The Red Cloud chief., 1913-12-25
why L
THE NOTES OF
JOURNALIST WHO H1<l5G
TRIP THROUGH WESTERN
CANADA,

knowledge Of the land and people and
OF the 'boundless possibilities" that
Canada, tho virgin land. affords. In
an American Sunday newspaper no
published after his return the interest.
Ing account which we print as fol-
lows. lIe writes:
why did you emigrate from tho
United Statos7" I asked farmer In
Western Canada.
Il believe that for a poor man West
ern Canada Is tho most favorable
land" was the reply. and have now
found that II In tho Paradise Of the
Poor"
Tho farmer. a pioneer OF the west.
had five years earlier left Iowa for
Canada to secure a new home there.
After trayersing the country for some
time, he started his home on the open
prairie and with steady industry de-
voted himself to the working OF tho
virgin soil Now he Is the wellto-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 hamlet OF
barns. sheds and outbuildings. a use
ful garden overlooking with products:
horses. cattle. sheep and swine on the
rich pastures, and around to the hort
zon wheat. golden wheat
In lowa?" the farmer continued. Il
farmed on rented land. for Mt the price
Of 500 per acre I did not possess
money enough to buy. I might farm.
] might farm AZ could more than the
living for myself and family. I could
not attain. Sometimes the harvest
turned out good. sometimes bad. but
the grand total was a bitter combat to
keep want from tho door. It was i'm.
possible to lay by for bad times and
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 I could fight
out the struggle for existence on my
| o"u SOhItSu OuL Will - mUI0
team. all my earthly possessions we're
In the prairie.schooner with my wifa
and children. Then took UP home
stead of 100 acres to which added
by purchase gradually: now a. Q
whole 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 land in the Ave years."
! interrupted.
IN a much shorter time" replied
the farmer. THE land paid for itself.
some already by the first harvest. and
at longest in 3 years each field had
brought In its purchase price. n 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
farmer buys farm Of 100 A. at SIS
per A. for $2,400. Farm machines.
seed. ploughs. moving and threshing
might bring up the outlay to about
$40 per acre. II the farmer sows the
100 A. for years In succession with
wheat and harvests 20 bus. per acre.
then the product of an A. at the aver
age price Of 76c per bu. Is exactly SIS
per acre. II you deduct the $40 out
lay. you will retain a clear return o4
$500. For 100 A. the annual excess
amounts to $500. consequently the
farm has after the third harvesl
brought in the purchase price ol
$2.4OO.
"Sometimes-and not rarely-ths
land pays for itself by the first harvest
Of IS bus. Of wheat bring In more than
the purchase price Of SIS per aero
Al In some years l harvested m0rs
than IS bus. you can reckon for your
self how quickly paid for my farm
Would you not prefer your ows
farm in Iowa?" l asked,
NO." replied the farmer. never
will go back. In general very few
American settlers return to the OH
home. In Iowa q 100 A. farm costs
500 per A.. $4,000: In Western Can
ada SIS. only $2.400. For the same
money that you require to buy q 16e
A. farm in Iowa. you can buy here n
Western Canada farm Of 1000 acreA
have money enough to buy q farm IN
Iowa, II ] wished. But there my year
ly income would be q small ona
whereas here work for great gain.
There would only be small farmer.
here l am large landed proprietor"
In a corner OF the farmyard had
during our conversation noticed u
mound of earth overgrown with
grasses and wild flowers. To my in.
quiry as to what It was. received the
reply: THAT Is the ruin of the wooden
shack covered with sods, which call.
ed my home when I settled here five
years ago"
gathered q wild aster from the
ruin and flung II info the air In a nur.