The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-12-26
WHY | EMIGRATED"
THE NOTES OF A PROMINENT
JOURNALIST WHO MADE A
TRIP THROUGH WESTERN
CANADA.

JoAA - SAA
cago some time ago, made a journey
through Canada obtaining a thorough
knowledge Of the land and people and
Of the "~boundless possibilities that
Canada, tho 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?" l asked a farmer in
Western Canada.
i believe that for a poor man West
ern Canada is the most favorable
land" was the reply. "and l have 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 ~trayersing the country for some
time he started his home on the open
prairie II 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 is the outcome OF
his ceaseless activity-a pretty two
stored 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 lowa?" the farmer continued, Il
farmed on rented land, for at the price
of 500 per acre | did not possess
money enough to buy. | might farm.
I might farm as | could more than the
living for myself and family, | could
not attain. Sometimes the harvest
the grand total was a bitter combat to
keep want from the door. 1t 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
own land. I started out with a mule
team, all my earthly possessions were
in the prairie-schooner with my wife
and children. Then | took up a home
ANp ~ 1c0 ap11 +n which nGdn6
by purchase gradually; 10Y as a
whole ! count about 5000 acres as my
own. The whole property is free OF
debt. | do not owe a cent to anyone.
| bought my and for $3.50 per acre,
now l would not give It UP for $50
do you mean to say that you paid
for the whole land III the five 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 8 years each field had
brought in its purchase price. If you
doubt that land in Western Canada
pays for itself within 3 years you cal
easily convince yourself Of the truth
OF my assertion. Let us thai
a farmer buys q farm OF 160 A. at ST.
per A. for $1,000. Farm machines
seed ~ploughs. moving and threshins
might bring up the outlay to about
SO per acre. If the farmer soWs The
100 A. for 3 years in succession witt
wheat and harvests 20 bus. per acre
then the product of ana. at the aver
age price OF 75c per bu. is exactly ST.
per acre. If you deduct the SO out
lay, you will retain a clear return o.