Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1911-07-11


Right there the agents were selling
land for s34, but the farmers held
it. at $24. One thing learned
which cost me nothing-"Look out
for the land agent.
On the line west from Winnipeg
we stopped at Saskatoon and there
is one of the most hustling towns
ever saw. 1 had hard work to pull
myself away. The main part Of 1t
is less than four years old, and it
has population far into the thous-
ands, and hundreds of buildings are
being constructed. No lack of en-
ployment there If there is a. man
i'll Webster City out of work, let him
go to Saskatoon in Saskatchewan,
Canada, and never leave there. He
will be on easy street in five years
if he has any head at all, and if his
| wife knows how to run restaurant,
| there is fortune in it.
Well, we went south to Regina,
| the capital, and stayed there sever
al days looking at land and the city.
We visited the capital, which Is a
wonder in itself. On the way UP
our party was caught in shower.
Mr.. Baker introduced us to these
dignifed Canadian officials in our
bedraggled apparel. We tried to ex-
cuse our appearance. Employment
for men is just as good there. 1t is
just wonEsrful the building that is
going on. Ralph got employment
on the telephone line there at $2.75
a day, but l had Idaho on my brain,
so did not let him stay. Land is
from $50 to 500 an acre there. We
went east to Kipling. I did not like
the land there-too stony.
Canada owns her public works
most of her railroads, telegrapns,
and telephones. Just how long she
will boom is hard to tell. At pres
ent it is doomed mostly by capital
brought in from the states. / am
going to leave Canada in few
months, so must tell you little of
our party. There were twelve men
and one woman besides myself. One
half of them were land sharks look
ing to purchase for themselves and
fleece us on the side. 1 asked about
what our expenses would be and
they told me SIT apiece. After we
got our tickets we found we must
pay for a berth 81 per night. When
they took us the rounds it cost for
my son and myself $65. ooh, those
land agents." One member of our
party got cold feet at St. Paul and
like baby wanted to go back, bat
he didn't, because he couldn't. He
had a crouch on all the rest of the
way, constantly hating the English
flag and wishing to get back under
the stars and strips. The rest of
them We're hard headed men and US
ed the best of judgment. I lost my
lady friend at Watson, SO was the
only woman in the crowd.
We parted at Regina and struck
for Twin Falls, Idaho, going through
Great Falls. Butte, and Helena,
Montana. We rode through eight
tunnels. There is some beautiful
scenery along that Great Northern
in Montana. At Butte We struck the
Oregon Short Line which runs into
Twin Falls. At Great Falls an avi-
alton meet was on, so all the lodg-
ing houses were full. At one place
they told us If we would be back in
half an hour they would keep rooms
for us. Well, we hurried and wish
ed We hadn't. l went to bed but
somehow could not sleep. I tumbled
until two in the morning, then I
turned on the light and you ought
to have seen the bedbugs run! II
killed what / could and betook my
self to the floor, but they were af-
ter me there. I hung my coat on a
hook and they actually threw it off
Montana is fit only for sheepmen,
dogs, and tourists.
AS soon as we left Canada the
labor question was apparent. Men
cut of work everywhere. 1t is a |
common thing to have a decent look
ing man or boy ask for the price OF
a meal.
Next week l will write you of the
good and bad of Idaho as seen by a |
Mrs. Abbie McPhillips-Le Leighton.
Twin Falls, Idaho, June %.
Notice to Contractors
Notice is hereby given that the