Homesteading 



-while longer and there was every probability that 

 prices would improve in the spring both for oats 

 and wheat. This is often the case, especially 

 if there is any prospect of world shortage, but 

 hauling grain in the spring is against the grower, 

 as that is, of course, the season when he wants 

 to be busy on the land. There was every prospect, 

 too, that the new railroad so long under con- 

 struction would soon be open, thus shortening 

 our haul by one half. This , proved to be the 

 case : an elevator and livery barn were soon 

 erected, stores were being run up, and great was 

 the rejoicing when a couple of months later the 

 first train came through. We were also some- 

 what encouraged by the prospect of getting 

 some reward, in co-operation with our No. 9 

 friends, for our enterprise in getting the " Marquis " 

 wheat, by selling some for seed in the district. 

 This, too, materialized later, as we got rid of about 

 three hundred bushels to neighbours and others 

 who came considerable distances, averaging for 

 it a dollar a bushel. Ultimately, the remainder, 

 except what we required for our own seed, fetched 

 seventy cents as No. 2 Northern at the elevator 

 in the new town, while the oats we did not require 

 brought forty cents a bushel at the same place. 

 To sum up, in spite of our hard work, we felt 

 'encouraged with the result of our labours and 



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