Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-05-11
THE CALL or THE WEST

tFrom The Pierre RuStlefl
There seems to be a popular revival
OF agitation throughout the larger cities
of the east in favor of more emigration
to the western states, especially among
artisans and the humber bread win
ners. says a recent issue of the Kansas
City journal. Since the day Horace
Greeley gave the historic bit Of advice
to the young man to ''go West" there
have been periodical tlurries of enthu
siasm among working people who are
tired of the ceaseless and soul-harrow
ing struggle for their daily bread, and
who cast longing eyes to the Westward
where broader opportunities are ever
present to help solve the problem of
existence.
1t is one of the inexplicable mysteries
why the toilers of our great cities re-
main under the domination Of labor
"bossism" and wear out their unhappy
lives in the almost hopeless conditions
that surround them. The spell of the
great city s strong and holds many
who would he infinitely better off in
rural communities. they complain
that conditions are well nigh intoler
| able, yet they prefer to bear the ills
j they have than "ty to others that they
| know not Of" In the sordd, selfish
battle for existence in che big city the
poor clerk or artisan has little chance
forisadvancement compared with the
opportunities afforded by the smaller
Western towns. One man who ran an
Elevator in Chicago few years ago
broke away from this employment and
went West, and is now the wealthiest
man in fourishing town, respected
by all, happy and independent. Speak
ing of his own experience, he said:
"Had remained in Chicago would
probably be selling papers or running
an elevator in a skyscraper to this day.
/ The opportunities for gaining a COM
| petence in the cities are extremely
limited, and, altogether, city life is not
what it is cracked up to be for the
Workmen. Give me the smaller towns
of the limitless West, with their sun.
Ishine, roominess. the general good fell
tlowship of their inhabitants and the
absence OF the madding throng that
makes life in a city like Chicago re-
4 semble a hades on earth Any man
with q thimbleful of brains can succeed
i'll the West, if he knows how to adapt
himself to conditions. He must be a
worker, he must be energetic, honest,
enterprising, fearless. If he has these
Qualities the West wants him, and he
will win out all right
1t is fact that almost any young
man Of the grit and ordinary intelli-
gence can make a better living in the
smaller towns of the West than in cities
where hundreds of thousands of his
felloWmen are straining, in ruthless
Icompetition. The ordinary laborer,
while not being as we'll paid in the
West, enjoys the advantages of cheaper
cost of living. His chances of working
for himself and saving little capital
to start in business on his own account
iare good Above all, he gets more out
lof life in the West, and earns a place
| in his community that the toiler among
the masses in the East never secures.
| 1t is more true now than ever that the
West needs men. This need is for the
young man with the right stuff in him.
i the young man who has the nerve to
leave the drudgeryof the mill and fac
tory and strike out for himself will sue
ceed in the West. If he works earn.
testify in his new home, within few
Years he will find that he has place in
the community and has a recognized
individuality which the factory hand
Tor the small clerk can never know.
PROGRESS.
/ Qn5a vast plateau near Cheyenne, Wyo.,,
which is 5000 feet above the sea, it has
been proven that profitable crops can be
Igrown on lands which heretofore have.
Ibeen regarded as suitable for nothing
but the sparse grazing of cattle and
j sheep. The area Of this class Of land III
1.-THE northwest is almost Unreasonable.
David G. Fairchild, an agricultural exs
.piorer and IN charge Of the work of in
production Of new seeds and plants,
Isays that the greatest surprises will be
lin the tiiization Of what are now con
lsidered desert lands for the growing Of
Especial arid land crops requiring but q
Fraction of the moisture necessary for
the yroWth Of ordinary plants, such as
corn and wheat. 4 ind new plants
hessatd from the far tab lelafltis of i mr.
kestAn and the steppes Of Russia and