The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-18
WOMENACT As PLOWHORSES
Used as Draught Animals In a
Canadian Russian Colony.
COMMENTED WITH THEIR LOT.
Perform the Most Mental Farm La
Dor, hut Are Healthy and Happy
Primitive Conditions That OBJ
tain Among Peasant Colonfsts-
Little Progress Made I'm Three
Years-Government Aid Required.

within two days journey OF Seattle Is
n place where women are made beasts ~
burden and slaves OF most meniai toii'
and this In the heart OF country popu-
lated by civilized white men.
Far back from the International bound-
ary line on the bleak prairie Of the great
Canadian Northwest Is a colony OF rus
gian settlers who. driven from nome ny
an exacting monarch, were given an aplu-
ing place by the Canadian government.
II is little more than three years since the
colony landed at Winnipeg and was sent
forth 10 earn a living by farming Inc
colonists numbered nearly 1000 famliies
and were divided into three lots Tor pur-
poses OF distribution. One was sent 10
Western Manitoba. another to the prov
fnce Of Alberta and third to the banks OF
the Saskatchewan, about the center or the
proyInce OF Assiniboia. They were IN
condition OF great poverty. Their trans
portation TO Canada Ia said to have peeh
paid by the Canadian Pacific railway.
At any event that line took care or the
marty after it's arrival. The immigrant
trains 10 points OF Decentralization were
furnished with food. The journey Inland
was made in wagons and there the COLO
nists are today, interesting In their naoits
and customs, a curious sight TO visitors
who may find the time to look their way.
tions are interesting at the present day,
more particularly on account OF the fact
that the Canadian Pacific railway Is now
engaged IN an effort to locate, In these
same provinces, horde OF Finlanders
yariously estimated at from 5000 to 3d.
900 persons, who are expected to arrive in
this country about July. Advance agents
are now In British Columbia. where they
are being royalty entertained by tho
Canadian government through tho Cana
dian Pacific railway.
Not Desirable Settlers.
While none OF the great American trans
continental lines Is making efforts to Sc
cure, for location In the Northwest any
part of the Immigrant party 1t Is not AT
all improbable that a small proportion will
come over to this side OF the boundary.
America has always been declared the
Mecca OF foreign iaborers, and for this
reason more than any other the immigra-
tion departments OF the Great Northern
and Northern Pacific are expecting appli-
cations for locations In Washington and
the other Northwestern states.
The land on which the Saskatchewan
colony IL located stretches southwark from
the Cree Indian reservation toward the
main line of the Canadian Pacific rail-
way. II il fertile, so far as land goes. but
In the hands OF a poverty stricken people.
unaccustomed to modern methods OF
little showing, An effort b to be made
during the coming summer TO better the
condition of tho colonista. The Canadian
government will send TO each OF the COL
onies an experienced farmer. and It is
understood has appropriated q large sum
OF money for their welfare
The lands had been prepared for the
colonlsts months before their arrival, and
when their location was made each head
Of = family was given a pillow and a small
store OF provisions with instructions to go
ahead and earn a living. Today accord
Ing TO visitors who have but recently re-
turned from the colony. the colonists are
little, II any. better of than on the day
they began work
Flowing. both spring and fall is done
by bees" The head Of the family issues
a call for a blowing bee at his homestead
on certain date The women gather In
large numbers. They are ouxom- looking
women. and ready 10 work. They arrive
early In tho morning. and are first placed
at n table and fed. The food is coarse.
but substantial At the conclusion OF tho
meal preparations for the field are begun.
The party Is divided into three reliefs.
To tho beam OF the pillow In attached
Ions rope. into which are tied stout sticks
equal to half tho number OF women in
each relief IA draught animals me wo-
men SO to their places. dividing on either
side OF the rope. and tho days work Is
begun.
prtvcn ny the Landowner.
The owner OF the land. holding the
handles OF the pillow. gives a grunt. Tho
women bend forward TO the yoke. The
plowahare enters the ground. and at a
rapid rate the first furrow is turned over
For four hours each relief works As
fast as returned the women are pYivi-
legged 20 SO home. During working hours
not word is spoken The women are as
dumb as the animals they represent
spring and fall this is the lot OF the
women OF the Canadian Russian colonies
During seeding time the women DO an the
planting ana at harvest use the sickle.
Last year the Canadian mounted police
IN order 70 assist the Impoverished set
Tiers, save them several small contracts
for hay. IN the execution Of those con
tracts the women again played promI-
nent part. Harnessed &C. small wooden
suiky rakes they could be seen daily dur
Ing the summer telling Wp and down the
prairie meadows harvesting the hay. The
men atd the loading into tho police
wagons bur even with the assistance az
the police the contracts were much de-
isyed
In spite Of all thsse conditions tho Rus.
alan colony ON the banks Of the saskatch-
evan is growing when located the
contingent numbered about 300 women
and ifty children. During the three years
or their STAY nearly ~ NDttdRcn nave been
born. There have BEEN but few deaths.
and At the same rate OF increase II Will
not he many years before more land Is
needed
At this season when the far north Is
fyosen SO an 60 prevent Agricultural wogk.
the women Of the colony are scattered
about the stiaccut cities, where they
sefiie. saW wood and do an kinds or
rough labor. YET they are happy, II Is
said fer they have never known aught
hut toll
.--------
Northern Pacific Changes.
W "a : Hyde, Coast division stareke,,e~