living as well as other expenses). The profits or surplus of 7 were less than $100; of 10, $100 but less than $250; of 3, $250 but less than $500. The average amount was $156.95. Two had neither surplus nor deficit and only 1 had a deficit, this amounting to $60..

Although there are abundant opportunities for securing outside work, especially in the city of Denver, these farmers and their families, from whom data were secured, do not seek other employment. They cultivate their land and sell their own produce and do nothing more. They differ from some other races in the fact that the women take a very active part in the cultivation of the soil. The older girls often do a large part of the farm work. Very little outside help is required, but when it is needed, Italians are invariably employed. The farm laborers' wages are from $1 per 10-hour day with board to $1.50 per day without board or lodging.

PROGRESS OF THE ITALIAN TRUCK GARDENERS.

While this suburban farming locality has been receiving dissatisfied Italian laborers from the city for many years, most of them have moved here within the last ten years.

In the group selected there were three widows whose husbands had died since coming to the farms. These widows, with the help of their children, have maintained themselves by continuing to farm. One farm was owned by an Italian-American who was born in this locality. Of 22 foreign-born males, 5 had been in the United States over twenty-five years, 5 others more than twenty years, while the others had been here a shorter time. Of these, 9 had been here ten years, but less than twenty, and only 3 less than ten years. (General Table 411.) Most of these left their homes after they had become of age. Of 20, 8 were over 30 years old, 5 were 20 but less than 30 years of age when they left Italy, while 5 were from 17 to 19 years old, and only 2, who accompanied their parents, were under 10 years of age at the time of departure. Nearly all of these men were either farm laborers or farmers for themselves before coming to this country. Of 19, 10 were farmers, 6 were farm hands, 2 were children at home, and 1 was helping his father on the farm. (General Table 402.) They brought very little money with them. Of 21 reporting data, only 1 had over $100, 15 had $25 but less than $100, 3 others had less than $25, while 2 came with parents. It is not surprising to find most of these immigrants working as farm hands and laborers after arriving in the United States. Of 19, 7 found their first employment as farm hands, 4 as common laborers, 4 as railroad laborers, while 3 became peddlers. (General Table 403.)

Although these immigrants belonged to the farming class in their own country and a large percentage of them were farm laborers in the United States and had a desire for farms of their own, they worked for wages for several years before they leased or purchased their present small holdings. One of this number peddled fruit for twenty-three years before leasing land, 3 others worked ten years as laborers in the smelters and on farms, 9 others for from five to ten years, and only 6 less than five years before either leasing or purchasing farms.

Of the 23 farmers, 8 began farming on their own account as tenants, while the others purchased land at the outset. Three of those who first leased after periods of two, four, and ten years, respectively, purchased land, while five of those who leased have not purchased land, but continue to rent their farms. All of these have become tenant farmers in recent years, however-1 in 1904, 1 in 1905, and the other 3 in 1907.

South Italian farmers are not so progressive as the farmers of some other races. Most of them have been satisfied to cultivate their small holdings for years or have not been able to add to them. Yet 4 have added to their first purchases, while 1 has sold a part of his original holding. The first purchases of 18 embraced 100 acres: the total acreage now owned is 107. The amount paid for the first purchases was $11,730. (General Table 400.) Of this, $7,980 was paid in cash, leaving a mortgage indebtedness of $3,750. The value of the land now owned is estimated at $36,000, or an average of $2,011 per farm. The increase in property value has come about not so much as a result of improvements as from the fact that this land. is becoming more valuable each year on account of the gradual growth of the city. The time is not far distant when the land will be included within the city limits. The frugality of these farmers is evidenced by the fact that, with the exception of 1 farm with a mortgage indebtedness of $600, the farms now owned are entirely free from debts. When these farms were first purchased and leased. the land had all been devoted to alfalfa or vegetables. While the land was then three-fourths or more under cultivation, it is now more intensively worked. Of the entire 132 acres, only 3 are reported as not cultivated.

As shown by the contrast between the amounts of money brought to this locality and the value of property now owned, these farmers have been financially successful. Twenty brought $11,185 to the place; their wealth, other than household furniture, is now estimated at $38,818. Only two have less than at coming. (General Table 401.) Yet, most of the tenant farmers, not having property in the improvements they have made in the soil, have little wealth. One tenant has property valued at less than $100, the value of furniture being excluded, and the other four tenants are worth only between $100 and $250. The landowners all have more. Three have property valued between $500 and $1.000, the same number between $1,000 and $1,500, while 7 have amounts between $1,500 and $2,500, 4 between $2,500 and $5,000, and 1 more than $6,000. (General Table 400.) The total value of the property of owners and tenants, less indebtedness, is $39,170, an average of $1,703 for each of the 23 farmers. This represents the savings of an average residence in the United States of about nineteen years for the entire number of 22 foreign-born heads of households.

SOCIOLOGICAL DATA.

The home condition and general mode of living of the South Italians are not good. The houses are small and poorly kept. Six

a The investigation was made during the month of February when there were no growing crops.

are reported as being in bad condition as to repairs; all the others only fair." The average number of rooms per house is 3.09. In a number of instances the houses were found to be crowded. In the most extreme case 14 people-3 men, 2 women, and 9 childrenlived in a house of four rooms. In another instance 4 men, 2 women, and 2 children lived in a house of three rooms. There are no separate living rooms-one room more frequently being used for dining room, kitchen, and living room purposes combined. They have no modern water-supply conveniences. Water is drawn by hand from wells and carried into the houses. The houses contain only the minimum in the way of furnishings. In every household the value of the several items was less than $75, and in all but one less than $50. As a rule South Italians send considerable amounts of money to Italy. These farmers are an exception, however, as during the last year previous to the investigation only five sent money abroad to the total amount of $44. That little was sent is explained by the fact that all but one of the farmers are married and have their wives with them in the United States.

Most of these farmers express their intention of remaining in the United States permanently. Only two are in doubt about staying. They are very indifferent regarding political questions unless in some way their personal interests are involved. Yet most of those who came to this country after 21 years of age and who have been here five years or more, have shown enough interest to become naturalized. Of 12 such, 7 have become naturalized, 2 others have their first papers, while the others are aliens. (General Table 412.) Members of the second generation living in the city are more interested and active in politics. In the matter of literacy the South Italians have always ranked among the lowest of the immigrants. The foreigners in this group, numbering altogether 43, illustrate this fact, as only 6 of their number can read or write either their own language or English. (General Table 419.)

They have been slow to learn English, for one reason, because they are clannish. Of 22 South Italian males who have been in the United States five years and most of them ten years or over, 13 speak English. Of 21 females, 19 of whom have been in this country ten years or over, only 6 speak English. (General Table 418.) Of the 13 men and 6 women who speak English 5 and 3, respectively, immigrated when under 14 years of age. Hence, only approximately one-half of the males and one-sixth of the females who had passed the school age before leaving their native land have learned to speak English, though some of them have been in this country many years. (General Table 415.) A notably smaller number, 3 men and 2 women, are able to read and write English, and these came to this country when children.

The second generation have to some extent availed themselves of educational advantages offered here. Of the 38 Italian-Americans 10 years of age or over, 32 can read and write. (General Table 417.) The 6 who are illiterate, however, constitute an unusually large percentage of the total. The children are not sent to school as soon as they are of school age and when old enough to help about the farm work are taken out. In the families from which data were secured there are 38 children from 6 to 13 years of age. Sixteen of this num

ber are at home, while only 22 are in school. Eleven children are 14 and 15 years of age; 8 of these are at home, while 3, all females, are at work on the truck farms. (General Table 420.) It is not surprising to find that people so illiterate feel little interest in reading. Of this entire number of farmers only one subscribes for a news

paper.

The South Italian women on these farms do work in the fields and do not seek other employment. The girls leave school when young and assist in the farm work until, at an early age, they marry. Even in the city few Italian women are working for wages, though they often assist in the business of their husbands.

Of the 20 foreign-born South Italian men, all but one are married. Eight of the 19 were married abroad, the remaining 11 in the United States. They have not intermarried with other races, but have sought wives among women of their own nationality. One of the 11 who have married in the United States has a North ItalianAmerican wife, the others South Italians or South Italian-American wives. Nor have the few who were native-born of Italian immigrant fathers, who have reached a marriageable age, selected wives or husbands from other races. (See General Table 408.) Owing to the large number of this race in Denver, the South Italians in the vicinity find their social life as well as church associations entirely with Italians. They are all stanch Catholics and have their own churches, where the services are in the Italian language.

In Denver there are a number of Italian societies as well as Italian branches of American lodges. The Potenza Society has a very large membership in Denver. This is a society composed of Italians born in the Province of Basilicata, of which Potenza is the chief city. Eight of these farmers belong to societies in Denver. The second generation of Italians associate very closely with the foreign-born, and only a few have joined American lodges.

Because of their clannishness and lack of education these South Italians, as evidenced by the facts presented, are being very slowly assimilated. The Americanization of these farmers is even slower than that of the Italians who continue to live in the city. Moreover, in the country as the number of Italians increases the standards of living are gradually lowered, the good influence of the higher types of races being absent.

CHAPTER XIX.

JAPANESE FARMERS OF NORTHERN UTAH.

[For General Tables see pp. 976 to 983.]

INTRODUCTION.

In 1909 the Japanese owned or leased in the State of Utah between 5,500 and 6,000 acres of land. Most of this is about Ogden, Garland, Logan, and Lewiston. About Ogden 5 men own 97.6 acres and 15 city lots devoted to agricultural purposes, while 13 others lease 369.5 acres 46.5 for a share of the crop and 323 for cash. Of the total of 467.1 acres in the 18 holdings, all but 42 acres, which are devoted to growing sugar beets, are used for vegetable gardening. Farther removed from Ogden perhaps 200 acres are leased. Most of this is devoted to the production of beets. About Garland 1 man owns a 20-acre farm, 35 lease about 2,045 acres for the production of sugar beets, and a comparatively small number cultivate about 230 acres devoted to the production of other crops. In the Cache Valley, in the extreme northern part of the State, 1 man owns a farm of 40 acres, and a large number of tenants lease about 2,900 acres for the growing of beets. A few very small tracts of land are leased also for the growing of other crops. The number of Japanese farmers in other localities and the acreage controlled by them are small. Only 3 farmers were found in the "Salt Lake district" farther south. One was near Salt Lake City, 1 at Provo, and 1 near Sanpete. These Japanese holdings may be shown in the following summary form:

TABLE 29.-Tenure of land by Japanese in northern Utah.

• Estimated in part.

Land leased but not devoted at least in part to beet growing, not included. Acreage small.
Acreage not accurately ascertained.

The Japanese have been farming on their own account in Utah for only a few years. The first to engage in truck gardening about Ogden began seven years ago. They have leased land in this locality for growing sugar beets for only a couple of years, after doing some

"In addition to the Japanese, 5 Koreans lease 356.5 acres of "beet land" near Garland for cash and perhaps as much for a share of the crop. Some 30 acres are leased by them and devoted to other crops.