The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1914-01-09
| EMIeRATED"
THE NOTES OF A PROMINENT
jouRNALisT WHO MADE A
TRIP THROUGH WESTERN
CANADA.

Cd8O, bOnC NAAuO o8Vg AAsNaO - JNS-A-~S
through Canada obtaining 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?" I asked a farmer In
Western Canada.
Il believe that for popr man West
ern Canada Is the most favorable
land" was the reply, "and I have now
found that It IL 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 welfto-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, a large clean
stable, In the midst of a hamlet or
barns, sheds and outbuildings, USE
full garden overlooking with products;
horses, cattle, sheep and swine on the
rich pastures. and around to the hori-
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. i 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 i'm
possible to lay by for bad times and
I'm 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
children.
II decided to breakup and go to
Canada, where at least l could fight
out the struggle for existence on my
own land. l started out with . mule
team, all my earthly possessions were
in the prairie-schooner with my wife
and children. Then took up home
stead Of 100 acres to which added
by purchase gradually; now as
whole count about 5000 acres az 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 woulds not give 1t up for $50"
do you mean to say that you paid
for the whole land In the I'VE years"
interrupted.
"In much shorter time" replied
the farmer. 1.-THE land paid for itself.
some already by the nrsc 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 years you can
easily convince yourself OF the truth
of my assertion Let us assume that
farmer buys farm Of 100 A. At $1b
per A. for $1,000. 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 3 years in succession with
wheat and harvests 20 bus. per acre.
then the product Of an A. at the aver
age price of 75c per bu. is exactly $f5
per acre. II you deduct the $40 out
lay, you will retain a clear return OF
$500. For 100 A. the annual excess
: amounts to $500. consequently the
: farm has after the third harvest
!, brought in the purchase price OF
$1,000.
! "Sometimes-and not rarely-the
!. land pays for itself by the first harvest
Z of So bus. of wheat bring in more than
: the purchase price Of SIS per acre
q AS in some years l harvested more
= than 35 bus, you can reckon for your
q self how quickly paid for my farm
Il Would you not prefer your owl
farm in Iowa?" l asked.
Z mo" replied the farmer, never
will / go back, in general very few
n American settlers return to the oil
" home. In Iowa a 160 A. farm costs
500 per A., $4,000: in Western Can
ada SIS, only $4,000. For the same
money that you require to buy lS'
mi A. farm in Iowa, you can buy here II
Western Canada farm of 1000 acres
mi | have money enough to buy a farm II
Iowa, IL wished. But there my year
1I ly income would be a small one
MI whereas here l work for great gain
IN There would only be a small farmer
y here / am a large landed proprietor.
IN In a corner of the farmyard ha
VI during our conversation noticed
AL mound OF earth overgrown wit
M grasses and wild flowers. To my II
quiry as to what It was. I received tn
reply: THAT is the ruin OF the woode
I'll shack covered with sods. which cal
Il ed my home when l settled here Nv
years ago."