The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1913-12-31
why | EMIGRATED"
THE NOTES or A PROMINENT
JOURNALIST WHO MADE A
TRIP THROUGH WESTERN
CANADA,


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. lie writes:
why did you emigrate from the
United States?" I asked n farmer In |
Western Canada.
u believe that for poor man West.
ern Canada is the most favorable |
land was the reply. and I have now |
found that II is the Paradise OF the |
Poor"
The farmer. pioneer OF the west |
had nve years earlier left Iowa for
Canada to secure new home there.
After traversing the country for some
time. he started his home on the open
prairie and with steady industry de.
voted himself to the working OF the
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 IL the outcome OF
his ceaseless activity--a pretty two
storied dwelling house. a large clean
stable. In the midst OF n 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 hori.
Lon wheat. golden wheat.
"1n Iowa." the farmer continued. II
farmed on rented land, for ut the price
OF 500 per acre did not possess
money enough TO buy. ! might farm
! might farm as could, more than the
living for myself and family. could
not attain. Sometimes the harvest
turned out good. sometimes bad. but
the.grand total was bitter combat to
keep want from the door. II 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 10 be
thought Of My death would have
brought bitter poverty to my wife and
! children.
II decided TO breakup and go TO
Canada, where at least | could fight
out the struggle for existence on my
own land | started out with mule
team. all my earthly possessions were
In the prairie.schooner with my wife
and children. Then took up home.
stead of 100 acres TO which ! added
by purchase gradually: now as a
whole count about 5000 acres as my
own. The whole property Is free OF
debt. do not owe cent TO anyone.
bought my land for $3.50 per acre,
now I would not give II up for $50"
do you mean to say that you paid
for the whole land In the FIVE years %
interrupted.
''In 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 It's purchase price. II you
doubt that land In Western Canada
pays for itself within 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 $4,000. Farm machines
seed. ploughs, moving and threshlne
might bring up the outlay TO about
$40 per acre. II the farmer sows the
100 A. for 3 years In succession with
wheat and harvests 20 bus per acre
then the product OF an A. at the aver
age price of 75c per bu. Is exactly 81
per acre. II you deduct the $40 out
lay. you will retain 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 oi
S24OO.
"Sometimes-and not rarely-thc
land pays for itself by the first harvest
OF 81 bus. OF wheat bring in more than
the purchase price of sl5 per acre
As In some years ] harvested NOR,
self how quickly paid for my farm
Would you not prefer your owr
farm In Iowa." | asked,
No." replied the farmer, 'neve,
will | go back, In general very few
American settlers return to the OLE
home. In Iowa 100 a. farm costs
800 per A., $4,000: In Western Can
ada sl5. only $4,000. For the sam,
money that you require TO buy u l6i
\. farm In Iowa, you can buy here II
Western Canada q farm OF 1000 acres
| have money enough TO buy farm II
Iowa. II wished, Hut there my year
ly income would be a small one
whereas here | work for great gain
There would only be small farmer
here am a'large landed proprietor.
In a corner OF the farmyard | haC
during our conversation noticed !
mound OF earth overgrown with
grasses and wild flowers. TO my In
quiry as to what II was, received the
reply: "That is the ruin of the woodei
shack covered with sods. which call
ed my home when settled here Ave
years ago"
| gathered n wild qster from Tho
ruin and flung II into the air In pur
plish.glittering line the wind drove th'
flower towards the fine. modern-equip
ped farmhouse. What contrast be