The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-12-26
"WHY | EMIGRATED"
THE NOTES OF A PROMINENT
JOURNALIST WHO MADE A
TRIP THROUGH WESTERN
CANADA.

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?" l asked a farmer in
Western Canada.
II believe that for poor man West
ern Canada is the most favorable
land" was the reply. "and have now
found that 1t is the Paradise OF the
Poor
The farmer. 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 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 ceaseless activity--a pretty two
storied dwelling house, n large clean
stable. In the midst OF hamlet OF
barns, sheds and outbuildings. USE
ful garden overflowing with products;
horses. cattle. sheep and swine OH the
rich pastures. and around TO the hori-
zon wheat. golden wheat.
"In Iowa?" the farmer continued, II
farmed on rented land. for az the price
OF 800 per acre I did not possess
money enough To buy. | might farm.
! might farm as could. more than tho
living for myself and family. | could
not attain. Sometimes the harvest
turned out good. sometimes bad. but
the grand total WIS bitter combat TO
keep want from the door. IL was i'm
possible Co 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 tc my wife and
children.
Il 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 prairieschooner with my wife
and children. Then took up home
stead OF 100 acres To which | added
by purchase gradually; now as n
whole ! count about 1900 acres M my
own. The whole property is free CT
debt. | do not owe n cent TO anyone.
bought my land for $3.50 per acre.
now ! would not give II up for $50"
do you mean TO say that you paid
for the whole land In the Ave 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 I'm 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 n farm OF 1G0 A. at SIS
per A. for $2.40O. 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 I'm succession with
wheat and harvests 20 bus. per acre.
then the product OF an A. ut the aver
age price of TIC per bu. Is exactly SIS
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 tho
farm has after the third harvest
brought In tho purchase price OF
S2,400.
land pays for itself by the first harvest
OF 30 bus. OF wheat bring in more than
tho purchase price OF SIS per acre.
As In some years I harvested more
than 35 bus, you can reckon for your
self how quickly ] paid for my farm"
Would you not prefer your own
farm In Iowa7" asked.
NO" replied the farmer. never
will ] go back, I'm general very few
American settlers return TO the old
home. In Iowa a 100 A. farm costs
800 per A., $4,000; In Western Can
ada SIS. only s2.400. For the same
money that you require to buy 160
A farm In Iowa, you can buy here In
Western Canada a farm OF 900 acres.
have Snoney enough to buy farm In
Iowa, II wished. But there my year
ly income would be small one,
whereas here I work for a great gain.
There would only be a small farmer.
here | am large landed proprietor"
In a corner OF the farmyard | had
during our conversation noticed a
mound OF earth oyergrown with
grasses and wild flowers. To my in
quiry as 10 what IL was, ! received the,
reply: THAT is the ruin OF the wooden
shack covered with sods, which I call
cd my home when / settled here five
years ago"
I gathered n wild aster from the
ruin and flung IL into the air. In a pur-
lishglittering line the wind drove the
flower towards the fine, modern-equip-
ped farmhouse. What a contrast be-
tween the lowly earthy hut OF yester-
day and charming tnalapo of todavf