The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-08-05
TO DIRECT EMIGRATION

Efforts to BIC Made to Direct Emisra-
ton to the Irrigated Districts of
the Nest,
Spokane, Wash, Aug. 2-Wanted
"A bureau of colonization under the
control OF the federal government, to
direct the current emigration to the
reclaimed and unsettled lands OF the
country and show the homeseeker
how he can make sure of a generous
living and enjoy a satisfactory social
life.
Levi Grant Monroe, secretary of the
Spokane chamber OF commerce, and
representing that organization as III
delegate at the 18th sessions of the
National Irrigation Congress in Spo-
nane, August 8 to IA, will present
the foregoing proposition for endorse
.nent at n of the meetings. In sup
purt OF the movement he said:
Recognizing the fact that the as
si~~4.ation of foreign population is
becv-4ing more difficult year by year
and ,.at the congestion of the large
cities 10 already a national problem,
the best solution, i'll my judgment,
would be d we'll organized and fully
equipped bureau of information, con-
Quoted by tie government. Such a
department working OF broad lines,
With the cooperation of the CONNER
ci.. organizations, could handle the
new corners from foreign lands and
make Them self-supporting almost
.4om the beginning.
More than that, it would be the
means of giving our own people a
thorough knowledge of the possibili-
ties in developing the of
the country. ihis information correct
ly compiled and presented in con-
crete form, would have more weight
with the people in the crowded e n
tiers of population than any other plan
that could be devised.
The present system of settling a
new country is expensive. 1t is too
expensive for the prospective settler,
from the fact that in most instances
he is obliged to make a trip into the
country alone before bringing his
family. If he could have what he knew
to be authoritative information at
first hand and be convinced that con-
ditions are actually as represented
he would not hesitate to undertake a
Tourney half or all the way across the
continent, thus saving considerable
expense.
LAS a nation the time has come
when more people must till the soil.
This applies to the agricultural dis
tricts in the eastern and New Eng
land states as we'll as it does to the
southern and western parts of this
continent. Moreover, farm life is
more dignified today than it has ever
been before. 1t has become a profess
sion, especially in horticulture and
husbandry, and as such it is recognize
ed by tae foremost men in the land"
William E. smyth, originator of
the idea of a national irrigation con-
gress, said of the plan:
I'VE need a bureau or colonization
that shall work at this problem on
scientific lines. Ultimately, we shall
get 1t as we Aid the bureau of for
estry and the United States reclama-
tion service.
ut seems to me that the great les
son we should impress as deeply as
possible on the minds of the coloniz-
ing hosts of the future, is that they
need a little land under diverse and
intense cultivation, rather than big
areas that will be wastefully used.
That is to say, we want the true home
builder rather than the land-grabber.
There has been much excuse for
land-grabbing in the past-the ex-
cuse that 1t did. after all, assist the
development of the country by inter-
esting men who would do something
to improve onr arid wastes where
otherwise nothing would be done.
But To- the government rrovides
the most vital improvement-the wat
er supply; and we should give weight
to another consideration, which II,
the fact that we really have but little
land in comparison with our futurej
needs. and that this little must be put
to the very highest uses.
II do not believe that any man
should be permitted to take more
than 10 acres Of land under a gov
eminent canal. except where the sea-
sons are very short, and that even
"