The Placer herald., 1857-05-02
Address of the Pacific Immigrant Aid
Association of California.

To the Peop!e Of the State Of California and Of
Oregon and Washington Territories.
FEILow-C CIrIzENs:-B Believing that the people
of the Atlantic States and Europe have but IL
mted knowledge of the resources and capabilities
of our Pacific possessions and the advantages
thereby afforded to immigrants, to permanently
settle within its limits and believing that the dis
seminatOn of statistical and other information re-
lating to the commercial, agricultural, mineral
and manufacturing wealth Of California, Oregon
and Washington Territories, their soils, climates,
productions, rates of labor, prices of building ma
terals, and all the necessarics of lfe;-also, the
common schools and other educational privileges,
the amount of arabic land they contain its loca-
tion, adaptation, and the terms upon which the
same can be obtained, and such facts and nfor-
nation as will tend to eni ghten all classes Of the
Atlantic States and EurOpe;-beievng that such
knowledge will greatly encourage. aid and facli-
tate immigration to our shores, an effort has been
made by the people of San Francisco, to organize
"Pacifc Immi grant Aid Association" having
for it's object the promotion of the best interests
of our Pacific State and Territories, by encourag-
ing immigrants as above set forth. And for the
more efectual carrying out of the objects of the
Association, they have elected the following Board
of Directors:
President, Jacob R. Snyder; Vice President,
John Sine; Treasurer, Jules David; Correspond
ing Secretary, J. H. Purkitt; Recording Secretary,
Joseph S. Willis;
Directors.--Hon Ogden Hoffman; G.. Touchard;
John H. Saunders; j. Seligman; Samuel j. Hens
ley; Josiah p. Haven; H. M. Whitmore, Henry
Hentsch; D. c.. M. Hitchcock; julius Bandman:
1t is probably we'll known to you that similar
Association hes been organized in the city OF New
York, of which D. l.. Ross, is President; j. B.
and E. G Kemble, Secretary. 1t is to the efforts
of that organization in connection with the labors
of the citizens of California, that are indebted
for the passage of the Wagon Road Bill. But be-
sides their labors in this direction they have also
printed tracts and pamphlets, setting forth, in
clear and forcble language, the inducements Of
fered to the emigrant to make his home on the
Pacific shores, and have scattered them broad
cast over the Atlantic States and Europe. They
are found on all the steamboats, and railroads, in
restaurants, hotels and in all places where large
bodies of men do cOngregate. They have expen-
ded large amount of money, which has drawn
heavily upon their private resources, and unless
The people of the Pacific coast come to their as
sstance, aud manifest disposition to cooperate
with them in their efforts to populate and build
up the State and Territories they will be COM
pelled-so we are informed by letters received
to disband their organization and cease further
efforts
They have already done much to influence emf
grafton in this direction They are in the con-
slant receipt of letters from persons in all parts
OF the Union, anxious to obtain information, and
desiring to remove with their families to the
faeife. The emigration from the east toward the
west will be very large the present season, far
surprising that of any former year, estimated to
be not less than one hundred thousand persons.
vi this vast number not more than twenty thou
sand can be safely calculated upon as future cti-
zens of California and the Territories north of
us 1t is therefore to be regretted that efforts were
not made at an earlier day to organize Associa-
tioRs for the purpose of influencing this mighty
tide of emigration to our broad and fertile acres.
But there is a glorious future before us, if we
actively and wisely improve the present.
But it is self-evident that the Association of
San Francisco cannot alone do the work so i'm
peratiyely demanded. 1t will do all it can; but it
must rely on cheerful intelligent and hearty CO.
operation on the part of the country. Similar in
dependent or auxiliary associations must be form