Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1909-06-01
OREGON GETS THE BEST.

Oregon is getting the cream Of tn
worlds great immigration movemen
today. Only the strongest, ablest anc
best provided men and women are
coming to the far West. All the coun.
try intervening between the Pacific and
Atlantic oceans is a mighty filter, pos.
sibly better, a barrier. Europe's ques.
tionable emigration strikes on the
east, and percolates through to a con-
siderable distance, affecting the Mis-
sissippi basin and Middle West, but
that finally getting to the Pacific coast
has strength, has means and ability
to perform all the duties of husband
man and mechanic.
This is an epitome of Right Rev.
Bishop Charles Scadding's observa-
tions. 1t has peculiar value, coming
from that source, because of the Bis
hops opportunities and inclination for
such social studies. He spent five
years in the densest tenement district
of New York, the most congested tene-
ment spot Of the world. Here he saw
year after year the former denizens
crowded out by the foreign element
that squats in the first city reached
on the American shores.
AS the color of the water in a tank
changes, according to the inflow, the
bishop saw conditions in that spot
change until he was made keenly alive
to the necessity Of greater assimilative
power and more general distribution
OF new arrivals. Later he spent some
time in Chicago, the next great depot
for the foreign immigration tide.
Here there was some improvement, but
the tinge ofextreme poverty, ignorance
and consequent vice attending much
OF the lower class movement was a
cause for anxiety.
I'm the diocese work here in Ore
gon, " said the bishop, 81 have abun-
dant opportunity to study every COM
munity, and particularly every phase
oT immigration. This year | have
'rled to visit as many of the immi- !
grant trains as possible, and study
he type of citizens that is contributing
lew blood to the state. My pleasure
esulting from all observations ia
'reat. We are getting the very best
nen and women a state could draw, =
they are foreign, they are strong, G
with some means and a
wealth of energy, for the weaker OF II
his class have been left on the Allan
lc seaboard or with intermediate com.
nunities. Ificd many of the foreigners
irving are Scotch. English and q
iermans. But heavy percentage is
omposed of Middle West Americans Il
'ho are being driven on in quest of
lew resources and natures bounties
"of course, all OF the men coming
re not wealthy, although some have II
bundant means to repurchase land
DR. homes. But whether having much a,
loney or little, they have the more "
ital element for state prosperity
'rength and willingness to do things. i'
heir influence is appreclable wher-
yer they settle. They bring new 10
of farming, new Industrial
eals, and 10 a very short time they Sc
Ill make this influence felt In the
rm OF greater productivity of the LEI
ii, smaller farms, more varied crops
ID eastern business methods. With O.
ch an inflow as Oregon has received ~
0 present year, it would be folly to
ubt tremendous development in the lO'
ture. The type OF men we are get.
Ig have character and strength, and hi
mot be lost anywhere. What they
II do in a land OF such vast and Co
ried opportunities as this is more !
silly Underestimated than over esti. %
lted. Telegram. -,