Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1914-01-01
why | EMIGRATED"
THE NOTES OF A PROMINENT
JOURNALIST WHO MADE A
TRIP THROUGH WESTERN
CANADA.

A prominent journalist from Chi.
cago. some time ago. made q journey
through Canada obtaining a thorough
knowledge Of the land and people and
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 farmer in
Western Canada.
Il believe that for poor man West.
crn Canada is the most favorable
land" was the reply. land have now
found that 1t 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 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.
stored dwelling house. n large clean
stable, in the midst of a hamlet Of
barns, sheds and outbuildings. use
Iul garden overlooking with products;
horses. cattle, sheep and swine on the
rich pastures. and around to the hori.
son wheat. golden wheat.
IN Iowa." the farmer continued. II
farmed on rented land. for at the price
Of 800 per acre ] 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 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 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 the struggle for existence on my
nup land ctortod O,,f With N v,nu1o
team. all my earthly possessions were
in the prairie-schoone with my wife
and children. Then took up home
stead of 100 acres TO which l added
by purchase gradually; now as a
whole ! count about 5000 acres as my
own. The whole property is free OF
debt. l do not owe a cent to anyone.
bought my land for $3.50 per acre.
now would not give it up fol. $50"
do you mean to say that you paid
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, and
1t longest in 8 years each field had
brought in its purchase price. II you
doubt that land in Western Canada
pays for itself within years you can
easily convince yourself OF the truth
}: my assertion. Let us assume that
/ farmer buys a farm OF 100 A. at SIS
per A. for S2400. Farm machines,
seed. p'oughs. moving and threshing
night bring up the outlay to about
10 per acre. If the farmer sows the
go A. for 3 years in succession with
wheat and harvests 20 bus. per acre.
hen the product of al A. at the aver.
Ige price OF 75c per bu. is exactly SIS
,er acre. If you deduct the $40 out.
ay, you will retain clear return OF