Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1903-12-17
THOUSANDS SEEK HOMES
And Located in the State of
Oregon Last Year.

We copy the following from the
Portland Telegram:
"Yes, the results Of the colonist
rates are satisfactory to the South
ern Pacific Company" said an
official of that corporation this morn.
ing. "We have placed ovor 5000
people in the state since February l5
of this year as homeseeKers.
The low colonist rates which have
been made by the transcontinental
railroad lines expire today. and no
more tickets will be sold in the East
at these figures. From September 10
to November 9S, the immigration
agents say that 1881 homeseekers
have come to the State of Oregon
OF this number large percentage
has permanently settled here. Dur
ing the existence of the special rates
last spring, 1862 homeseekers were
received here, Only small number
of these located in the state, how
ever, as the majority were simply
out to see the advantages the country
could offerand to take an inventory
of the inducements to come West.
The figures herewith gwen do not in
clude numbers who have located in
the state, not taking advantage of the
colonists yates offered by the trans
continental lines, Many Of these
have escaped the notice of the immi-
grafton agents and could not be in-
cluded in estimates.
"a total of 5000 immigrants
brought to the state during the life
of the special rates IN 1903 would be
nearly correct" says railroad man
who knows.
1.-The States of Missouri, Minne-
sofa, Iowa and Illinois have con.
tributed the majority of these immi-
grants, " continued the official. "Mis.
souri, leads the others by small
margin. Illinois comes second. 1t is
said that the population of the
country portion Of Illinois is slowly
decreasing. The birth rate combined
with new comers barely supply the
number which annually departs for
other homes. From Minnesota wo
have sturdy band Of Scandinavian
This class of people is very desirable.
They all have money on account of
their thrifty habits and all make ex.
cellent citizens and farmers. There
are hundreds Of Scandinavians in the
new population of Oregon, and every
community seems to welcome them
in their midst.
=" From Iowa comes another class
of well-to-do farmers, mostly Ameri.
cans, who are trying to get away
from the severe winters in that por-
tion of the country"
What is the main attaction these
people find in Oregon?" was asked
the railroad man.
"The climate of the state may be
put close alongside the natural rich.
ness and proIuctivenoss OF the soil.
There is the combination which
generally makes homeseoker
citizen Of Oregon. lie comes to this
state laden with the Jokes of friends
the webs Of lis feet, the
condition of the atmosphere
in general, ana expects to see small
farms surrounded by water, Venetian
highways and boats for all trans
portation When ho has been here a
short time, ho becomes aware Of the
accruing TO the farmer
who never has to worry about
drought whether his well will be
dry or not, whether no will have n
crop or not and the hundred and one
other things which make tho East.
ern farmers life n burden to boar.
Before they leave they all agreo
that Oregon is the best place they
have visited and generally promise to
make arrangements 10 come cut hero. "