Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-12-26
"WHY | EMIGRA1ED'
THE NOTES OF A PROMINENT
JOURNALIST WHO MADE A
TRIP THROUGH WESTERN
CANADA.

A prominent journalist from Chi
cagO, some time age made a journey
through Canada obtaining a thorough
knowledge of the land and people and
of the "boundless possibilities" that
Canada, the virgin land, affords. In
an American Sunday newspaper he
published after his return the interest
ing account which we print as fol-
lows. He writes:
why did you emigrate from the
United States ?" | asked a farmer in
Western Canada.
Il believe that for a poor man West
ern Canada is the most favorable
land" was the reply, "and | AVE now
found that it is the Paradise of the
Poor"
The farmer, a pioneer of the west,
had five years earlier left Iowa for
Canada to secure a new home there.
After traversing the country for some
time, he started his home OF the open
prairie and with steady industry de-
voted himself to the working of the
virgin soil. Now he is the Well-to-do
owner of that endless sea of waving
wheat ears that goes on for miles be-
fore my eyes. His strong, sunburned
figure finds the best background in his
farm itself, which is the outcome Of
his ceaseless activity-a pretty two
storied dwelling house, a large clean
stable, in the midst Of a hamlet of
barns, sheds and outbuildings, a use
full garden overlooking with products;
horses, cattle, sheep and swine on the
rich pastures, and around to the hori-
Zon wheat, golden wheat.
In Iowa." the farmer continued, 81
farmed on rented land, for at the price
of 500 per acre l did not possess
money enough to buy. l might farm,
| might farm as | could, more than the
living for myself and family, l could
not attain. Sometimes the harvest
turned out good, sometimes bad, but
the grand total was a bitter combat to
keep want from the door. 1t was i'm
possible to lay by for bad times n
in spite of all trouble and work an old
age free of care was not to be
thought of. My death would have
brought bitter poverty TO my wife and
children.
Il decided to breakup and go to
Canada, where at least l could fight
out the struggle for existence or my
own land. l started out with a mule
team, all my earthly possessions were
in the prairie-schooner with my wife
and children. Then l took up a home
stead of 100 acres to which l added
by purchase gradually; now as a
whole I count about 5000 acres as my
own. The whole property is free of
debt. | do not owe a cent to anyone
I bought my land for $3.50 per acre,
now would not give it up for $50"
DO you mean to say that you paid
for the whole and in the five years."
l interrupted.
In a much shorter time replied
the farmer. THE lane paid for itself.
some already by the first harvest, and
at longest in 3 years each field had
brought in it's purchase price. If you
doubt that land in Western Canada
pays for itself within 3 years you can
easily convince yourself of the truth
of my assertion. Let us assume\that
a farmer buys a farm of 160 A. at SIS
per A. for $4,000. Farm machines,
seed, ploughs, moving and threshing
might bring up the outlay to about
$40 per acre. If the farmer sow the
Ioo ~. v u SSoiS IL -"
wheat and harvests 20 bus. per acre,
then the product of an A. at the aver
age price of 75c per bu. is exactly SIS
per acre. If you deduct the $40 out
lay, you will retain a clear return Of
$500. For 100 A. the annual excess
amounts to $500, consequently the
farm has after the third harvest
brought in the purchase price Of
$4,000.
'Sometimes-and not rarely-the
land pays for itself by the first harvest
of 35 bus. of wheat bring in more han
the purchase price of SIS per acre.
AS in some years l harvested more
than 35 bus, you can reckon for your
self how quickly I paid for my farm
Would you not prefer your own
farm in Iowa." I asked.
No" replied the farmer, never
will I go back, in general very few
American settlers return to the Die
home. In Iowa q 160 A. farm costs
500 per A., $4,000; in Western Can
ada SIS, only $4,000. For the same
money that you require to buy a $50
a. farm in Iowa, you can buy here in
Western Canada a farm of 1000 acres.
L nave uloilSy ShouSh w oNJ " 49,
Iowa, if wished. But there my year
ly income would be a small one,
whereas here I work for a great gain.
There l would only be a small farmer,
here am a large landed proprietor"
In a corner of the farmyard l had
during our conversation noticed a
mound of earth overgrown with
grasses and wild flowers. To my in.
auiry as to what it was, ! received the
reply: THAT is the ruin of the wooden
shack covered with sods, which l call
ed my home when l settled here five
years ago"
I gathered a wild aster from the
ruin and flung it into the air. In a pur-
plish-glittering line the wind drove the
flower towards the fine, ~modern-equip
ped farmhouse. What a contrast be-
tween the lowly earthly hut of yester-
day and charming palace OF today!
This contrast says enough of the IN
bounded possibilities, which this new
land offers to the willing worker. How
the poor emigrant on the open prairie,
through energy and activity, within 5
years worked his way up to being a