of the abundance of forage.
+ To farm was compelled to buy about
1 $4OO worth of farm machinery on time,
1 and the payments fell due last fall, and
/ you may wonder how | expected to
| pay for them when we had such bad
I year Twas Il little bad for western
/ Canada or for MissouriaD. But is
not 81 or 10 bushels oats pretty good
! yield per acre in many States! linen
i the price of grain went ont of sight,
so when j had sold my crop | found
1 l was able to make my payments nice
! ly; besides, we had lots of feed. No
| one has any business raising cattle
I without growing grain, or vice versa.
AS to the winters did not feed my cat
1 tie, excepting the calves, fork Of
4 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 It's
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
I that we did not come here ten years
4 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,
4 besides 2 acres potatoes, which have
always brought me fair price We
find ready market for everything we
produce. 10 the poor man--here is a
chance to establish yourself. To the
rich man---here is chance to buy land
for $40 to SIS per acre which will pro
duce more crops than a half dozen
acres of your $50 to SO per acre land
And If 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 It's hard to be
brief. Respectfully,
! (SignedD p S. AUSTIN.
4
The Shepherds of LandeS France, all