Western Canada and its Great Resources
The Testimony of Settlers, farmer Delegates and high Authorities

0 WESTERN CANADA. In the early stages of this movement the Dakota papers, with the object of putting a stop to it, published a great many reckless and foundationless reports about this coun- saying that it was “a land of snow and ice,” that “ the prairies are a sterile sandy waste, where vegetable growth is impossible,” and that the parties sent over from Canada “ could not be relied upon.” Io counteract these statements, the farmers of Dakota were invited to appoint a number of DELEGATES to visit Manitoba and the Canadian. North-west, and report what they saw and what the country was like. They came, representative men. from different sections of North and South Dakota, Minnesota, &c. They went where they pleased. They were furnished with free land guides, and every possible facility to see the country well. They travelled some twenty- five hundred miles by rail from Winnipeg to Calgary and back, Calgary to Red Deer and back, Regina to Prince Albert and back, and from Winnipeg to Yorkton and back, besides stopping oft at the different points along the way to drive around the country, and talk with the farmers. J-hey spent from three to five weeks in the country, and then made reports of their visit and their opinions of the country. These reports are printed in this pamphlet. The language could not be plainer. The delegates have been, one and all delighted with the country, and strongly advise all their friends to go there, as already many of them have done—a large number of the delegates themselves having selected lands and made homestead entries bef re returning home. In addition to these first delegations, a number of others have visited the country and their Reports all corroborate those of the first delegates. These reports, together with the reports of individual delegates, are all here pub- lished, in full or in part, for the information of those who desire to find a new home where they can better their circumstances, and get more land for their sons as well as themselves. Letters from a number of those who left their homes in the States and settled in Western Canada, testifying to the truth of the information, they received regarding the country before going there, and their entire satisfaction with their new homes, will be found in these pages also, along with the testimony of high authorities like the late Mr. J. W. Taylor, who, for nearly a quarter of a century, resided in Western Canada as an American. Consul.