Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-05-30
THE GROWTH OF TEHE STATE IN Pop
ULATION AND EsEPROyERENT-DT
BiAEEEES WHICH AEE YET TO BE
shyERTAAfE

THE GROWTH OF TEsE STATE IN Pop
ULATION AND EMPROyERsENT-DESA
BiALTEES WHICH AEE YET TO BE
OVERCOME.
Amidst the political complications and dis
fractions which compel attention and feelings
of uneasiness from all who desire substantial
peace for the country, it is cheering to witness
the palpabe evidences of progress and i'm
provement going forward in our State. Apart
from what is witnessed in the city, where large
numbers of houses are being erected in
"blocks,n in the style of years past when men
could afford to build, for investment" along
the road between here and Washington the
space is dotted with new buildings, handsome
cottages and so on, showing that our State is
in requisition for homes in a manner never
known in all the past Always wonder to
the people of other States that our line of rail
road from here to the national capital-af.
fording as it does numberless eligible and
picturesque sites for dwellings-has not been
more improved, it is now evident that some
body appreciates the many advantages Offered
and that ere long, we shall, as on the New
Jersey and other roads, have one continuous
settlement for the whole distance, giving well
come evidence that the advantages our State
profers are appreciated, and that that spirit
of enterprise which has made other States
prosperous and wealthy, prevails here.
And we are glad to know that the spirit of
improvement as manifested in the particular
localities we have noted, does not stop at
them, but is abroad to some extent in the
whole length and breadth Of the common
wealth. Although we do not see, as in the
far West, great professions or caravans of i'm
migrants, with their teams and CLOCKS and
herds, " vending their way along some leading
central thoroughfare yet all over the State,
quietly and in large numbers they are drop
ping in; dividing tracts with the old citizens,
or taking up tenantless and deserted places to
renovate and improve them, and by their wei
come labor proceeding to add to the wealth
and resources of the State. And so extensive
is the field for enterprise in this direction, so
many are the "waSte Places which under an
exhaustive system Of cultivation were thrown
out, that in some portions Of the State the
SSsAAASS DNNo
some deserted farm house, or some lone chin
.ney from which the buildings have parted
company, the soil surrounding these-ancient
corn and tobacco felds-only needing the
close attention of men like the New Jersey
farmers to make the land productive, and put
an entirely new face on a region than which
none are calculated to furnish more pleasant
and advantageous homes.
These matters should be regarded with par
ticular interest just now by our citizens, be-
cause the evidence is abundant, that thence
forward there will be tide of immigration
setting In for the shores of this country, and
even for Maryland unprecedented in all the
past. The disturbances in Europe are having
their natural effect in stimulating the desire to
get away from threatened troubles; and since
the new steamship line from this port-alopg
with the action of the State authorities-has
called public attention abroad to the advan-
tages presented by our city and State, we have
already had several cargoes of immigrants
debarking at this point, with the promise of
an indefinite supply in the future.
In this connection, we would call public
attention to some facts, which if our State is
to be benefited, as have been others by foreign
immigration, should be taken into considera-
ton. All must note and remember, that with
slight exceptions, there is-out of Baltimore
nothing like German settlements, where these
people, most desirable as an accession to our
population, can find fellowship, sympathy, in
short-"teel at home" Unable to speak
their language, the farmers of our State find
1t impossible to communicate intelligibly with
them at first, to their mutual advantage; a
disability, which in the outset, goes far to re-
strict these new corners to the METROPOLIS of
the State, where, entering on new pursuits,
they become untitled and disinclined by the
time they have learned our language to 20
back to agricultural employments
And for disadvantage so paIpable and
serious in attempting to add to the agricultu-
raj productiveness of the State, we see but one
remedy; and that is for some of our capital
lists, or those who already own large tracts of
land, to measurably colonize these people; that
is, cut up their llnds into such divisions as
will afford a half dozen or more families the
means of living adjacent to one another, to
communicate with and comfort and sustain
each other i'll the new circumstances which
surround them; until, ere long, having learned
our language and accustomed themselves to
the new surroundings which greet them, they
become valuable to US as an acquisition to our
population, adding to the wealth and import
ance of the State.
And when we suggest this method of meet
ing the difficulties noticed, we know the disin-
cnnatloh which exists amongst our large land
holders to this colonizing process, unless they
can institute ''tenancies." They do not like
to sell their fine plantations in detail, ultimate.
ly to find themselves verging, as proprietors.
to the positions of those who come in. But
could they be made to feel that for every
twenty acres SO occupied, the remainder is
greatly enhanced in value, and that these
foreigners with whom they cannot communi-
cate intelligibly at present, would make their
way as small proprietors, doing things after
own fashion in consultation with each other,
where as mere laborers they would give COM
paratively little satisfaction, we should sup.
pose considerations so essential would recon
Gle all to the innovation, where otherwise the
lands may be measurably unoccupied and IN.
improved for years to come.
Finally, remembering that although our
State has had its old labor disorganized or
rendered useless, after the old fashion, for
some three years now, and that during that
whole period our people have really made but
little progress in filling up the waste and vacant
spots; that taxation and unproductiveness are
telling the tale of the disabilities suffered in
dividually, is it not time for the landed interest
to meet these difficulties boldly and in some
such way as that we have suggested, unless
these troubles are to weigh heavily upon the
State for years yet to come? The State au'
thoritiss, We say, are doing and have done
.ho;r dutv In setting forth tina ADVANTAGES pre,