Northwest Territory by J. W. Boynton

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Apr 22, 1902

Northwest Territory

By J. W. Boynton

PONOKA, ALBERTA.—Since my report in the REVIEW of December 10, I have been receiving scores of letters from all parts, from Ontario to Oregon, asking for information about this country. As these letters are much alike, I have concluded to give the readers of the REVIEW a brief description of the country.

Alberta is about the size of Nebraska, having one hundred thousand square miles of territory, lying along the eastern border of the Rocky Mountains, with a population of about seventy thousand, besides several thousand Indians. Southern Alberta is an open, rolling prairie, devoted to stock raising. It has very little timber, but good grass and water, and large quantities of coal in the foothills. This part is subject to heavy winds. Northern Alberta is a rolling prairie and timber country, with good water, good grass, and a black loam soil with clay subsoil. A few small stones are found in the soil. There is some alkali in places, though none near Ponoka.

There are native fruits, such as red raspberries, currants, strawberries, and saskatoon berries. Some seasons these fruits are abundant, and other seasons there are none. Small grain and vegetables (except vines and the very tender plants) do well here.

The summers are short, with very long days. The temperature seldom rises above 85°; while the nights are always cool, with an occasional frost, and sometimes snow. There is an abundance of rainfall for growing crops. The winter begins in November and lasts until April. The snowfall is from a few inches to two feet, this winter being light. Many imagine this to be a very cold climate; but that is a mistake. In November we had one day when the mercury registered 20° below zero, one day in February it registered 34° below, and to-day (March 16) it went to 32° below. These are the three coldest days. The average for the past five months has been about 29° above zero.

Government land can be obtained from twenty to fifty miles from the railroad. An entrance fee of ten dollars is charged when filing on it; no fee when final proof is made. Settlers must live on the land six months each year for three years, and make improvements. On making final proof they become British subjects. Railroad land can be bought for from $3 to $4.50 an acre.

There are about one hundred Sabbath-keepers in Alberta, in different places. We have a German church at Leduc, where the brethren expect to erect a good church building soon. There is a small company at Ponoka, and another at Harmattan, where a church and a church-school building are expected to be erected soon.

Just now many immigrants are coming here, principally from the States. Among them are a few of our people. We hope that as they settle in this new field, they will become a power for good, and will leaven the whole lump. Living is expensive, about twenty-five per cent higher than in the States. We do not advise any to come here to make money, although some are here, for that purpose, and are succeeding; but to all brethren who will come and help us to carry the message to those who know it not, we will give a welcome and any help in our power.

We are of good courage, and hope to be able to do the work which God has called us to do in this field. We like our new field, and enjoy the work, although we find many trials and difficulties. J. W. BOYNTON.