Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-05-28
nY JoNATHAN PALMHR.

Chicago, May H. (special) -
oregon and Montana are getting the
bulk Of the colonization movement
to the Northwest this season. It has
been impossible to obtain definite
figures from the railroads regarding
the Spring migration to date, but of
ficials Of the transcontinental lines
emphasize the fact that the two
states mentioned seem to be the
greatest magnets for homeseekers.
The Union Pacific bureau and it's
connections carried 16,542 colonists
westward during the period from
March / to April 15. This compares
with 1s,947 carried in a period two
weeks longer year ago. OF the
16,542 this season the destinations
of Abs, or 30 per cent, were Port
land and other oregon points. Not
all of these were prospective settlers,
nor do these figures begin to cover
the movement to the Pacific North
west, but the increase is believed to
be fairly indicative of the greater in
terest In lands over that Of previous
years.
Oregon is more attractive than
hitherto because new railroads are
opening up interior points and put
ting them in touch with the world
and its markets. Montana draws
more settlers than in former years
because of the demonstrated success
of dry farming on the bench lands
of that state. BY homesteading 800
acres of the land is available for the
homesteader instead OF the 16O acres
that applies to the ordinary govern
ment homestead lands. For out
right purchase Montana land Is
cheap, hence rttractive at a time
when desirable land for investment
is growing scarce.
New Railroad Help.
OF those who took advantage Of
the colonist rates Of the Union Pa
cific for oregon points the destina-
tion of 235S was Portland. Those
ticketed for other points numbered
2377. The total increase of both
over last year is S92. OF this in
crease SO is credited to Portland and
S56 to other Oregon points. showing
what effect railroad development has
on the settlement of new country.
As the movement to the Northwest
has increased, that to the Southwest
has fallen off. This phenomenon is
explained by some railroad men on
the ground that lands for sale in
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona are
quoted at prices which discount the
future too much. Another interest
ing feature OF the westward emigra-
tion this year is the large number Of
homeseelSers who are coming from
New England. Time was, and that
not long ago, when extensive adver-
tising OF lands In the Far West, al
though 1t stirred up folk of the Md
die States, had no appreciable effect
on New Englanders Now the people
OF Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut
and other Eastern States are awake
advantage of them. Chicago has
been the middle gateway for large
contingent OF New Englanders bound
for the land Of the apple and wheat
Financial circles of Chicago feel
deeply the craze for land that has
swept the country. Usually at this
time of the year there is a steady
flow OF funds from country to city
banks. This year the country banks
are withdrawing their deposits In the
city institutions and the flow has
been reversed. The money Is not
only being used by bona fide settlers,
but by a great many who believe
land is a good speculative commodity
at this time.
Oregon Apple in Play.
When the big red apple of Oregon
is apotheosized on the stage, It is, IN
the language OF the turf, going
some" The new play, GO West,
Young Woman" which Is being
produced on the stage Of the Grand
Opera-House by William A. Brady,
has in II romance. love, rivalry and
villainy and It has above all the
flavor Of the Oregon apple In FAR
Northwestern rural locale. The
heroine, who goes into the apple
producing business, strives for the
prize at the Spokane fair, In her
raising OF the fruit and her rivalry
for honors. she gets mixed up with
one "Biff' O'Merrill, the apple king,
That individual after much rough
running OF the course Of love- con-
vlnees the heroine that the world
needs men as much as II needs wo-
men--or apples.
Suffering with land hunger and
longing TO break away from the
zone OF expensive living. Chicago
took a peculiar interest in the play,
The environment and the shop talk
- a. d. .,rf, ,.aoia, vueva aIocoIsg afu-