he church, which is often one of the most important factors in the social life of a rural community. The difference in language is a great barrier, especially to the older immigrant settlers. Very few peak English freely. This, however, can not be said of the second generation, all of whom speak English as freely as any other nativeborn Americans. Practically all the business dealings of the Poles in these localities are with Americans, and there seems to be no prejudice in this respect. In every locality there are men who have been close personal friends and advisors of the Polish settlers since they first came as poor and ignorant immigrants, and who have a high regard for their honesty and industry. This relationship, however, has always been and still is more business than social in character. CHURCHES. Each of the three Polish agricultural settlements has an excellent church structure, and each church numbers all the Polish families in its respective locality as its members. New brick churches have been built within recent years in the New Carlisle and Rolling Prairie settlements, the one in the former at a cost of $32,000, and the one in the latter at $12,000. At Otis the church is a frame building, but in good repair and large enough to accommodate the congregation. At Otis the Poles have also a school building of 8 rooms and a parish house of 15 rooms. This is the only place where a parochical school is maintained. In former years there was one in the New Carlisle colony, but the building was destroyed by fire in 1908, and since that time the Polish children have patronized the public schools solely. EDUCATIONAL CONDITIONS. Well-regulated public schools with courses of instruction through the eighth grade are available to all. The schools are graded and are open at least six months in every year, with an average term of seven or eight months. Each township has a high school which can be reached by all patrons and which is free to the residents of the township. The parochial school in Otis has an attendance of 75 to 100 students, Polish children of the first and second generation belonging to this settlement. The school is in charge of the priest, and there are four teachers. The course of instruction extends through the eighth grade and corresponds to that of the public schools of the State. All subjects are taught in English except Polish history and the Polish language. There has never been a parochial school in the Rolling Prairie settlement. The settlement has no resident priest, the church there being served by the priest of the New Carlisle colony. The children are sent to school regularly, and their progress is usually as satisfactory as that of the children of American-born parents. At Otis not all the Polish children are sent to the parochial school. Some parents send them from one to two years to the parochial school and after that to the public schools. Public-school attendance by the Poles has been increasing within recent years, and interest in the public schools has grown greatly. POLITICAL CONDITIONS. Nearly all the Poles in the localities under discussion are voters, which means that they have at least first papers. The laws of Indiana permit any man of alien birth who has his first papers and has lived in the United States one year to vote, provided he has complied with all other requirements. A great many of the older citizens became naturalized before the laws were as rigid as they are now and before second papers were required. Some Poles in every locality have served in minor offices as tax assessor, road supervisor, school commissioner, etc., but only one has ever been a candidate for a county office, and he was defeated by only a few votes, really running ahead of his ticket. A great majority of the Polish farmers take some newspaper printed in English; usually it is a local newspaper, but these, together with the many newspapers printed in this country in their native language, keep them fairly well informed on political conditions, both local and national. MORAL CONDITIONS. Generally speaking, the moral conditions are good in the rural communities under discussion, far better than among the same class of people in the industrial localities. This is due principally to the better living conditions, and to the fact that they come more often in contact with American people. There have never been any crimes against the person worthy of mention. Petty larceny, thieving, or gross immorality are not common. There is a good deal of drinking of both spirituous liquors and beer, but no drunken brawls, and it is said there is very little drunkenness considering the amount of intoxicants consumed. At weddings, christenings, and the like, there is a great deal of feasting and drinking, principally of beer, but not very much drunkenness or disorder. Farmers often meet at the small towns when they go to market and spend a few hours at the saloon drinking together. The Poles have an enviable reputation for business honesty, and the banks and individuals who extend them credit say that as a class they are more prompt than any other people to meet their obligations. Fully 90 per cent of the Poles who now own land in these localities have at some period given mortgages or borrowed money either to carry on their farms or to help pay for land, or both, and there is not a case on record where a mortgage given by a Pole has been foreclosed. EFFECT OF SETTLEMENT ON NEIGHBORHOOD. The Polish agricultural settlements in northern Indiana have greatly increased the wealth of the section. In the case of the colony near New Carlisle, if the Poles or some other foreigners had not bought up this land it would have remained unimproved for many years. was held in large tracts by Americans because of the timber, and was considered almost valueless for farming because it was submerged for the greater part of the year. American farmers were not willing to go to the trouble and expense of clearing and draining as long as other farm lands could be bought or leased. The Poles began to buy it because it was cheap, and although a great deal of work was required it was put in a good condition for cultivation. In other localities the Poles settled very largely on the poorer land and in the less convenient localities, or bought run-down farms because they were cheap. They farmed this land intelligently, improved it, and erected good buildings. By their coming the general farming conditions have been improved, many of the larger farms have been divided or tracts sold to Poles, and more land has been brought under cultivation and is producing crops. All of. which has stimulated better farming and care of the soil and has had a decided effect in increasing the price of land. Within recent years there has been some growth in all the settlements, but more in the New Carlisle and Otis localities than in the one near Rolling Prairie. In most instances the newcomers have taken the place of American farmers who have gone to other localities. The Americans have usually sold at a good profit and bought larger farms, or have gone farther west, where land was not so high. In a number of cases the Poles have bought farms where the original American owners were old people and no longer able to look after the farm, or where it was left to heirs not engaged in farming, and have thus kept the land from being turned over to tenants. STATISTICAL DATA FOR SELECTED FAMILIES. The table next submitted, giving detailed information of 12 typical families, is presented as a summary of the facts set forth in the preceding report. |