The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-18
THE WESTWARD TIDE
TIE Multitudes Of Men aud Wosuen who are
MakIsa Homes In Kansas.

Erhoci from Kanus hun 81 he Rec D., Coydsy ~ he coa9o
Adrdnse
Whatever the star Of Empire" may be
doing these days. there can be no question but
that the people are coming West. In a residence
Of twenty years have never seen anything to
compare with the stream Of immigration that is
now flowing westward. Every railroad il doing
its utmost to bear tho tide along. Long trains.
crowded with immigrants pass by every day
carrying tae unceasing multitudes on into q" the
empty continent " beyond us for the plains
beyond. between here and tho mountains. are
almost Q continent Of themselves.
And these are not the chronic fronticrsmcn,
who move on TO Keep ont on the way OF civli-
zatOn. But they are mostly people OF tho bet
ter class-farmers and mechanics and the bet
ter grade OF laborera. They are people who
have been wcll-tO-do." but who have suffered
N the revulsions Of the past few years, and como
Wcst to begin again. Thousands OF these from
all over the land who have been accustomed to
comforts and luxurics and refined surround
inRs, are going back In the woods Of Michigan
aud out ON to the prairics OF the far West. Many
81 these VIII be disappOinted many OF them
hsct ne Rr3}rg VII spend Az ana tn1n go
homes.
flow westward. One Is the financial disasters,
which have thrown 30 many out Of employ and
unsettled so many in their business. But an
ed by our railroads. Emigratlng to tho far
West is no longer adrcary pilgrimage Of weeks.
Y
immigrant down at his destination. And he no
longer waits half q generation before nciRhbors
thicken around him. but tho process OF settle
ment Is SO rapid that nation IL born in n day.
and schools and churches and civilized institu-
uons spring up Mt once.
largely TO this same end IL the effort made by
these railroads to scatter Information and los
ter settlements. In old times. railroads fol-
lowed business. Now they go on ahead and
meet business. Through land grants, local
subscriptions. and mortgage bonds. great lines
Gf "a a. al rn1 pf m
wilderness. They must then create that on
which they feed and secure the settlement OF
| the country, in order to furnish business for
their trains and sale for their lands. They have,
| therefore. scattered everywhere papers and
| handbooks and maps setting forth the attrac-
no bureau Of immigration could over do. II
may also be added that. in the MAN, they havs
not gone beyond the record in fact, II Is hardly
| possible TO ovorstato in regard ~ the richness
| and productiveness OF these lands.
Another cause which may have contributed
To- this same result is the reaction from the town
| seeking tendency OF n few years ago. After the
war everything tended To the towns. and ngri-
culture suffered. aad farm hands could not be
obtained. Everything that centred in towns
was ovcrdone. while there has never boon a
| glut Of farm produce. with all the immense
| pros porous than during these years OF general
| disaster. There have been good crops, fail
prices. and ready sales. and the man who had
farm-paid for-was happy and prosper
| Gus man.
| This is having It's effect. and farming is step
| ping to the front as "A desirable and attractiy,
| occupation. The tide is now turned that way
This Is doubtless one reason that the rich land,
| OF tho West are in such demand, and that tn,
| rush for them is so great.