XM/5120/89.
LETTER. ? Hughes, Larchmere, Oakridge W.O. to Mr. Robert James esq. The sender’s Uncle Owen’s daughter Ellen wrote to him stating that R. J. Intended giving to the farm. Sender`s opinion, is that there is better land to be had even in Wales and England full of first class farms to rent. The sender got his property back that he gave for the Manitoba Land, has since tracked for property in Ontario; there is no doubt but that the latter Province is the best for a person to settle, especially an Englishman. The sender has a fine farm where he lives but has had many losses by endorsing for others. He is hard up and hanging on to what property he has until times brighten a little. He doesn’t want to sacrifice what he has. He has a grazing farm of 1700 acres and he hold two others of 400 acres, he has a nice little 100 acre farm adjoining a town larger than Bethesda. He has 206 acres of woodland 9 miles from a railway station with half under cultivation which he would sell for £6 per acre; good roads in the neighbourhood, better than many places in Wales. In fact as good as they have at Ty’n Llwyn but of course the buildings are not as good. A splendid farm near him was sold; rents for 600 dollars. There is one across the road for sale, 218 acres. He wishes R.J. would buy it. Another near the village of Au---ora. They are asking 8,000 dollars for 140 acres and it is considered cheap. Wants R.J. to come out and see them. John Hobley came and went in a hurry. Saw the farm but is not a judge of land. If R.J. wants to go into grazing there is a grand opportunity here for a company of young men to get together and conduct a large farm of this kind. He has 1700 acres of pasture; could get £1,000 for it. The title is not yet complete. He is acting for a Scots Company that hold some land near that can be bought cheap. It is mainly timberland and could be bought for £2 an acre and is adjoining a railway station. The sender encloses the advertisement re his property. Ontario is destined to become a grazing and cattle company and will no doubt support a large population at some future date. Would like to go South but fears the climate is not suitable nor the people. If R.J. knows of a few men who would like to go into a Joint Stock Farm then he thinks there is a good opportunity for?. The trouble is all the sender’s loose capital has been swallowed up by others and he has to work his land with too little capital. Hopes R. J. `s mother is getting better. If R.J. comes over he should take a ticket for Toronto and the sender can meet him there with a trap. P.S. He thinks the Scots company would sell for something less than £2 an acre cash. By selling in parcels at chance 50 or even 100% could be realised. Some of the lands are held at £4 sterling an acre, but the Company bought them at an enormous price expecting to find oil but were disappointed and wish to wind up the matter. A chance without any risk.
Cyngor Gwynedd