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

AND ITS GREAT RESOURCES. 21 of over 1,200 miles. Sunday, 13th November, we attended church and passed a very- enjoyable day. Monday, 14th November, we were unable to cross the Saskatchewan, river on account of some drifting ice that had broken loose from the shores and was on its way down stream, but on Tuesday we crossed the river in a small row-boat, the pro- pelling power of which was two stalwart half-breeds, who thoroughly understand hand- ling a boat. After crossing, Mr. Mair furnished us with transport teams and we started for the Shell River district, which id 25 miles west of Prince Albert. Along the first 10 miles of the road the country is rough and broken, but fairly well wooded with poplar, spruce and jack pine of fair size. For the second ten miles the land is of first-class qual- ity, but thickly covered with small poplar and large gray or diamond willow, some of which would make excellent firewood, among which there are a number of small lakes and fine hay meadows, which are covered with a luxuriant growth of wild hay from two to five feet in height. What is known as the Shell River district is a fine belt of splendid land which lies between the so-called Shell and Saskatchewan rivers. The land in this district is of first-class quality ; the surface is a rich, moist, black alluvian soil, fully 18 inches in depth, which is underlain with a fine marly clay subsoil. There is no stone, and the land is very easily broken. The entire district has a beautiful rolling surface. The water is of first-class quality, of which there is an abundant supply. There is also an abundant supply of firewood, while good building timber can be found handy by. While here our small party of five located sixteen homesteads for ourselves and friends, of 160 acres each, making a sum total of 2,560 acres, and we did not locate a single farm that does not contain, wood, water and first-class land, while most of them have from 10 to 40 acres of splendid hay meadow on them. There are also a number of fine small lakes in. the district. There are a number of settlers already in the district, that came in. last spring, and while here we saw some splendid samples of grain, and vegetables which they had raised on this year’s breaking. When, leaving this district, on 20th November, all the farmers’ cattle were still running on the prairie, picking their own living, and all we saw was in extra condition, and the farmers here tell us that they never think of feeding stock after the 1st of April. All markets are good for a new country, and we are satisfied that Western. Canada is one of the finest mixed farming countries in the world, and we will move on to our new farms as soon as we can arrange our business so as to enable us to do so, and we would advise all farmers who are dis- satisfied with their present surroundings, or looking for free farms for their children, to go and see Western Canada before they choose land elsewhere, and we are satisfied that they will never be sorry for their trip. Any man who is willing to work can soon make himself and family a good home on one of those free farms. There is also any amount of splendid railroad land for sale at reasonable prices and very easy terms—in close proximity to railroads. The people in Prince Albert district are all law-abiding citizens. The population of the city is probably 2,000. They have a fine brick jail, but not a single prisoner during our visit to the city. We cannot close this report without thanking you for your kindness to us during our trip ; also Mr. R. H. Mair and the Canadian Pacific Railroad people ; and we all join in saying that everything you had previously told us we found to be correct, and we have no hesitation in saying that we think Western Canada is fully a better mixed farming country than you have represented it to be. We are, dear sir, yours truly, Anton Green, Anton Prain, Daniel Wolosik, Of Keene, Wis. G. A. Goebell, Stephen Hayner, Of Stevens Point, Wis.