Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1895-05-09
COUNTY, STATE and GENERAL,
CoUNTY HAPPENINGS.
FROM OAKVII.LE.

-'V"' ofNN lI.iE.
Hardin Lewis, Of Cedar Creek. was in
town Saturday.
The Oakvillc school, after an eight
months term, closes this week.
Rev. F. c. Fuller, of Tacoma, lectured
az the M. E. church, Monday evening.
George Van Eta is preparing to drive
some ash logs for the basket factory at
Hoquiam.
10 some poor, ignorant people it might
appear that the state of Washington could
make better Roadway in obtaining desir.
able emigrants by reducing taxation and
taking more thought of the welfare of the
people already here than by its emigrant
commissioner in Chicago. Now, this
sending an emigrant commissioner to
Chicago to induce settlers to come to our
over-taxed counties will appear to some
little like the state of Washington had
gone into the "bunco-steering" business.
Let us see how it works: The emigrant
commissioner, or "bunco- steercr," located
at Chicago. hunts up fellows, what time
he is not loafing. not very we'll informed.
yet fellows who have few hundred hard
cash; he shows them maps of the state,
the amount of government lands. tells
them of the wonderful climate, and so
forth, and works upon their Imagination
until they can think OF nothing but
Washington; one poor fellow, little
dreamy in aspect, with few hundred
dollars burning his pocket, continually
dreams Of Washington and her gentle
mists; he makes frequent visits to bunco-
steerer's office, and the bunco-steerer is
very accommodating; he points out the
best railroad by which to 60 (wonder
how much the railroad will have to pay
for this standing recommendation p and
gives him letters to his friend and asso-
ciate, Square Real Estate Shark, at Gravs
Harbol City, or some other wonderful
city OF the imagination. The fellow gets
his family of red-headed wife and ten red
headed children-seven Of them girls
together and starts for Washington, as
happy as if he were going straight to
Paradise; his mind is in the sky and
the red-headed wife acts as kind OF
pillar of fire to lead him on; he reaches
the Getty" and confides himself en-
Enthusiastically to the care of Real Estate
Shark, who relieves him OF his cash for
first payment on Zone of the finest
ranches in the state" seventy miles up
the Hoquiam. The fellow, with his
golden-haired better-haf and consuming
progeny, goes to the ranch; after three
days by means Of canoes he reaches his
paradise, builds shake pen and begins
taking out stump. After he has worked
all summer on that stump, the gentle
mists set in and they have Il tendency to
cool his ardor; grub gets scarce, salmon
do not retain an appetizing appearance,
and he goes out to labor. In year or so
accommodating Real Estate Shark tax es
the ranch, the fellow loses heart, and is a
Coxeyite. Let us drop the curtain over
the miseries Of This family.
Again l say, some poor, kind-hearted,
humane people may ask whether it is not
better to look after the welfare OF the people
already here than to induce more pigeons
to come to be plucked. OF course it is
not expected that the "pluckers" will
see it in this light. But the question be-
comes broad when looked at with respect
to the states action it becomes a ques-
ton that ought to be settled for the great
est good for the greatest number, and
should be so considered by the states
citizens. And admitting that the state
wants more settlers, then the practical
question comes, what is the best and
cheapest way to get the most desirable
class? Capital OF itself never did make
great state, but great, patriotic citizens
do, and more, they make capital for the
state. With low taxes in this county
and thrifty, well-doing farmers and
honest administration OF affairs, there is
something to attract capital and more
there is something to attract good citl-
zens. The reduction OF taxes will beat
all emigrant commissioners in securing
settlers and will relieve the state Of the
appearance of being in the "bunco-s teer-
ing" business.