The Washington herald., 1909-06-21
Home Colonization.

Editor The Washington Herald;
In Mondays Washington Herald. the
editorial notes called attention 70 the
movement Of American farmers 10 Can
ada. The loss OF a half million OF farm
ers Is a serious matter But that is not
all the story. The emigrant will reap
no advantages that could not be OBJ
tanned here. The hardships and sacri-
fees OF removal viii more than balance
the gain The settlement Of the West
lost in human life health. and happiness
an incalculable sum.
The strong survived. 10 be sure. and
we hear Of their success. but how pitt
ful is the story Of the wife, the mother,
ana the children in the lone cabin on
the bleak prairie. For years they had
10 struggle, deprived OF the dwellings
and comforts that make life worth living.
Fifty years ago riding over the prairies
OF Illinois, Gov. Beverage said to me,
Tell me why the state asylums are fill-
ing up with women from the farms?" AT
first II was a puzzle. but as we rode
over the limitless expanse Of treeless
prairie and the lonely. isolated cabins of
pioneers appeared. the answer came,
The wife alone most of the day. bur-
dened with the care OF The children. and
a ceaseless round Of cooking. mending.
washing and numerous household cares:
care OF the COWS and poultry. making
garden, II she had one. teaching the chill
dren and nursing the sick. with no wOm-
en- help % be had for love or money.
Often the young wife came from a COM
Portable home in a thickly settled district
where neighbors and friends are plenu-
ful, the memory Of which added 70 the
hOmesickness and burden OF her present
rude surroundings. Thus. the Conquest
OF the West cost thousands Of lives
This Canadian emigration, az its best, Will
sacrifice men and women IN the same
way and weaken the states.
one remedy is practicable, we must
make our people so prosperous that they
viii be contented. Home colonization OF
lands near the cities, intensive farming
and systematic education in agriculture.
offer greater inducements than the virgin
lands Of the Northwest. This requires
radical changes in the education OF youth,
and an organized movement Of population
10 country lands Love Of home must
be cultivated 10 supplant the tendency 10
roam in search Of easy fortune and
riches. that now makes vagabOnds and
tramps OF our young men
We have seen our own virgin soils de-
pleted. and the vast crops for years sold
abroad. leaving the grower less than the
cost or production. Wheat was sold for
50 cents or less per bushel IN the West
ern markets at intervals for twenty
years, and corn was burned for fuel The
cream OF our soil was thus transferred
70 enrich the fields Of Europe The mad
rush for new lands. stimulated by rail-
roads and spectators. went on for forty
years. Now. our virgin lands being gone.
liz slops over into Canada 70 repeat the
waste. without benefit TO itself. or. in the
long run, 10 Canada. A glut In the wheat
market is likely IN a few years. The
next generation win have no new lands.
and must shoulder the loss.
II real statesmen on that side OF the
line were IN control they would find
some method 10 prevent this result. saw
ing the inheritance OF the future, while
encouraging immigration by measures
that will permanently benefit all.
EDWARD DANIELS
C4unstnr