Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-08-24
INTERESTING LETTER
Written TO Charles Fisher OF Elwell, by
Otis Sprague
HAPPY, C0NTENTED IN ALBERTA
Otis An Enthusiast Over Crops and Land Val.
Otis An Enthusiast Over Crops and Land Val
ueS in Northwest

The following letter was lul his"SH
this office by Mr. Fisher OF Elwell,
and being written by our former well
known townsman, Otis Sprague, will
be read with interest by our readers:
Bruce, Alta, Can, Aug. 13, H.
Mr. Chas. Fisher,
Elwell. Mich.
Dear Friend;
| should have written you before
We wanted to have you out here by
this time but you can imagine how
busy we have been.
We bought farm about week
after reaching Alberta. 1t is quarter
section of rich, gently rolling land,
lust one mile from good town. There
are good buildings on it, for this
country perhaps, $500 worth it is all
fenced with two barb wires and there
are about 65 acres under cultivation
which we are summer following for a
wheat crop next year. The remaining
95 acres we will break next summer.
We bought this place for SIC an acre
and got a bargain, but you can buy
the best land here with about hall
under the plow, just as well located
as ours for $50 and under. These
prices will not hold long as this years
crop is good and land is selling last
and going up. If you were gong to
locate out here, it would be great
thing il you could come out and cinch
a piece of land this fall as you would
probably save from $5 to so an acre
on the good, we'll located stuff. We
think this land will go to $40 or $50
an acre within or years and it can
be bought on any kind of terms now.
Our only regret is that we didn't
come here long ago We could have
been worth thousands where we are
now worth hundreds.
One man, a mile from us, bought
farm last year; broke so acres and
now he has wheat crop standing as
high as your head that should yield
over 1000 bushels and nearly pay for
his quarter section.
Wheat and oats crops all over this
section of the county stand as high
and look as good as anything you see
in Gratiot County and on land that is
selling at the prices mentioned. And
it is mere play to farm here compared
with Michigan
That is one side of it. The stock
proposition is still better The mar
ket and prices of cattle and horses are
better than where you are and it does
not cost a dollar to raise a colt or
calf from the time it is born until
ready for market There are and will
be for a long time thousands of acres
Of free range, and fine hay grows wild
in abundance, to be had for the cut
ting. All kinds of stock is exceeding
ly healthy and horses turned out poor
in the fall and not fed, water or no
ticed, come out in good condition in
the spring Cattle need hay, but do
not have TO have shelter We have
1000 acres OF free pasture adjoining
and near us.
1t is fine place to live; doesn't
seem any wilder or much newer than
around Alma, and there are lots OF
fine people here and they are all
happy and enthusiastic
The summer has been fine. We
have had a couple of rains a week
and it has never been above so de
grees, with always a nice cool breeze.
The nights are cool and you sleep to
perfection.
You can get from 22c 10 35c a
pound for butter fat and COWS run
out on pasture and don't cost a cent
IL N
apiece last fall
We are entirely free from catarrh
and bronchial troubles and everyone
here seems as healthy as can be-
Now, while we don't like 20 advise
we cant help saying that this is the
place for you and the best way to be
convinced Is TO come out and see thi,
fall. Just say your coming and come
Let the crops go to hang, and don't
be nervous about selling your farm.
If you come out here this fall, yor
will never want to see it again.
You can readily see by this letter
that we are very enthusiastic, but the
money is here, and we would like tC
see our friends profit as well as our.
selves
If you are coming you should come
as soon as possible. Harvesting will
start in 10 days and you should be
here during harvest, by all means.
Let me know at once if you decid,
to come and ] will send you instruc
tions as to your trip, where you car
get cheap rates, etc.
Don't let anything stop you JUS
dig in and see what you think OF ou
Judgment. O. n. SPRAGUE."