226 AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS 



The large Swiss settlement in Green County, Wisconsin, illustrates 

 success in the introduction of a new subindustry of great importance. 

 Having struggled for years trying to farm in the American way, these 

 immigrants finally turned to the great industry of their home country. 

 They had settled in a physical environment which was very much like 

 what they had left abroad. Now several hundred cheese factories are 

 prospering and millions of pounds of cheese are annually placed on our 

 markets. Most of this is the famous Swiss cheese, and nearly all of 

 those engaged in making this cheese and in buying and selling it are 

 Swiss or of Swiss origin. The writer feels that this colony is a great 

 success, is the kind of thing this country wants, is the basis of pros- 

 perity in our agriculture, and must not be condemned because of the 

 fact that broad Swiss is sometimes spoken or because the thousands 

 of members of the district are not assimilated during the first genera- 

 tion. The writer has found individuals and small groups of settlers 

 from this colony and from "the old country" moving far up into the 

 Northwest carrying with them the information and ambition to start 

 other colonies as prosperous as the old one. The acquisition of such 

 an industry is as valuable to this country as the introduction of a new 

 plan that may have required the expenditure of a hundred thousand 

 dollars. 



Turning from the prosperous Swiss district, we may direct our 

 attention to a Bohemian center in northwestern Minnesota. The 

 Swiss had sent explorers ahead to find a desirable location before com- 

 ing to this country and settling down. The Bohemians were in no 

 greater financial straits in their home country than the Swiss had been, 

 but they were brought in and located by great transportation com- 

 panies. The soil where the Bohemians were " dumped " is very good ; 

 but the country needs an expensive drainage system. The poor 

 immigrants are not in a position to establish it. The result is that 

 for some fifteen years we have had before our eyes a Bohemian colony 

 numbering hundreds of people unable to establish a prosperous com- 

 munity because of unfavorable natural conditions. These people will 

 succeed in time, despite obstacles, but some common-sense assistance 

 would hasten the day of their prosperity. 



In other parts of the United States large settlements of Bohemians 

 of no higher standard are prosperous and happy. As an illustration 

 of the status that should obtain the writer would refer to some of the 

 very prosperous communities of Poles and Icelanders in North Dakota 

 and elsewhere. No class of citizens, whether immigrants or descended 



