The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-12-25
"WHY | EMlGRATED"
THE NOTES OF A PROMINENT
JOURNALIST WHO MADE A
TRIP THROUGH WESTERN
CANADA.

A prominent journalist from Chi
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, the virgin land. affords. lu
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 farmec in
Western Canada.
Il believe that for a poor man West
ern Canada is the most favorable
land was tho reply, and ! 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 q 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 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 c~easeless actiyity-a pretty two
stored dwelling house, "a large clean
stable in the midst of a hamlet OF
barns, sheds and outbuildings, 3 use.
full garden OVERLOOKING with products;
horses, cattle, sheep and swine on the
rich pastures, and around to the hor:'
zon wheat, golden wheat.
I'm Iowa?" the farmer continued, Il
farmed on rented land, for at the price
of 500 per acre l 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 a bitter combat to
keep want from the door. 1t was inn
possible to lay by for bad times and
in spite of all trouble and work au old
age free of care was not to be
thought of. My death would have
brought bitter poverty to my wife and
children.
IF decided to breakup and go to
Canada, where at least | could light
out the struggle for existence on my
own land. | started out with a mule
team, all my earthly possessions were
In the prairie-schooner with my wife
o-I ah;Ilrnn Than I tncl am oshnnQ
stead of 100 acres to which / added
by purchase gradually; now as 9
whole | count about 5000 acres as my
own. The whole property is free o
debt. / do not 1--WE a cent TO anyone
l bought my land for $3.50 per acre
now l would not give it up for $50"
DO you mean to say that you patt
for the whole land in the five years?'
| interrupted.
in a much shorter time" replied
the farmer. "The land paid for itself
some already by the first harvest, anC
at longest in 3 years each field hat
brought in it's purchase price. If yo'
doubt that land in. Western Canad'
pays for itself within 8 years you cal
easily convince yourself of the trutl
of my assertion. Let us assume tina
a farmer buys a farm of 100 A. at 81
per A. for $4,000. Farm machines
seed ploughs. moving and threshinI
might bring up the outlay to abou
$40 per acre. II the farmer sows tn
160 A. for 8 years In succession wit
wheat and harvests 20 bus, per acre
then the product of an A. at the aver
age price of 75c per blu. is exactly 81
per acre If you deduct the $40 out
lay, you will retain a clear return o