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

PREFACE. O The winter is cold, but owing to the dryness of the atmosphere, and almost continu- ally cloudless sky and sunshine, the cold is not felt as much as in the humid atmosphere along the Atlantic coast. The snowfall in winter is light, while the rainfall in summer is plentiful for moistening the soil and assuring a good crop of cereals and grass. Sunshine, however, predominates all the year round, and meteorological reports prove that of all places in Canada Winnipeg has the greatest number of hours of sun- shine in the year, and what applies to Winnipeg in this respect applies equally to all parts of the prairie region. The above description, however, as regards cold in winter, does not apply equally to all parts of the territory described, as in. the province of Alberta and the western border of the prairie region the winters are milder than in Manitoba, Assiniboia and eastern Saskatchewan, Alberta, feeling the influences of the Japan current, and the Chinook winds wafted across the Rockies from the Pacific. The climate of Western Canada as a whole, however, is the most healthful on the continent, no other district being able to show a death rate as low as Manitoba, accord- ing to carefully compiled Government records. Malarial fevers are unknown, and no disease whatever, peculiar to the climate or the country, exists ; and many cases might be cited where residents of malarial districts have sought and found both health and wealth on the prairies of Western Canada. It is only within the last few years that the truth concerning this great country has become generally known, if indeed it can even now be said to be known ; but this much, at least, is an established fact, that nowhere else in the world to-day is there such a quantity of rich arable land open for settlement, so blessed by nature with all the capabilities of marvellous richness and wonderful productiveness, as is found in Western Canada. That this fact is taking hold upon the people, the large influx of farmers from Eastern Canada, the old countries of Europe and the United States is abundant proof. We wish particularly in this pamphlet, to deal with the influx of American settlers, and their testimony regarding the country. We will therefore leave a fuller description of the country in all its varied resources to other publications, such as those of the Department of the Interior at Ottawa, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company, the Manitoba and North-western Railway Com- pany, and the Manitoba and North-west Territories Governments, and we will let those speak who have had practical experience of the country and whose opinions will, without doubt, have weight wherever they are read. For some time the Dominion. Government, the Manitoba Government and the rail- way and land companies interested in the settlement of Western Canada had been, re- ceiving letters from settlers in North and South Dakota, Minnesota and other States, asking for particulars and information about this country, stating that owing to repeated failures of crops they were compelled to move, and go where they could better their circumstances. These were promptly replied to, and the necessary information, so far as it could be supplied by letters and pamphlets, given So numerous did these letters become, how- ever, and so anxious were the writers that the Canadian Government should do some- thing to assist them, that it was at length decided to send over a few good reliable men to talk with the American farmers, ascertain what was their real position, and see what could be done for them. Acting upon this decision several men were sent over, and as a result of their visit not less than 3,000 souls have left American territory and settled in. the Canadian North-west. On one occasion a whole train load of settlers from South Dakota arrived in Win- nipeg, bringing their stock, implements and effects along with them, all ready to start farming ; and since the arrival of this party others have been continually coining, until, as has been already stated, we have received over 3,000 souls. And they are still coming, not only from Dakota, but from Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas, Michigan, and other States, and rapidly filling up the richest and best lands in. different sections of the country.