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The American Homeseeker Excursion

Prospective Settlers Arrive Here and Must Almost Board Next Returning Train

On several occasions complaints have been received from Americans seeking homes in Canada, especially those from Arkansas and the states adjoining, in regard to certain homeseekers' excursions run by American railways, notably the New York Central Railway and the Wabash line.

It is the practice of the American railways to run homeseekers' excursions and to issue round trip tickets which are good for twenty-five days only. The purchaser of the ticket must board a train on his return journey twenty-five days after the ticket is issued, for after that date the return half is worthless.

No Use for Extended Trip

This excursion ticket is very satisfactory for homeseekers who only desire to go to neighboring states to look for land, but it is practically of no value to a man who intends to seek land in the Canadian West, as the time limit is obviously too short. Notwithstanding this, American railway companies are advertising these homeseekers' excursions as suitable for Americans wishing to locate on land in Canada. Most of the southern settlers who come to Canada from Arkansas are manifestly unacquainted with the condition existing in the Canadian west today, and do not in the least realize the extent of country which they will have to look over before locating on land, or the lack of railway transportation to homestead lands, which are usually some days' travel from a railroad.

Reprinted from the Edmonton Bulletin, August 19, 1910. Courtesy of the City of Edmonton Archives.

See also:

• American Settlement
• Wealthy Americans

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