The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-10-25
Women Are Very Scarce in
Idaho, Oregon and
Washington.
AVAILABLE SUPPLY is GONE
ONE OREGON COUNTY MAN
SPENT 5000 RAILROAD FARE
FOR WOMEN SCHOOL MARMs,
AND ALL ARE MARRIED.


manageable men of the Pacific north
west to find wives? This question is
one that is being carefully considered
by educators, ministers, boards of
trade, commercial bodies and organi-
zation of men formed for the purpose
of settling the question. 1t is getting
to be serious matter. In the fruit
orchards, on the wheat farms, the
the forests where men have hewn out
home, along the bays and rivers
where men engage in fishing and other
marine pursuits. in the small towns
where the professional men and mer-
chants are thriving and in the large
cities, the same proposition confronts
the men. They are making money,
they can provide a good home, give
wife all comforts and pleasures. The
men are the right kind, too, for they
have carved out their own fortunes and
have the spirit and snap of the west
that is driving this country forward
at a faster rate than any country ever
went before. They are getting tired of
single blessendness, they want wives,
companions, some one with whom to
share their good state.
But how to get them? The men are
too busy to travel and spend the time
necessary looking for a wife in the
parts of the country where there are
enough women to go around Some do
this to be sure and it helps little
for the wives thus found generally in
vite their sisters, cousins and best
chums out west to see the country
and the inevitable always happens.
Some hustling young chap who never
is beaten, falls in love and the very
speed of the wooing wins the girl.
But only very small percentage of
the men are thus provided.
The matter has reached the point
where a general call for the consid-
Grafton of the problem has been sent
out and it is proposed to have con-
gress at the Alaska-Yukon-Pacifi ex-
position next summer in this city at
which the matter in all it's phases will
be considered and discussed. The
women of the northwest are interest
ed, too. They have seen the terrible
dearth of wives and with the unself-
ishness that is characteristic of wo-
men, they want to see the situation
equalized. In New England there are
almost twice as many women as men.
And New England is further away
from the Pacific Northwest than any
other part of the United States. There
ought to be a balance struck.
Some of the experiences in various
towns of the state are typical of the
general conditions. Only year ago
in Wenatchee, when the local tele-
phone system was placed in operation,
it was necessary to send to Seattle
for girls to operate the line. In less
than three months every girl resigned
to get married. The acquaintances
started over the wires between the
girls and the young bachelors on the
fruit ranches. The company sent to
Seattle for old maids. But the old
maids got married quicker than the
younger girls. Then five girls were
brought out from Minnesota under
contract. For a third time the little
god of love got busy. The company
flashed the contracts. The girls
laughed and so did the men for it
was impossible to get jury to levy
damages against the girls for getting
married.
Many counties of Washington
Oregon and Idaho have given up hope
of getting women school teachers.
They don't want them for none stay
beyond a year ad most of them quit
before the term is out. One county
of Oregon has spent over $1,000 in pay
ing railroad fares for women teachers
from the east. Now the hire only
men teachers. But bringing out men
only exaggerated the general condi-
ton for the men teachers soon want
wives and can not find them.
Men who have started new factories
have been compelled to send east for
the female workers, but they have the
same experience. More than half of
the girls leave during the first year
to get married.
1t is big problem, this question OF
wives for the men of the northwest,
and all hope the congress next year
can solve it.
with cheese. Any kind may be used,
but it should be one that has a strong