Our unskilled laborers, who will come at first from the great
reservoirs of Russia and Rumania, must, of course, render each other
assistance, in the construction of houses. They will be obliged to
build with wood in the beginning, because iron will not be immediately
available. Later on the original, inadequate, makeshift buildings will
be replaced by superior dwellings.
Our unskilled laborers will first mutually erect these shelters; and
then they will earn their houses as permanent possessions by means of
their work--not immediately, but after three years of good conduct. In
this way we shall secure energetic and able men, and these men will be
practically trained for life by three years of labor under good
discipline.
I said before that the Company would not have to pay these unskilled
laborers. What will they live on?
On the whole, I am opposed to the Truck system,[A] but it will have to
be applied in the case of these first settlers. The Company provides
for them in so many ways, that it may take charge of their
maintenance. In any case the Truck system will be enforced only during
the first few years, and it will benefit the workmen by preventing
their being exploited by small traders, landlords, etc. The Company
will thus make it impossible from the outset for those of our people,
who are perforce hawkers and peddlers here, to reestablish themselves
in the same trades over there. And the Company will also keep back
drunkards and dissolute men. Then will there be no payment of wages at
all during the first period of settlement. Certainly, there will be
wages for overtime.