The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-15
A MATRIMONIAL BUREAU.
How Settlers in Manitoba Were Sup
Piled With Wives.


Washington Star.
mot many years ago l was in the whole
sale III afchmaking business" said an ex-
officer Of the army. 1T was matchmaking
of the matr imonial kind. at that time, in
1879 and 1880, Manitoba was being opened
10 settlement, and there was a rush of
eolonists thither from Ontario and Quebec
and from Great Britain. The settlers were
mostly men. Some of them had families
and would send for them as soon as they
had got somewhat fixed. but very many
were bachelors. They were m akng homes
for themselves. and naturally they found
that they needed wives. Not a few Of them
were sons Of English farmers, and nearly
all were respectable and Woodworking
fellows.
'They could not afford to go and get
wives, and so helpmeets had to be imported
for them. Young women, guaranteed as to
Tespectabllity. were brought over from
England in great mum bers, and this bush
ness rapidly grew to be an important branch
of the immigration traffic. One pbilan-
lhropic lady in England devoted her atten-
ton to exporting homeless but worthy girls
by the shipload to Quebec. whence they
were forwarded to Manitoba. Trains
river from Winnipeg. bringing two or three
carloads of available wives at time. They
were chaperoned with due regard to pro-
priety and were consigned TO the land and
mining agents, who conveyed them to Win
nipeR, where suitable quarters were pro-
vided for their temporary accommodations.
The accommodation was very temporary,
because they were soon disposed OF.
''1he settlers who were bachelors applied
for the girls as fast as they were brought
in. Their applications were not considered
unless they were properly guaranteed as to
character and ability 10 support wife.
Few of them came to Winnipeg from
shorter distance than $50 miles. Most COM
monty they were certified by letters from
land agents, stating that John Smith, for
example. was located on such and such
tract OF land, was the owner of 1900 horses.
was sound and kind. and so forth. On
making formal application for wife John
Smith was asked what sort OF woman he
preferred, whether blonde or brunette, tall
or short, plump or thin, etc. Having stated
his preferences he was introduced to one OF
the available ladies, whereupon matters
were quickly arranged. a remarkable point
was that no suitor had ever TO be introduced
to second girl. Invariably be was content
with the first one and Immediately married
her. Apparently the men considered that
when they had gone So far as an lntroduc-
ton they had committed themselves irre-
triesably.
"In this way, by process of artificial
selection. myself and other persons officially
in charge OF Winnipeg made matches by
wholesale. The young women were given
free ira nsportatioD. of course. the object
being to make homes In Manitoba, and thus
secure the permanent settlement of the
country. Incidentally the natural increase
of the population was provided for l re-
member one man who drove over 700 miles
to get wife. He was present when traiE-
load of girls arrived and spotted the young
woman he wanted off-hand. Within seven
minutes after the train came in the pair
were united In matrimony, and tie BRIDE
groom started away with his bride In a
blackboard wagon"