The Georgetown news., 1855-07-26
Immigration.

MISUNDERSTANDING Cne lHlpoIIdnC FOilIIN''i
contest now commenced, number OF our
exchanges are discussing the interesting
subject of immigration. No wonder that
this subject should be discussed even at this
time when the fact is noted that there have
been less arrivals for some months, IN the
aggregate, than departures. 1t is now pass
ed the usual time for the emigrants by the
overland route to begin to arrive, still none
have yet arrived from east of the Rocky
Mountains, and there is good reason to be-
lieye that but very few, comparatively, will
arrive by that route the present year. Per-
haps not one-tenth of the usual number
There are two good reasons for this which
appear to US as most prominent:
The one is, the recent opening of the
Nebraska and Kansas Territories, to which
thousands are emigrating from the old
States who otherwise would proceed on
westward to the Pacific slope. Another
reason is, the rumor (which, notwithstand-
ing Mr.. BENToNs assertion to the contrary,
seems to have some good foundation) of the
existence of an Indian war on the plains,
over which our immigrants would have to
pass. These causes have no doubt greatly
tended to lessen the immigration by the
overland route
AS to the immigration by sea, the enor-
nous rates of passage which have ruled for
several months has caused great falling off
by those routes. And although it is under
stood that the rates of fare have been re-
duced fifty dollars it requires almost
what would be called a competency in some
States, for Californian to return and bring
out his family by one of the steamers
That is $3.50 for each grown person, which
in family of six persons, with other trav-
cling expenses, would amount to over two
thousand dollars. There are hundreds of
residents in this State, that would return
for their families and bring them to Califor-
MIA, but for the improperly or impossibility
of expending such an amount for transporta-
ton. But these causes so untavorable to
immigration are transient. The rates of
fare have been reduced, and it is believed
the steamship companies will find it their
policy to reduce the rates still further
While if an Indian war does exist on the
Plains, it cannot be of long duration. Be
sides, the settlement of Kansas and Nebras-
ka which now retards immigration to this
State, will in short time greatly tend to
increase the immigration by that route; for
instead of a desert waste, hundreds of miles
of the route over the Plains will be peopled,
and the Immigrant for great portion of
the route will have all the advantages of
travelling through civilized country. Be !
sides these prospects for future immigration
1t is ye. confidently expected that the wag-
on road over the Sierras will be completed
at least soon enough for the benefit of i'm
migration the coming year. In addition to
these considerations, the recent organization
of company in San Francisco, for the en-
eouragement of immigration is perhaps more
likely to produce the end desired than either
Of the others alone; and when taken togeth-
er there is every reason to expect large
increase to the population of this State
during the coming year. In fact it is b.
lieved that it will commence even sooner
But we reserve this question for some future
time