THE PROBLEM OF IMMIGRATION. 537 



with the soil. The demoralizing effects of over-crowding in the city 

 would be neutralized by the pure air and invigorating influence of an 

 outdoor life, and best of all, instead of being a diseased growth upon 

 society, they would become producers, and each one would add his 

 share to the sum of our country's wealth. Instead of absorbing false 

 ideas of sociology and politics, the rural immigrant would have the 

 opportunity of studying that bulwark of our institutions, the American 

 farmer. What a different influence the honest, conservative farmer 

 must exert over the alien immigrant from that of the ward boss of the 

 city ! How infinitely better as an example of citizenship for the 

 foreigner's emulation ! 



Improved agricultural implements have removed much of the 

 drudgery from the farmer's life. A profusion of good newspapers 

 and magazines keep him in touch with the world, and his isolation is 

 greatly reduced by the omnipresent telephone and trolley car. The 

 rural mail delivery and the movement for better roads promise to re- 

 duce still further his isolation in the future. Thus the country will 

 become not only more attractive to the inhabitants of rural communi- 

 ties, but it will also appeal more strongly to city dwellers. The pres- 

 ent exodus of farmers' sons and daughters from the farms to the great 

 cities will diminish in size, and the number of city-dwelling aliens 

 migrating to the country will increase. In this great work of equali- 

 zation of population many forces will combine and render mutual aid. 

 The attractive features of the various parts of the country where labor 

 is needed can be shown to the alien in many ways. Philanthropic 

 societies and individuals are doing much at present and will do more 

 in the future. The great railroad companies have a common interest 

 with the various states, where the alien is needed and welcome, in dis- 

 tributing the alien and developing those states. The federal govern- 

 ment can best combine and harmonize these forces by inviting their 

 cooperation and furnishing an exposition building, as recommended by 

 Commissioner-General Sargent, where the advantages offered by various 

 sections of our country can be exhibited to the immigrants. 





vol. lxvi. — 35 



