Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 54, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 March 1898 — From The Far Northwest. [ARTICLE]

From The Far Northwest.

An Ex-Jasperite Writes of The Canadian New Country. Feb. 23, 1898. ) Theodore, Assinlaboia,Canada, f Editor Republican: I noticed in the oolumns of your paper a few words from a delegate sent to examine some of our north western country and it appears that he was well pleased with it. Now let one who was once a resident of Jasper Co. say a few words after five years residence in the Canadian north west. Five years ago I moved from Jordan township, Jasper Co., to Yorkton, Assa, Canada. Since then I have been engaged in farming. The soil I find to be just what it represents itself, a fertile black mold with a limestone clay subsoil averaging twenty feet then either blue or black clay the longest well drill has never penetrated. Wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, and vegetables grow excellent and according to the Gov. Experimental farm exports tame grass thrives well Too much wild grass exists in the Settlements for tame grass to be grown by the settlers. Any amount of homesteads to be had. Some places whole townships scarcely trod upon by an intending settler while immense tracts of land are yet unsurveyed. I don’t mean away in the far north but within 100 miles or over from a railroad. Now first down there in Jasper Co. are men renting, working hard for a scanty honest living No remedy either for the renters at present or their rising generation while up here there is plenty of homesteads, good water, land fertile and wild hay, plenty of good logs for building, if not on your own homestead a permit will be given for 25 cents that will give you all you need on Gov. land. But says one I have no money I tell you that not half of the settlers had as much as five dollars to start on. Others had not 25 cents and foreigners unable to read, write or speak the English language at that the majority of these poor settlers are in good circumstances with a bright future before them. It is foolishness to think because you haven’t money that you can’t start on a homestead. Where there isa will there is a way. Those who ure renting are, as one might say, Gentile Slaves while those who own these lands are Gentile slave holders one third of the crops is plenty of rent. Now poor renter hitch up your team to the wagon, put in a plow, a set of harrow teeth, a stove, cooking utensils, then tie a cow behind and move away to some frontier. Better suffer a few years in hardship with a good prospect before you than to suffer all your life Another one will say there are no schools, no churches, or very little society. There is no need of settling in these north west territories away from a school at any rate. There are plenty of schools, churches and most any kind of company that you wish to associate with. Another false idea prevails that this is a very cold country but it is not cold but agreeable. Three tons of wild hay per steer is fed in the winter. The feeding season is about four mpnths long. Don’t stay away because it is British Territory, remomber that Canada has Home Rule, and home rule is

the first step to their own rule. Its about the same law in Canada as in the United States. Five years ago we camo here and settled on three homesteads having sufficient means to enable us to ruu them. Now we have 1120 acres of fine land and well equipped both in machinery and live stock.

JOHN GUEST.