The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1923-04-05
|lINE W00DSMEN
|fPllCE FOREIGNERS
Gilbert Says Natives Now DOM
mate Crews In Camp

.,.ns Firms, Slavs, Poles, Nor
,aus and swedes' who have dom
woods crews in Maine for the
IN wears. are gradually giving
- natives of the Pine Tree State,
..,diug to Fred A. Gilbert of Ban
..copd ce-president of the Great
,,ssrn Paper Co, In more than
wears, says Mr.. Gilbert there has
!, heen so large a percentage OF
:. mon in the woods crews as
\ Is this year.
s,,tv wears ago. foreigners in the
:, we're rare indeed. There were
- men from Prince Edward Is
! she island as they called it,
shrinking of Canadians, from
,nyinces. but on the whole, the
n belonged to the men of Maine.
,sout Is years ago, construction
oHering shorter hours and larger
hogan to lure many of the rugged
"A uielders from their native en-
orment and the lumber companies
"a forced to hire immigrants from
Irtbern Europe to fill their places.
brp and more Maine men deserted
En- time honored occupation and
Era and more foreigners were i'm
|rted to take their places.
|During the war, the majority OF the
In in the woods were natives Of
(rhern European countries where
Inhering is practiced extensively.
Iev we're hardy lot, accustomed
lmg hours and cold weather, and
|sv served the lumber companies
N But now they are giving way to
n Of Maine, and returning in large
MIXERS to their native countries,
h,t of which are torn by civil strife.
Ehy the foreigners are deserving
! woods camps where they were
Iatered during the war is mys-
n to employers for they are going
Countries where labor Is cheap,
I where they will be obliged to
II long hours to earn the bare ne
Eites of life. A survey of Euro
IN countries where numbering is a
ljor industry conducted last sum
4 by C. NJ. Hilton of Bangor, engi-
n of the Great Northern Paper Co,
rnled that Finnish workmen re-
he from 81 to Is cents day,
relish men from g5 cents to $1.35 a
4 and Norwegians to S1.70.
The only theory of the lumbermen
srding the general exodus which
sns feasible is that the northern
ropeans are more emotional than
" appear. and that they see their
homes through a mist of senti-
,pt which obscures the unattractiye
poets.
Why the Maine men are returning
the woods from the small farms
Industrial centers is not so hard
Living conditions in
woods camps are not far from
ng ideal. The camps are we'll
tied, well lighted, and the board
YES nothing to be desired. Then.
ertainments are furnished regu-
ly in most of the camps, illustrated
lures are given frequently and
eational films are shown often.
ges, including full board, are not
attractive. and the opportunity to
e money by remaining in the woods
a period Of weeks appeals to the
itty Yankee.
he labor situation this year is
by Mr.. Gilbert as
ug fit... There are none too many
n and it is feared that there will
be enough to do the driving this
ing. The departure of so many
elgners left the employment agen-
with hard problem, one that
take more than few weeks TO
Ee
he woods are not entirely free of
eigners. but the northern Euro
ms are decidedly in the minority.
Itch and Irish from Canadian pro-
ces can be found in nearly every
lp, along with the omnipresent
Is" natives of Prince Edward
md Practically all of the fore
are products of the state of
ne, and natives are in the majority
m0st nf thn prou-c