WESTERN HEMISPHERE IMMIGRATION 95

other regions, producing some millions of bales of cotton that is a new
*rop in that region?
Doctor PETERSON. Yes, sir.
Mr. Box. Is it not a fact that they give that as one of the reasons
for the distress in the cotton industry?
Doctor PeTerson. That is one of the reasons.
Mr. Box. Do you know that a great portion of that was raised
through the help of the labor we are talking about, and is it not a fact
that the restricting of that would help the farmers of the United
States?
Doctor Pererson. I think to the extent the Mexican has added to
that surplus, he is aggravating the American agricultural problem.
Of course, most of the crops he produces do not represent a surplus.
Mr. Box. Have you given attention to the map of Texas and
studied the statistics as to cotton production of the counties in western
and southwestern Texas during the last 10 years, since this influx
has come in, or more particularly have you gone through the country
and have you seen the vast areas heretofore wild, now growing cotton?
If you have, you have seen how the small farmer of every other region
is injured by this labor—the cotton farmer.
Doctor Peterson. That is undoubtedly true. I was in the Salt
River Valley when the cotton growers had prospects of increasing the
long-staple ‘cotton in that region; unfortunately. the bottom fell out
of the market and that fell through.
Mr. Scanerper. Can you tell us something of the labor that is
used on the railroads as section hands?
‘Doctor PerersoN. They prefer Mexicans, as far as mv information
Zoes, for maintenance.
Mr. ScunumpER. Are there many employed there?
Doctor PeTERSON. Quit &amp; large number; ves, sir.
Mr. Scaxriper. What, in your estimation. is the reason for the
preference for Mexicans?
Doctor PerersoN. Those who know the Mexicans best—I have
not had any particular acquaintance with the Mexican character—
lave ga real affection for his qualities and dependability.
24 ScuNEIDER. Speaking of the emplovers—those who employ
‘hem?
Doctor PeTersoN. Yes, sir; if they say they will do something, you
an depend on it being done ultimately to the extent they have
facilities. J urthermore, they are clean. A wash line with clothes
flying in the wind is almost a part of a Mexican settlement.
Mr. Scunemper. You said you went there about 40 vears ago.
What class of labor built the railroads?
Doctor Pererson. The original Anglo-Saxon immigrants.
dh Free. Chinese were largely responsible for that work, were
ey not?
The CralrMAN. Now just a moment. Let us get to the truth of
that. There was a railroad corporation building what was called
‘he Union Pacific, east from San Francisco and there was another
"Orporation——
Doctor Peterson. I guess that was the Southern Pacific.
. The CrarrMaN. Let us get it right—building east from San Fran-Isco
 out of Sacramento and using hordes of Chinese labor. At the
ame time there was building west from Omaha the Union Pacific,