The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-07-30
Federal immigration Bureau
Is Busy Working Out
the Problem.
PLACING THE ALIENS
IN COUNTRY HOMES
Practical Northern Farmers and
Hardy Scandinavians Urged
to Settle in South.

Some signs of returning prosperity
can be detected at the division of in
formation OF the Immigration Bureau,
OF which Terence V. PowderIy is chief.
One excellent symptom is seen in the
steady demand for farm labor Demand
for help in the manufacturing indus
tries is increasing, though this cannot
be said as to the railroads. For obvi-
Gus reasons it is likely the return OF
brisk demand for armies of men in the
work of making railroad improvements
is likely 10 be deferred for some
months In the mining fields the de-
mand for men is beginning TO pick up.
All over the country. from New Eng-
land and New York 10 California. comes
a demand for men who will settle down
with their families on the farms. In
the last six months Mr.. PoWderIy's
division has placed more than q thou
sand families on the farms. These faui-
lies have been living in undesirable
conditions IL the big centers Of popula-
ton in New York and elsewhere.
Starting Migrations to Farms.
1t viii be the aim of the division from
now on TO get as many persons as pos
sible to go TO the farms. This is a IA
vorable idea Of President Roosevelt,
who has repeatedly spoken out against
the tendency of population 10 longest
If the great cities. The families that
are being sent to the farms and placed
there permanently come from nearly all
countries Of Europe. Few are from the
British isles, as the immigrant that
comes 10 this country from that part
OF Europe usually knows where he
wants 10 go and has his destination de-
fined before starting for America.
The division has developed rev plans
for populating the South. For a time
much was heard OF diverting Italian
and other Southern European immigra-
ton from the Northern ports to those
OF the South. Now the division of in
formation IS working hard TO send 10
the South farmers from the northern
part of the United States and also to
SEND there Scandinavians and like hardy
peoples from northern Europe. 1t IS
round that one Of the most desirable
addluons that can be made 10 a South
ern farming community IS a good
Northern farmer who has the energy to
cultivate his land about as he would
do IL in northern latitude The ct
forts Of the Government officials 10 get
the lands in the South occupied by
thrifty farmers are likely TO have con-
siderable erect in cutting down the i'm
migration Of American farmers in the
upper half of the Mississippi valley TO
Canada.
Demands For Help.
From the Northwest, from such States
wheat country, come demands for har-
vest help According TO reports North
Dakota alone needs 5000 men to take
care Of the wheat crop. For once Kan
sas is not sending up her usual cry for
help in the wheat fields. At any rate.
nothing is being done from here to sup
ply the demand for harvest help. Mr..
Powderly does not want to locate men
unless he locates them permanently. To
send thousands OF aliens 10 The North
west and then have them going adrITt
IN month or so would be of serious
consequences
The fact that the tide OF migration Is
still flowing toward Europe makes the
work Of the division OF Information
hghter than II would be otherwise.
Nevertheless. Mr.. POWderly and his aids
think the thrush will not be long de-
layed, probably not much after the
PRESIDENTIAL election, and they are or
gained much better than ever to give
aid 10 those looking for places
One problem Mr.. Powderly- saws he is
letting severely alone is the servant
girl problem. Early after the division
was established Mr.. POwderly became
convinced that this was too gigantic a
proposition 10 attempt to solve Just
now there are scarcely any young WON
en- coming to this country to enter do
meStlce service. AT any rate such a
DO come viii not be diverted from the
cities The demand for good servar
girls seems to be unCeasing and unolles-
tionably is far IN excess OF the supply
The immigrant girl who Is capable finds
she is able to earn good wages on al
most her own terms in the cities and
any attempt Of Uncle Sam to have Ter
do otherwise is found to be utterly use
less