Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-28
Small Percentage Of Hoboes.

There are, of course, many undesir-
ables among the mass of humanity that
has thus been brought in, although the
immigration department, which has di-
rected the migration, claims that the
percentage of tramps and hoboes is re-
markedly small This is generally true
of Canadian immigration. Canada has
been remarkably fortunate in getting a
high class of settlers, especially OF home
steaders and farmers who have bought
land Those who come over from the
United States are nearly all young men
and women, sons and daughters of sue
cessful farmers in the northwestern part
of the United States. They have been
born and brought up on farms: they not
only have practical knowledge and eX-
perience but have been we'll educated in
rural schools, and all of them have
money enough to make improvements
upon their lands, to build comfortable
homes and suitable barns and stables,
and provide themselves with machinery
and implements to cultivate the SOIL, and
the best grades of stock. No new coun-
try has ever had such a high class OF
pioneer settlers. and while there is al
ways a percentage Of ne er-do-weIs, II
is exceedingly small compared with that
of Kansas. Nebraska. the Dakotas ana
other agricultural states below the
boundary line.
some of the first -corners from the
United States were of that restless. I'M
provident and Impractical species OF hu-
man kind which is always on the ski
mish line of civilization, moving forward
as it advances. They came over IN Wag-
ons and took up homesteads in various
parts of the wheat belt, but did not. re-
main long. The winters were too cold'
the price of fuel was too hish' ana tnes
gradually folded their tents like the
Arabs and started southwark. with Okla
homa and the irrigated sections of the
western states as their destination.
Classified by Natives.
Those who followed, as things began to
liyen up, were Of an entirely different
character, such as / have described.
There have been practically no failures in
the cultivation of the soil, although there
is a great deal of complaint among genu-
inc native Canadians and the English and
Scotch portions of the communities that
MANY Americans are of the 'get-rlch-
quick" variety and more anxious to
speculate in farm lands and town lots
than to assist in the genuine development
of the resources of the country. Ihis is
undoubtedly true TO an extent that Is
lamentable.
In every one of the thriving cities of
western Canada the largest number OF
land spectators are Americans, but most
of them are honorable, enterprising men
of excellent judgment. They are leaders
benefit the communities in which they
live and invariably display public SEN
timent which is too often lacking in the
more conservative Canadian from Onta-
rio and his cousins from over the sea.
They have doubtless profited by the in
crease in land values, but are more re-
sponsible for such increases than any
other portion Of the community.
The Canadians are trying to improve
the labor situation by aiding mechanics
to bring over their families, which is the
strongest inducement that can be offered
Wages for skilled labor are no higher
here than they are in the United States
and If one may judge from the adver-
Using cards exposed at the employment
agencies they are lower. l have exam
ined the cards that are exposed on the
bulletin boards of every employment,
agency I have passed. and as a rule 81,
a month and found and 81, $3.50 and S.
a day without board are offered carpen-
tiers. masons. brcklayers, roofers. paint
ers plumbers and other artisans, who
can do much better in any Of the large
cities of the United States, and work
eight hours instead of ten and eleven
which is the rule here.
Reunion Association as Aid.
The government does not aid immi-
grafton except of farm hands and do