Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-01-16
''WHY | EMIGRATED"
THE NOTES OF 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. Ho writes:
Why did you emigrate from the
United States?" asked a farmer in
Western Canada.
Il believe that for poor man West.
ern Canada Is tho most favorable
land was the reply, "and have now
found that 1t lis tho Paradise of the
Poor"
The farmer. q pioneer of the west,
had five years earlier left Iowa for
Canada to secnre 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
bis ceaseless activify--a pretty two
storied 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
Tici pasturcs. and around to the hori-
'Eon wheat, golden wheat
In Iowa?" the farmer continued, Il
farined on rented land. for at the price
OF 500 per acre ! did not possess
money enough to buy. ] might farm.
might farm a. 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 q bitter combat to
keep want from the door. It 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 Ny death would have
brought bitter poverty to my wife and
children.
Il decided 10 breakup and go to
Canada. where at least / could fight
out tho struggle for existence on my
own land. i started out with a mule
team. all my earthly possessions we're
In the prairieschooner 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.
I bought my land for $3.50 per acre.
now would not give II up for $50"
do you mean TO say thai you paid
for the whole land In tho Ave year.? n
interrupted. ~
in a much shorter time" replied
the farmer "T'ha land paid for itself,
some already by tho first harvest. and
at longest In 3 years each field had
brought In Its purchase price. II you
doubt that land In Western Canada
pays for itself within 3 years you can
easily convince yourself OF the truth
OF my assertion. Let US assume that
. farmer buys farm Of l60. A. at SIS
per A for $500 Farm machines.
seed. ploughs. moving and threshing
might bring Mp the outlay to about
$40 per here. II the farmer sows the
ie0 A. for . years in succession with
wheat and haryests 20 bus. per acre.
then the product OF an A. at the aver
age price OF 75c 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
No
farm has after the third harvest
brought in the purchase price of
g.. 400.
Sometimes not rareiy--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 ! harvested more
than 80 bus, you can reckon for your
self now quickly paid for my farm"
Would you not prefer your own
farm In iowa?" asked
NO." replied the farmer. never
will | go back, In general very few
American settlers return 10 the old
home In Iowa a 100 A. farm costs
500 per A.. $4,000; in Western Can
ada SIS. only $1,000. Tor tho same
money that you require oybuy a 100
A. farm In Iowa, you cam buy here in
Western Canada farm of 1000 acres.
] have money enough to bury farm in
iowa. II wished But tiiere my year.
ly income would be d smalls One.
whereas here work for a great gain.
There ! would only be,a small farmer.
here / am a1large landed proprietor"
In corner OF the farmyard | had
during our conversation noticed a
mound 81 earth overgrown with
grasses and Wild flowers. To my in
quiry as to what It was. received the
reply: That is the ruin.of Che wooden
shack Covered with sods. which call
cd my, homo when settled here I'VE
years ago." -
gathered q Wild aster from the
ruin and flung II into the afr. In pur-
plish~glitterlug line the wind drove the
dover towards tho fine. modern equip
ped farmhouse. What contrast be-
tween the lowiy earthly hut Of yester-
day and charming palace Of today
phia contrast saws enough of the I'M