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

I AND ITS THE TESTIMONY OF SETTLERS, FARMERS’ DELEGATES AND HIGH AUTHORITIES. Report of a party of Farmers’ Delegates from South Dakota, who visited the Canadian North-west in company with Mr. W. A. Webster, during May and June, 1891 :— We, the undersigned farmers of South Dakota, owing to the repeated (and almost total) failure of crops, had made up our minds that we must emigrate somewhere and aHer hearing the description of the agricultural resources of Manitoba and the Canadian North-west by W. A. Webster, Dominion Emigration Agent, and A. F. Holmes Colon- ization Agent, decided to visit and personally inspect these resources, not only in our own interests but also in the interests of very many of our neighbours. Accompanied by Agent Webster we left Aberdeen, South Dakota, May 14, reached Winnipeg May 15, spent a day examining that fine substantial city of 28,000 inhabitants. We visited Brandon, which is the centre of a grand wheat growing region. Visited the Govern- ment Experimental Farm, saw here samples of grain, grasses, trees, shrubs, and saw their system of farming, which seems to be most complete. We visited the well-known farm of William Sandison, who raised last year 60,000 bushels of grain: his wheat averaged 30 and oats 90 bushels per acre. His teams and outfit were the best we ever saw. After driving over this district and meeting some old friends who have made wealth farming here, we went west to Moosomin ■ drove over this district which is a splendid section for mixed farming. Visited the farms of J. R. Neff and Thos Boubier who have been farming here for the past nine years, growing 25 to 30 bushels of wheat per acre, oats 60 bushels and potatoes 300 bushels. From here we went west to Moose Jaw; drove over this district; splendid soil, good grass, stock living out all the year Visited several fine farms and prosperous farmers in this district. From here we went to Calgary, a fine town of 4,000 inhabitants ; many costly buildings of freestone quarried on the spot. From here we had a grand view of the Rocky0 Mountains 75 miles distant! Going north from here to the famous Red Deer district we examined it thoroughly ; it is a grand stock country, probably no better known, plenty of timber water, hay and good soil, easily tilled ; we found very many North Dakota farmers settling in this district. There is plenty of Free Homestead land here Returnin- east we stopped off at Regina, the capital of the Territories. We examined this district thoroughly ; no richer soil than here. North and south of here are fine stock sections stock living out almost the entire year; we hear nothing of hard times here From here we went north 250 miles, over a first-class railroad to Prince Albert in the Sas- katchewan valley; we examined this district very carefully ; we find here plenty of timber for all purposes; water in abundance—rivers, lakes, and well water of first quality at depths of 10 to 15 feet. Rich, mellow soil, producing a luxuriant Growth of grasses of the most nutritious kinds—in short, a first-class country for mixed farming having now good railway facilities, and where good prices are had for stock and aH kinds of farm products. There is plenty of Free Homestead land here.