Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 February 1902 — A WESTERN CANADA FARMER. [ARTICLE]

A WESTERN CANADA FARMER.

SEVEN YEARS AGO HE HAD BUT $24; NOW HE HAS SEVENTY HEAD OF CATTLE. This la What a Couple of Eastern Farmers Learned When on a Recent Trip to Canada —Splendid Words About Saskatoon, Rosthern and Hague District Where They Will Locate. Messrs. J. E. Blum and J. Crumper of Manchester, Washtenaw County, Michigan, paid a visit to Alberta last summer and saw there a Mr. Shantz, one of the good old Pennsylvania stock, who had come recently—some seven years ago—from Ontario with $24 in his pocket. He has certainly prospered, as he now has over seventy head of cattle, has a good loghouse framed over; also a good barn, and in all respects looks a thrifty and well-to-do farmer. He had some good crops of oats and barley. After spending some days in Calgary and Edmonton they returned to Regina, Assinibola, and looked around the country north to Lumsden and Balgonle, where the crops appeared very promising and heavy; continuing up the Regina and Long Lake road they came to Saskatoon on the crossing of the South Saskatchewan River. Of this district they say: “The country here pleased us better than any we have seen. We drove out eighteen miles in a northwesterly direction through the Smith settlement. This is a wonderful district: the growth was splendid; all kinds of grains and roots were perfection. The older settlers had good buildings of all kinds and looked very prosperous; in fact, we came to the conclusion that we had found what we were looking for, a good country. While the nature of the soil changes and is in some parts light, in others stony, and again heavy, generally speaking it leaves nothing to be desired. Hay and water are also in abundance and wood can be found along the river slopes and islands. We have decided to locate there and shall certainly advise our friends to do likewise. We also trust that this report may have the effect of drawing the attention of land seekers to this district, and can honestly advise all such to locate there. They will find a good thing. As farmers ourselves, from a good district in Michigan, we have come to the conclusion that, properly farmed, western Canada will grow almost anything.” Ask for information from any agent of the Canadian government.