Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-06-03
How Railroads Helped In The
Colonization OF The West
~N~~~~~~~

The immigration agents. seeking TO
build up the territory adjacent to
their lines, frequently meet with al
most unsurmountable obstacles In the
large land wonder who prefers to re-
serve his holdings until land advances
In value. After a continuous urging
by immigration agents the land hold
ers, however, are beginning to offer
part Of their lands for sale, knowing
that the increase In population more
than will double the value OF their re-
naming possessions. They are be-
ginning TO realize there is nothing that
will make land advance as rapidly as
demand, and a demand only can be
caused by an influx OF farmers,
Special parties are the particular
delight Of the, immigration agent"
Mr. Nicholson says. Frequently there
are colonies Of from fifteen to twenty
families Of either the same national
| ity, tho same religious belief or from
tho samo neighborhood, who want to
retain the ties by selling together in
some new community. They immed-
lately are sought by the agents OF the
different railroads"
Another class of citizens, eagerly
sought as immigrants, are those from
| foreign countries. These, however,
are hard for the immigration agent to
get. The foreigner who any money
usually settles In the East. Land
there may be high priced but It is 30
much lower than in his native land
that It is cheap 10 him. But general
ly the man in the East who sells TO the
foreigner comes West or South to re-
invest.
TO promote interest In immigration.
the immigration department OF a rail-
road prints Il great quality Of htera-
ture Some OF the publications feat
ure certain localities which the immi-
grafton agent thinks will appear to n
dissatisfied farmer some other place.
Others are little booklets telling the
story OF how some certain farmer has
made good and waXed wealthy in the
new section. The railroads also have
publications issued at regular inter-
walls, generally monthly or quarterly
These contain n vast fund OF informa-
tlon regarding the advantages Of the
various sections along the line In
question, and always are brimful Of
helpful hints to farmers. There are
circulated among a large mailing list
numbering upwards OF $4,000. Every
inquiry be It only post card. receiv-
ed by a railroad regarding lands along
its line puts a farmer on the mailing
list.
That railroads constantly are press
Ing its claim before the public never
overlooking an opportunity. Exhibits
are made Mt all prominent state and
county fairs, farm shows and exposi-
tions, many OF them taking prizes.
During the winter season cars are fit
ted up for exhibition purposes, in
which specimens of grain fruit, dairy
and industrial products along the line
are shown. These cars 60 through
the northern and central sections Of
the country, and are accompanied by
competent lecturers. Though valu-
able, this is an expensive way OF ad-
vertislng a railroad.
But a railroad can't content itself
with merely getting settlers. II must
keep them. To have a colony of new
settlers discouraged and leave is a
death-knell to immigration in that
particular locality. The railroads seek
to avoid this, Immigration agents
often say that one settler that will
stick and make a success Of farming
IN his new home, Is worth twenty that
stay year or two and then lose heart.
Nearly all the lines that are in the
colonization business 10 any great ex-
tent have agricultural specialists
generally known as agriculture
commissioners whose duty It is to
labor among the farmers OF the new
community and point out to them the
best methods Of growing certain crops
Most Of these commissioners are drawn
from the faculty of tate agricultural
colleges and are authorities on the
subjects they teach tho new farmer
Farmers from the North and East Of
ten find that conditions are different
In the West and South and that diff
ferent methods are necessary in rails
ing the same crops.
Many railroads have experimental
farms where agricultural research Is
carried on in the farmers interest and
the findings disseminated by means
Of pamphlet. All these elements con.
tribute to the success OF building W
new communities, And when the new
settler learns soil conditions and how
best to grow crops, railroad immigra.
ton officials find he proves n verit
able magnet In drawing others. Many
! farmers have been known to draw ter
I or twelve families from their formei
! homes
, Within the next ten or fifteen year
, immigration officials believe they will
I be able to find homes in the new
. South and the new West for 25, 900, 00t
Of people who barely are eking ou
, n livelihood in the densely settled
East.