Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1913-12-31
Why II EM |IIl| RI i /: /
THE NOTES OF a PROMINENT
# JOURNALIST WHO MADEsAt wv
TRIP THROUGH WESTERN Il
n 5s + CANADA. II iiS$ll

T. . g. III 81
A prominent journalist from Chi
cage some time ago. made a journey
through Canada obtaining thorough
knowledge Of the land and people and
OF the boundless possibilities that
Canada. the virgin land, affords. lns
an American Sunday newspaper hef
published after his return the interest
ing account which we print as fol-
lows. He writes: ss
did you emigrate from the |:
United States?" asked a farmer in
Western Canada. n Il ! NJ U. n 5.;
II believe that for poor man West
ern Canada is the most favorable
lane" was the reply, "and ] have nov 'Ss
found that it is the Paradise Of the
Poor" Is: Il III: NJ IS III b
The farmer, pioneer Of the vest h
had five 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 well-to-do \
owner of that endless sea Of waving
wheat ears that goes on for. miles be-
fore my eyes. His strong, unburned5
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 a hamlet Of
barns, sheds and outbuilcings. use
full garden Overlooking with roducts
horses, cattle, sheep and swine on the s
rich pastures, and around to the hori..S
zon wheat, golden wheat. ;gssE5i
3 !, in Iowa 2" the farmer continued,
farmed on rented land, for at the price.
! OF 500 per acre I did not possess }
money enough to buy. might farm q
i might farm as could more than the8
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. Twas im-Fi
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 49,
children.
I decided to breakup and go to-
out the struggle for existence on my
own land. started out with a mule
team, all my; earthly possessions were
in the prairfe-schoon with my wife \
and children. Then took up home.
stead OF 100 acres to which ! added
by purchase gradually y: now as 4 q g
whole i count about 5000 acres as my
own. The whole property is free Of
debt. I do not owe a cent to- anyone.
/ bought my land for $3.50 per acre.
nowI would not give it up for $50. 4 5ssS
DO you mean to say that you paid
for the whole land in the five years KS
I interrupted. 2s;. III sa
S TN a much shorter tine, :" replied
the farmer. "The land paid for itself,
some already by the first harvest, and
ut longest in years each field had 8.
brought in its purchase price. II you
doubt that land in Western Canada
pays for itself within 8 years you can
easily convince yourself Of the truth
OF my assertion. Let us assume that
farmer buys q farm of 100 a. at SIS Il
per a.. for 32,40O. Farm machines
seed ploughs, moving and threshing
might bring UP the outlay to about "
$40 per acre. II the farmer sows the y
leo "a. for 3 years in succession with
wheat and harvests, 20 bus. per acre. I.
then the product OF an "a. at the aver.
age price OF z Sc per bu.s is exactly SIS (
per acre. II you deduct the so out
lay. you will retain q clear return OF 4
$500. Fol, 100 a.. the annual excess 4
amounts to $500, consequently the
farm has after the third harvestS
brought in the purchase price OF 4
$1,000. n
"Some not rarely-the
land pays for itself by the first harvest
OF IS bus. Of wheat bring In more than
the purchase price Of SIS per acre
AS in some years I harvested more 4
than 35 bus, you can reckon for your
self how quickly paid for my farm
Would you not prefer your own
farm in Iowa = i asked.
5s:t:5B.No, = replied the farmer, never
will ! go back. In general very few !
American settlers return to the old
home. Iowa q 160 "A. farm costa
100 per al $4,000; = in Western Can
ada SIS, only $4,000 For the same
money that you require to buy a 16O88
"A. farm in Iowa, you can buy here IN j
Western Canada farm OF 1000 acres \
/ have money enough to buy 9 farm in
Iowa, il I wished. But there my year
ily income would be small one.
whereas here work for great gain.
There would only be small farmer.
here i am a large landed proprietor,
i55 In a corner Of the farmyard had
during our conversation noticed "a
mound Of earth overgrown with \
grasses and wild flowers. To my i'm.
quiry as to what it was, / received the
reply: That is the run of the wooden
shack covered with sods, which CALI
ed my home when settled here i've
years ago. rs. 4,
i gathered wild aster from the
ruin and flung 1t into the air. In q pur.s
plish- glittering line the wind drove the
4 flower towards the fine. modern-equip-
ped farmhouse. What contrast be-
tween the lowly earthly hut of yester-
day and charming palace OF today
This contrast says enough OF the I'M.
bounded possibilities, which this new
land offers to the willing worker. How
the poor emigrant on the open prairie.
through energy and activity, within H
years worked his way UP to being 9
swell.to-do farmer and esteemed citi.g
zen! More, the farmer did not re-
3quire to say. Why did he emigrate?
VIII VI? Why saw the answer with
my own eyes. Advertisement
Past and Future. Il
well, how are you today :" asked
the physician cheerfully to the society
leader. fssf 5s MI
"Well, doctor she replied "the cold
1 caught Tuesday is a little better,
thanks to your prescription. But the