LETTERS BY WORKING MEN,
THE following letter from a working man in Canada is authenticated by Mr. R. Steele, of Week-green, Petersfield, who states that the writer was his carter sixteen years ago, at about 10s, a week, and that he left him to go abroad with a family of six children :—
‟Salt Fleet, Ontario, Feb. 6, 1857.
‟We are all doing very well. We have lived together or within a few miles of each other ever since we came to this country, till about three years ago. Since that time we have never been altogether, though we see one another sometimes. William, Harriett, and James are living 150 miles hence; Harriett moved three years ago; William and James moved one year ago. This is a good country for men and girls who work out, for they are very scarce and wages high. A steady single man will get from £30 to £40 a-year, and board and washing; and a married man, who boards himself, will get £50 a-year, house rent free, and keep for a cow. Men who work by the day get 3s. this time of the year; in summer, 4s.; in haying they get 5s.; in harvest 8s. Men who work by the day get their board in this country. A good girl will get £12 a-year ; a school miss £5 a month, but she would have to board herself. Carpenters and blacksmiths' wages are very high. It is good times for farmers now, for grain is high. Wheat is worth 7s. a bushel; Indian corn 4s., oats 2s. barley 5s., and potatoes 6s. Father has been renting farms these twelve years, and is doing very well indeed. He bought a small place last year;. there are fifty acres; he paid £200 for it; it is 150 miles from where he now lives; there are twelve acres cleared, a house on it, and the rest is woodland. His time is out in a year where he is, and then he intends to move, to his own place. He has two horses, two colts, four cows, and one yoke of oxen, thirty sheep, and farming utensils. He is worth more than £400, and mother has enough to do in her own house. William is married, and is now living on his farm. He has 100 acres of land, forty-five of which are cleared. He is worth several hundred pounds. Harriett is married to an Englishman—a steady, industrious man, who owns 200 acres of land. They have four children. They are living on their own place, and he is worth £1,000. John is a shoemaker, but that is a poor trade, so he quitted it and went to farming. He was married three years ago. It took him some time to learn his trade, at which he worked three years, so he is not so well off as some of us. He is married; has one little girl, and is worth £100. James was married three years ago. They have three children; his wife had twins. He has 100 acres of land, and lives on it—ten acres cleared, the rest woodland, but he is clearing it up. He is worth hard upon £500, George and Thomas live at home, and they go to school in winter. George is worth £100, and Thomas I don't think will leave home. Now, I have told you about the whole family but myself, and that I will tell you after a time. We have a railroad which runs right through Canada, and then from Canada to New York, which is 600 or 700 miles. It goes close to the place where father lives. Canada is greatly improved since we first came here, and the stock is greatly improved also. We had a very hard winter last year, and a dry summer followed, so that the crops were light. I bought 100 acres of land, three years ago, and then I went and lived there, except it was in harvest; then I used to go down where father and mother lived, and worked out. In 1855 I made £22 10s. in three months. In 1856 I made £24 in three months and a-half, but I don't except to do as well as that again.
‟In 1855 I made £14 in eighteen days. I was cutting wheat by the acre. Another man and me have bought a threshing-machine of eight-horse power. We have to find four horses, and the farmers have to find the rest. We shall have £1 per 100 bushels. William and James had a machine, and they made £200 in four months clear of all expense. My place is nearly all woods, but I am getting some cleared, and I am worth £350. I have told you all I can think of at present, and hope you will excuse my bad learning, which is my own fault. We long to hear from you. The people here are very kind to us, and we all like Canada well.”
Chester Chronicle - Saturday 07 March 1857
THE LAND OF PROMISE.—EMIGRATION TO CANADA.
We reproduce the subjoined interesting communication from the Times of Saturday, and commend it to the attention of those intending to emigrate, or connected with any in that position. I send a copy of a letter received yesterday, with no other alteration than correcting its orthography. The writer the son of carter, a tenant of mine, who, at the time of his emigration, 16 years ago, had a family of six children to maintain, the eldest about 18 years. His ordinary wages were about 10s. a-week. The contrast between the actual position of the family and what it would have been had they remained in a country redundant of labour is practical proof of your kindness in pointing the attention of all who find employment difficult to obtain to countries where masters feel difficulty in procuring workmen. I sent out some years ago two young men to Australia, one of whom is doing extremely well; the other told his father they would not hear of him for ten years, nor has he been heard of. Canada is so healthy and so English in all its social usages that it seems most suitable to Englishman, and if you could find space at this busy time to make these facts known through-out the length and breadth of our land by inserting them in The Times, many might be awakened to a knowledge of how industrious sober men may be sure of finding happy homes. My personal knowledge of the family to which the writer belongs justifies entire confidence in the truth of what is stated. The letter is addressed to their old master.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
R. STEELE.
Week-green, Petersfield.
"Salt Fleet, Ontario, Feb. 6,1857.
... (Letter as above)