THE CONQUEST OF ARID AMERICA 



that western cities are as overcrowded as those in the 

 East. In one respect the condition of business and em- 

 ployment is frequently more discouraging in the West. 

 Many people in poor health are sent out by their phys- 

 icians, and, since they must live in the new country to 

 save their lives, are willing to work for any wages they 

 can get. This introduces an element of competition in 

 the ranks of employment which has a blighting effect 

 upon wages. Very few western cities are in need of 

 more people to reinforce either their commercial or pro- 

 fessional life. There is plenty of room for those who are 

 willing to develop and use the vast resources of natural 

 wealth for those who are willing to till the soil, fell the 

 forest, and open the mine. There is no demand for more 

 young men to measure tape or more young women to run 

 type-writers. What is wanted is millions of sturdy men 

 and stout-hearted women to conquer the waste places and 

 to work for themselves. 



A large proportion of those who went west in recent 

 years engaged in the fruit industry. This was painted 

 as a sure and easy road to wealth and an ideal occupa- 

 tion in the midst of ideal surroundings. The hard work 

 and constant vigilance which success in this industry de- 

 mands were seldom mentioned in the glowing advertise- 

 ments which attracted these settlers. Nothing was said 

 of the economic folly of the farmer who buys all he eats 

 and sells all he produces. As a natural consequence, 

 people who went west, particularly to California, paid 

 high prices for their land, waited years for trees to come 

 into bearing, and discovered that there could be no profits 

 without skill and hard work. Tlioy found that there arc 

 such evils as over-production, hi^h freight charges, and 



258 





