Bio: Steenberg, C. M. (1906)
Poster: Arlene Peil
Email: rpeil@charter.net

Surnames: Steenberg, Mathison Source: Greenwood Gleaner (5 Apr 1906)

Carlon, Alberta, Mar. 26, 1906. Mr. J. E. Noyes, Editor Greenwood Gleaner, Dear Sir: Enclosed you will find P. O. order which we remit on our subscription – we can’t get along without the Gleaner and eagerly await its weekly visit.

In response to requests of some of our old friends and neighbors I will try to give you some idea of what we have learned by observation and investigation during our year and a half in the Great Northwest. Last year being our first crop, which more than exceeded our expectation, we were unable to have the grain threshed owing to there being no machine in here but we will be more fortunate in the way of threshing this year. So are unable to state just what our grain yield was with the exception of wheat, Mathison putting in one acre, for trial, which yielded 40 bushels to the acre and a fine grade. Raised splendid potatoes and a fine lot of vegetables.

The past winter has been great for the most part like a beautiful autumn, our first snow fell Nov. 25, 26, 27, but owing to a Chinook, in a few days the snow was all licked up. Jan. 18 we had another heavy fall of snow, but as before twenty-four hours of persevering Chinook and the snow had all disappeared. It is the Chinook that has given to southern Alberta its fame as a ranch country. Cattle, horses, and sheep graze out all winter without any food except the prairie hay which cures on the stem, but –

“It seems to be decided that the range has got to go. The cow men are admittin’ this and well they aught to know So there’ll be no more big roundups, nor a camping on the plains While the stars are whispering to you and the dreamy silence reigns No more wandering up and down the trail, for the Progress Plow Needs the acres for the millions that’s pushing westward now There’s to be no more living way out here ‘longside of God There feller with the hoe is coming to claim the native sod.”

It is wonderful the great rush of people to the Northwest, it is on greater than ever for this year. Last week the population of Calgary was increased by two thousand souls, this will give some idea how rapidly the country is being settled up. The G. T. P. railway is now running surveys through our locality.

In conclusion, we like Alberta first class, and only regret that we did not come here sooner.

All men do not succeed in Alberta, but if a man cannot succeed here, it is either through his fault or misfortune because the natural conditions to bring prosperity and contentment are all here and if a man is not built to fit good natural conditions he might as well be in one part of the world as another – the result will be the same. Respectfully, -- Mrs. C. M. Steenberg.