“I may say that there is a Welsh colony here, with about 200 Welsh families, Welsh chapels, Sunday schools, and literary meetings, Welsh store-keepers and restaurants, and plenty of land for sale right in the centre of the colony. Anyone wishing to buy an improved farm can do so with a small cash deposit, and the balance in yearly crop payments; or there are homesteads, further West, in Alberta, which are available for entry.”
J. G. Lindsay, a Saskatchewan homesteader, writes:—
“I belonged to Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, Scotland, came out here in June, 1905. I used to work on a farm in Auchinblae district on Kennell and Chapelton farm; average wages about £10 to £20. I arrived at Indian Head, Saskatchewan, and worked on a threshing rig that year, receiving 7s. a day, and then came up here, took a homestead, and stayed here ever since. I landed out on my land with about $300, or £60, built a small shack, bought a team of horses, part on time, worked around here during ploughing for new settlers the first summer to pay for the horses. I now own five all paid for, all the necessary implements to work a farm. I have 100 acres ready for crop this spring. I could never have had an acre in Scotland in crop, let alone own the land, which is worth $20, or £4, an acre. I am seven miles from town and a new railroad from Saskatoon to Calgary. I would not take £700 for my rights to-day. I find there are many here just the same. I will put a word for my brother. He has done better than me. He came here with £20 and team of oxen; now he has five horses and 130 acres for crop this spring. We were well known in Rickarton, Stonehaven, as my father had a farm there. My opinion of this country is to all get hold of land, work hard for two or three years to start on, then all is right.”
Joseph Watson, who was head game-keeper and general manager to the late Sir James Musgrave, County Donegal, Ireland, came to Saskatchewan in 1905. He writes:—
“I arrived at File Hills in the end of March, 1905, and the first thing I did was to buy two good milk cows at the calving and a horse and mare. I then commenced to build a log house, 30 feet by 14 feet inside, and two stories high with a lean-to kitchen at back, and soon had a good comfortable dwelling. I then built stables for cattle.
“In the fall I bought ten of the best yearling heifers I could get and a few steers. The total outlay was about £140. From that number of stock I have now fifty head of cattle and five horses, and if all goes well I should have another twenty calves and two colts this spring. I think anyone should be satisfied with that increase.
“I milked all my best cows, and the proceeds of butter practically paid the household expenses for the last two years. Last year I made nearly £80 off butter, and I expect to make as much this year, and besides I hope to sell ten steers at an average price of £8 a head.
“I am well satisfied with the progress I have made, and I may say that I am now independent, as my income is now much greater than the expenditure. I have 160 acres of good grazing and hay land, and as practically none of the company lands are occupied, there is plenty of grazing for cattle on every side of me.
“I estimate the value of my farm, stock, buildings, &c., now to be $5,000. I have done no cropping except a few acres of oats for feed and the kitchen garden, but I intend to go in more for cropping in future. The soil is rich and grows heavy crops.
“The climate is very healthy. I have enjoyed better health since coming to Canada than I had for many years before leaving the Old Country.”