SETTLEMENT AND COLONIZATION IN GREAT LAKES STATES 31 
The differences in average beginning net worth are very signifi- 
cant, ranging from $292 to $3,259. For most of the companies 
practicmg intensive colonization methods the average beginning 
net worth was not far from $1,000, the range being from $292 to 
$1,111. The companies making no advances to settlers were secur- 
ing settlers with more farm experience and more savings. 
Next to farmers, the settlers coming from metal-working trades 
and other trades made the most progress. Those coming from fac- 
tories and shops made the least progress, and common jaborers next 
to the least. 
e 
TABLE 14.—Types of settlers on 15 projects in Wisconsin and Minnesota 
ClASSGS eae eee ene ee ee I II Iii IV V VI VII VIII 
Per cent of foreign born___-_-.----.-- 73.0 73. 0 22.5 83.3 65. 0 9.5 90.0} 33.3 
F ‘ De Scan- 
Nationality comprising largest per- : . Ger- F Bohe- 
centage of foreign born__------- gk \Finns Finns | mans | Poles atpavds mians | Foles 
Per cent of settlers directly from 
HATIN Sens ores ceran ee aeN i egret FE Deeks 76.0 64.0 45.1 16.6 19.0 42.8 21.0 16.6 
Average farm experience of these 
CCAS) ee ee ek 9.0 2 Cell 13. 4 4.0 122 4.0 3.9 
Per cent merely raised on farms _-_-__- 8.0} 13.0 9.7 1.1) 47.6) 23.8] 13.0 66. 7 
Per cent with no farm experience_____ 0.0 13.5 9.7 33. 3 14.3 14,3 23.0 16.8 
Per cent from trades and metal work- 
CRstele 2 Eee a os re a 0.0 5.0 12.9 16. 6 28.5 33. 3 20. 0 30. 0 
Average beginning net worth________- $1, 828 | $1, 223 | $1,821 | $1, 106 $832 | $3, 259 | $1,377 $1, 086 
Average age at settlement (years)____| 38.1 32.3 38. 6 35.8 1.4 6.1 37.7 
OVaSSOS arses etek Re ek Vas AB I k. IX x XI XII XIII | XIV XV 
Pencenf ofioreien; born... ses. te 55. 6 29.3 PRU 0.0 16.0 60. 7 100. 0 
Nationality comprising largest percentage of Ger- | SD: | gio- 
foreign born_____-_-_- AGS eis Te es aR \ Poles mans qmnay vaks 
Per cent of settlers directly from farms_-___-_--_- 24.7 SOA 7 19.0 35.3 26. 0 33. 3 3.7 
Average farm experience of these (years) ---_-- 6.8 6.8 6.0 10. 4 Ol 6.5 4.4 
Per cent merely raised on farms___.._._______- 34. 0 One 19.1 10.0 40.0 45.1 81.1 
Per cent with no farm experience__..--_-____- 12.4 8.6 PB). 3) 10.0 0.0 11.8 3.8 
Per cent from trades and metal workers-_-__-_-__- 21.6 20. 6 52.3 43.0 12.0 25. 4 9.4 
Average beginning net worth____________.-_-_- $1, 086 | $1, 111 $974 | $2, 086 $292 | $1,338 | $1,034 
Average age at settlement (years)__-____-_---- 37.8 37.6 37.0 38. 1 36. 6 39. 5 34. 1 
One aspect of the problem that must not be overlooked is that the 
type of settlers solicited depends to a great extent upon the charac- 
ter of the land and location of the area. If the land is of good 
quality and not too hard to clear and if it is rather close to a city 
which affords a good market, in ordinary times it can be readliy 
sold to farmers or farmers’ sons of considerable means, or to city 
or village workers who have not been too long away from the farm. 
On the other hand, if it is stony land or poorly drained or if it is 
heavy clay or hard to clear, it can be sold only very slowly to pros- 
pects of the kind just described. This is almost equally true if the 
area is in the wilderness, far removed from civilization. Under 
such circumstances, it is only feasible to solicit foreign-born pros- 
pects or native-born city workers with small means. To attract 
