The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-10-30
O0UKH0B0RS ARE
SETTING THE PACE
Will Use Telephones and
Electric Lights in Their
Villages.

er OF the Doukhobors. who has direct
ed the progress of the Doukhobors in
their several colonies since their COM
ing to western Canada, is at present
III the city. Mr.. Verigin will not re-
turn west but will go direct to Mon
treal and intends sailing in about a
weeks time TOR London. From there
he goes direct to the land of his birth.
The present state of the Russian en-
pire causes him considerable uneasi-
ness and he has fears that his destin-
alton, Moscow. will not be reached as
soon as he expects. If he succeeds
in reaching Moscow he will confer
with Count Tolstoi. who has watched
the progress Of the Doukhohors in
western Canada with great interest.
and intends returning in the spring
with large party OF immigrants.
Mr.. Verigin said last night:
so much unjpust criticism has
been aimed at the Doukhobors recent
~ that true account of their doings
is necessary. The past season from
April Is up to Oct 10. most of our
number were employed on construc-
ton work on the G. l. P. Every man
available whom We could spare from
our holdings was employed on con-
struction work. Macdonald & Mac
milan. the we'll known G. T. p. con-
tractors. employed no less than 500
men and apart from this we have IS
teams engaged with the same firm.
When say we lost only two horses
the entire season the care with which
they were looked after will readily
be seen. Malcolm Macmillan, who has
had considerable dealings with us at
other times, We found in every re-
spect worthy of our entire confidence
and | have nothing but praise for that
gentleman.
Will Work on Farms.
Il do not think, however, We will
do any construction work next sum
mer but will concentrate our ener-
gies on our holdings. The following
summer, however. We expect to again
do construction work. as we have
found that this employment is salts
factory to all of US. The past sum-
mer We have erected at Verigin a
$4,000 roller and -four mill, the first
story OF which is of solid cement. on
cement piers. The next two storys
are of cement block and the fourth
story is of timber and brick. We
have two brick yards. one at Verigin
and one at Swan River. while we
manufacture our own cement blocks
at Yorkton. Settlers outside of our
selves have seen the satisfaction these
cement blocks have given and many
of them intend using them in future
construction. We have constructed
a spur track ourselves to the yard at
Verigin and this has proved a great
convenience. Work on a $4,000 BUSH
ell elevator will be commenced in the
Immediate future, which will be in
readiness by spring. We have at
present telephone connection with
Swan River, and the work of connect
ing all our villages with the system
is now in progress. We also intend
installing electric light plants in sew
eral of our villages. We had intended
using kerosene. but We think cleo
tricity less expensive. and far more
convenient. Forty or fifty schools are
to be erected. where the young of our
settlements will receive English edu-
cation. Already five or six schools
are operating, but We intend employ
ing lady teachers exclusively, as We
think the scholars will become more
attached to female than male instruct
ors. Our schools will hardly be ready
for opening until l return in the
spring. On Sundays these schools will
be used as places where We will wor-
ship in our own faith"
The twenty-five villages of which
Verigin is the centre. are connected
by graded roads built by the Douk-
hobors themselves, with the Swan
River colony, which contains eigh-
teen villages, and the Good Spirit
Lake colony. which includes seven
villages. Harvesting has been con-
siderably delayed by the absence of
the men on the construction work,
but now that they are released farm
ing operations will be rushed. The
yield from what has already been
threshed has proven very satisfac-
tory. many of the fields running thirty
bushels per acre. An average of
about twenty-five, it is expected, will
be reaped.
No More Pilgrlmages.
To the question as to the probable
repetition of the dissatisfaction which
once prevailed. Mr.. verigin stated he
had no fears. Our people," he said,
were formerly anxious in mind.
They did not know the future the
country had in store for them, and
naturally were dissatisfied. They are
SO prosperous now, however, and see
that the present prosperity is likely
to continue that have little fears of
future trouble"
Mr.. Verigin will confer with the
minister Of the interior today on mat
tiers appertaining to the Doukhobors.
should that gentleman, as is expect
ed, arrive from the west this morn
ing. Should he not. however, Mr.. YER
igin will be unable to leave for the
east until Monday. He will be ac-
companied east by his interpreter,
Simeon Reibin, Paul Plamdin and
John Machortoff, the latter gentleman
being SO years old.
The necessity. OF having secretary
and interpreter, the double capacity
of which is performed by Simeon Rel
bin. will be readily understood when
1t is known that last year accounts
amounting to over 100000 were
handled.