The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-10-20

CANADIAN
H0MFSTEADS
). II. HUMPHREY, A FORMER WARD
COUNTY RESIDENT, TELLS OF
TRIALS or ti0MEsTEADERs
ADWCES AMERICANS TO STAY HOME

| north Of M1nOt, returned to this CITY
yesterday from Maple Creek, sask.
near which place he is now running
a horse ranch and doing what farm
ing it is possible to do.
That there are no beds of roses for
the farmers who have located in that
part of Canada, Is evidenced by the
story which Mr.. Humphrey told to
an Independent reporter.
Canada is no place for farmer,
and especially an American farmer
Mr.. Humphrey said There are evil
dences of fraud all the way through.
The government apparently enters
| into the fraud, for in the literature
which it sends out to the prospective
settlers, one is given to understand
that the settler can secure permits
for cutting timber, that the timber in
question, is not open to cutting, but
that some other tract can be secured,
perhaps forty or fifty miles away from
his homestead.
"The settler may file on a piece Of
land, erect a dwelling and do other
work, and perhaps three months later,
may receive instructions from the
land office, that he must vacate as the
land was held under closed lease.
II the nomesteader happens to be q
government pet, or stand in with the
pets he can probably fix the matter
up, but not without expense.
n Politics is played there all the
time. II the settler is Conservative,
the party which is in power in
Saskatchewan, he can get many
\ Especial favors,' but if he is a Refor-
mer, he wants to look out.
If one files on land, and finds that
1t is restricted territory as mentioned
above, it takes six months to get his
| money back, which is always needed
before he can file again.
The whole country seems to be run
by political henchmen, worse than
Ward county in her palmy days. The
American farmers are practically all
dissatisfied.
They tell you that the Canadian
taxes are low, but want to say that
they are enormous. The story IL going
the rounds that the government builds
the roads and the school houses. That
Is a fact, but the people certainly
have to foot the bills. The govern
ment say when the school houses
must be erected, when school shall
open and close, and sets the salary
OF the teachers. The roads are none
too good. There are few police
roads, but the others are not Uniform
and run at random.
"Why, one has to pay taxes on his
homestead before it is proved up and
If he rents land from the government
he's got to pay taxes also.
thousands upon thousands Of
Americans who fled on land in Cana
d., arc leaving this year abandoning
their claims. In a settlement nortt
of Maple Creek 80 Americats aband
oned their homesteads q few days
ago, leaving about all at the same
time.
The water question is very serious
The settlers have to haul water fol
many miles, as it is next to impos
sible to get good wells, excepting
right in the coulee. l am down 80
fleet with a we'll I am digging, and
there are no signs of water yet.
The land grafters are much In
evidence. It is not an uncommon trick
for the locators to show you one piece
of land and locate you miles away
from where you thought you were go.
ing to settle.
They talk about the Canadian lava
being enforced. Why government
pet" can do almost ANYTHING under
the sun and not get molested. There
are the mounted police you read 20
much about. They are never where :
crime 10 being committed, and will
not then make an arrest unless some
one swears out a complaint. A mount
ed police will ride by where q man
il shooting game out OF season. and
chances are he will stop and eat
some OF the game himself. s.
I'm my opinion that portion Of c.
NADIA will never be At for farming. It
might do for ranchinE. am sorry
that ever went into that country.
and I certainly advise nv friends to
keep away. would have been many
dollars ahead. had 1remained on my
farm out ct Lynch. instead of going
to that country. would have done