The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-21
BRING IN THE FARMERS.
A Plan Proposed by Mr.. 7. H. Klein
schmidt for Encouring
immigration.
Make Them Feel at Home as
Soon as They Arrive
Here.
Small Tracts of Ready Land ON Easy
Terms Would Effect the Wished
for Result

Mr.. T. H. Kleinschmidt, of the First Ma
tional bank, has been making study
lately of the subject of immigration. and
has some ideas to advance in relation to
the matter which will be read with great in
terest. Mr.. Kleinschmidt has especially
qualified himself to speak on this question.
having, during his recent tour of Europe.
made careful study of the habits and
conditions Of the working Glasses and small
farmers of the old world. His suggestions
are made in general way, as he prefers to
leave the details of any plan that may be
adopted to the state legislature, the Board
of Trade, or some similar organization. 1t
will be seen from Mr.. Kleinschmidt's re-
marks that he does not propose any system
of assisted immigration. which would be
contrary to the spirit and purpose of
the laws of the United States.
But his scheme contemplates making
intend ing settlers feel secure in their efforts
to obtain living after arriving here, in
stead of setting them down, bag and bag
gage, and leaving them to shift for them
selves. In view of the fact that the state
legislature is about to meet and that the
Board of Trade is making efforts to increase
SluOVOcIbulp duu CuAuA No 40 ACAA Va ua6-
fulness, the proposition of Mr. Klein
schmidt will bear careful investigation.
"When was in Europe" says Mr.. Klein
schmidt, II looked carefully into the con-
dition of the work ingmen and farmers
ing for little or nothing, and that it would
take them an ordinary lifetime to get
enough money together to bring them to
this country and give them start here. A
great many of these people want to come,
but they do rot care to take
strange country, even if they had
| the means to get here, without seeing the
prospect ahead of making living. We
cannot pay their way over, as that would
be contrary to the law against assisted i'm
migration. But there is one thing We can
do. and that Is we can give them start
when they get here and assure them the
certainty of making living for themselves
and families. Let the Board of Trade or
some other organization, or the state,
through some legally constituted body,
buy or Get aside, say 100000 acres of lend
That would make the outlay $25O.0OO. The
land could be divided off into tracts of 4
or 50 acres each. properly provided with
means of irrigation and facilities fol
erecting small houses to live in. Thos.
who came would be put on ON,
would be plenty large enough when yot
consider that in the republic of Switzer.
land there are hundreds who are making
q living off an acre of ground, or in some
cases even less. In that country they hav,
SO little land to cultivate that man doesn
dare to put his houss ON it. So they all Sc
aside portion of land nearby and live Their
in villages, going out every day to cultivate
their little farms Forty or eighty acre
would be a big farm for those people.
1T is not intended that the land shout,
be given to these people free Of charge. Blu