The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-08-22
5000 OOO 90
THE busy city man reads in his
/ morning paper that the farm
ers of the northwest are sorely

erS of the northwest are sOrely
troubled about the scarcity of
harvest hands. The paper says the
grain has ripened in the fields and the
laborers are few to harvest it. He
reads the cry for help and wonders
some, perhaps, at it, for as he hurried
out to lunch he noticed many idle men
about the streets. Why are they not at
work in the fields? This is question
[ will endeavor to answer.
In order to better understand the
problem which cOnfrOnts the farmer
every year, it is necessary to enquire
into the personality of the laborers
who every summer journey to the
wheat country to work during the
harvest. The labOrers represent many
different nationalities, but perhaps the
Scandinavians predominant. Many
come from as far east as Indiana and
some from Missouri, but the majority
come from the states adjacent to the
wheat country. The good wage is
the attraction for the majority, while
few 60 not altogether for the money
they can earn, but rather to examine
the country with the view of settling
there some time in the future. The
mode of travelling to the harvest fields
varies according to the amount of cash
the laborer has. If he is fortunate
enough to have the price, he buys a
ticket and travels first class; the larger
number, however, are not blessed with
an abundance of wealth at any time
and usually tip freight train brake
man and ride secreted in box car.
. If the laborer has not the cash to tip
the brakeman he is put off the train
and then his troubles begin, for he
must steal rides at night and depend
upon the charity of the people along
his route for his food.
Let us travel with the harvest hand
to the wheat country and see how he
fares upon this journey and what
befals him after he has arrived at his
destination. We will make the ac-
quaintance of John Smith, who has
spent nearly all of his last "stake" in a
few days melee in the city and is now
bound for the wheat country to re-
cuperate his finances. We will go with
him, for he has made the trip before
and will guide us by the light of his
experience. Down to the railroad
freight yards we 60 in search of train
John makes few inquiries and learns
that freight train is soon to pull ou
for the west; through the yards, dodgint
shifting cars, sometimes crawling
under or jumping through between
stationary ones, we go until we conn
at last to long string of box cars will
a painting engine at one end and
grimy looking caboose at the other
This is our train, j ohm tells me.
About midway in the string of car
there is door part open. John point
to it, and, watching our chance, we ar
soon inside its portals. l look aroun
inside the box car and see three othe
passengers: they are huddled in on
corner, almost out of sight of tn
door, and as we go to the other corne
one of them steps forward and cautious
ly shuts the door; soon the engin
blows two short blasts and we ar
humping over the switches at the ell
of the yards; then the car cracks an
shakes as the train gathers speed an
the journey. has begun.
After about an hours ride the trai
stops at water tank, the car door
pushed open, big husky brakema
enters and greets us with the enquir
"got any stuff" All but one drop