Ladysmith news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-28
LABOR SHORTAGE
MfNAC[S HARVEST
BUMPER CROP PROSPECT, BUT
HEAVY DEMAND FOR MEN
ELSEWHERE.
TOILERS BUSY ON RAILROADS.

ST. Paul July 26.-In the light of the
labor situation, the prospect of q
bumper crop is a menace to itself. 1t
is the same old annual summer story
of lack of men, but intensified this
year because of the heavy acreage in
sight and the tremendous railroad de-
velopment that is using the services of
thousands of men that otherwise
would help out in the harvest. Agents
are securing the states as far south
as hands can be secured. The men
are being shipped north, transporta-
ton free. in preparation for the har-
vest.
While this is going on neither rail
roads nor labor agencies are hating at
anything to get men to work on rail
road extension and betterment work.
Wages are high and transportation is
free Although it is to the interest OF
the railroads to see the harvest cut,
their first thought just now is to get
the new lines finished in time to carry
the new crop
Many Will Jump Jobs.
Hundreds of men are being carried
into the Northwest for railroad work,
however. who have no intention of en-
gaging for longer than the two weeks
preceding harvest. unless railroad
contractors bid higher than the farm
ers to keep them. The situation is
creating tremendous competition for
labor and the farmers are straining
every nerve by Look or crook to get
ready for the grain cutting.
Some relief is to be afforded in tho
harvest labor situation by the fact
that help will come from an unexpect-
ed source this year. Hundreds Of
homesteaders who have taken claims
this year in North Dakota will have
no crop to harvest, and, time lying
heavily on their hands. they will prob
ably get into the fields.
Shake Their Heads.
been approached in regard to the labor
situation and the harvest shake their
heads and say it is the same old story
with the added contingency Of big
crop. The labor agency managers
say that there is not the slightest eX-
cuse for any man to be out of work.
Representative Of the employment
agencies are securing the streets Of
the large cities for labOring men and
are shipping them into the Northwest
free of charge and without questioning
them too closely as to whether they
will stick by the work they are hired
for or whether they will stay on the
train to it's destination. More men!"
is the cry everywhere. Wages are at
tractive and work is plenty, but men
are scarce.
Men From England.
Sturdy men from Old England,
brought over to save the bumper
spring wheat crop, will be found in
the Northwest harvest fields in a short
time. The Canadian Pacific road, ia.
miliar with labor conditions in the
United States and the Dominion, and
foreseeing trouble in the combination
of labor scarcity and bumper crop,
has put into effect a very low rate
from England, with return privilege
in November. These men will land in
Quebec or Montreal and will be rush
ed out to Winnipeg. Some of them
will no doubt come into North Dakota
later on, though their first efforts will
be expended in Manitoba, Alberta or
Saskatchewan No material help is
expected from them on the American
side but indirectly their presence will
relieve the situation and prevent SO
great a rush of American labor across
the line, thereby leaving more men in
Minnesota and the Dakotas to finish
up the work. Probably 1000 men will
come over.