, 1866-03-27


Church, who (no doubt in view OF the justif-
Territorial conference), has displayed consid-
erable activity In the lobby for some days in
the pursuit Of this congenia enterprise
EMIGRATION FROM ENGLAND
Letter from an English Farmer
to Bay0r Rice.
Important Inquiries for Enslish Agri-
=, cuIsurxAts.
WNH1E1p PARE,
WISDson, England, March !, 1866
SIR: Three letters having appeared In re-
ugioue paper called the Christian Word, writ
ten by the Rev. R. Wake, dated Chicago, H.,
advising emigration Of English tarmers to the
Stats Of Iowa In companies, and settling down
on the prairie lands free, under the Homestead
act, write to inquire tt the statements In
these letters are cotrectP md whether the
disadvantages of locating on the wtlds, far
from, society ind ciyi1izizing influences are
balanced by the cheapness of wild laid, and
the discomforts Of settling on homeless wil-
dcrness? So much, and many questions arise
on these points, that Iwould respectfully sug-
gest that your worship call public meet
ing or your constituents TO consider the qnes-
tion Of promoting emigration Of the English
classes Of aEriculturists and others. The
time for doing 60 would seem opportune,
many Of my brother farmers being almost
ruined by the cattle plaeue,'that has beea
raging IN this country for the Inst eight
months, introduced into England BY some
Russian beast imported to Hull, and thence
through the country, spreading eontaeiou on
every hand. So subtle Is the disease TINT the
utmost precautions and use Of disinfectants
do not prevent Its. ravages. To such IN
alarming extent has i spread that at
last, after trying nunbcrless remedies, With
ont success, the Government have passed a
bill to prevent the removal Of cattle of farms,
mud to Kill and compensate all that are at-
tackled from the LIST Of March. October,
II, 600 reported cases; November, oo,s97; De-
ccmber, 39,7l4; January, 73,s40; February,
120, 740-have flllen vIcttms TO the rinderpest
from the commencement Of the outbreak. In
some districts almost all the cattle are dead,
especially In the cheese making county Of
Cheshire, where, up to January 17,971 cases
have been reported. Many dairy farmers are
ruined, and should think that many who arc
now in distress Of mind and despalripg anguish
at their losses might be glad to emigrats to
America If satisfied Of success attending the
step, for It Is most difficult with farmers Of
small capital to 1--we under the high rents,
~ 4 fnhr
Ing tho cultivation Of the soil. know Of no
pursuit that pays less than English farming,
when We consider the large amount Of capi-
tai invested and the intelligence required to
worIit. Four to i've per cent Is considered q
| satisfactory profit, but few farmers made that
] last year, corn prices being 30 low that loss
instead Of remuneration is the rule.
England. heard a speaker say, may vnl-
carly be called the breeding island Of the
! world. Certain IT Is, that the pressure Of cir
! cumstances has founded her colonies. And
! now that your privileged country isat peace,
| see no reason why you should not absorb
/ some Of her surplus population. Emigration
and colonization are two different principles.
It Is ill very well to get rid Of our numbers,
but our sympathles must follow them. I
think, then, "coloniz1ng company"
Is best for settlers. By means Of
company, localities eau bo selected
by old and experienced co1onlsts,
preparation made for the housing apd sup-
plying With provisions, md arranging for
transit, supplying Of tools, beasts Of drsulght,
| and iup1ementa ut the cheapest rutes. By
| such arrangements, worked by committees on
both sides, Christian Communication could be
! introduced, under their pastors church Of
England party, Baptist, independent, 60 as to
form settlements Of one character. If the re-
ports which are put forward as to the well
doing and wealth Of early settlers In your re-
gions be correct 1t would test the spirit and
patriotism Of your communities In the several
d'stricts 1t they would come forward aud
assist 1aborcrs and others whose services
would be valuable. The great difficulty with
the 1aborer is how to get to the regions wait
Ing 1.-THE weight that slumbess in tho peas-
ants arm" For this be must mainly rely on
assisted emigration, and this can only bo done
by association Tor tho introduction Of work.
men In proportion to tho influx Of capitalists
and small farmers. When consider the re-
strictfons and burdens under which tenant
farmers are compelled to carry on their busi-
ness In this country, I shall be surprised If a
number of young men do not avail themselves
Of the openings which your country presents,
III. eyer be satisfactorily proved that the
enterprise would bc attended With certain
success. For this purpose It Is very desirable
that yolumtnous report be compiled, bear-
ing on every subject Of interest to enquIrers,
such as distance from seaport, best route to
this point, cost Of voyage, distance BY river
or rail-, cost OF both, expenses On journey,
prices Of carts, wagons, yokes. harness, oxen,
horses appearance, and general characters.
tics of country diseases Of cattle, sheep,
horses, and men, common to the various
localities. When vas In South Africa a
coast fever wes common to new settlers
Cattle brought from the interior died, horses
sickcned, dogs died when introduced !; sheer
did not thrive within fifty miles Of the coast
Corn affected with rust; when produce was
grown, no market for It except al
prices that left hardly enough to give
laborers wares, money so short that the store
keepers would only take produce In barrier
for their goods at hlgl rate--the settlers al
low one. Then lack OF roads rendered The
carriage difficult through jungle, swamp ant
river. Insect lfft often destroyed the farmers
and the locust dcvoured h1s whole crop
Sometimes the natives swept Of bis herd, and
at other times fire devoured his homestead, o.
drought destroyed Ills 1ocks. Now what are
the difficulties on your plains? The luxurl,
anccs Of 5pur grasses are mentioned. Are
they not too raIk for sheep? Does rearing oi
cattle apswars IhaSe travelled where butter
was 80 plentiful that we CREASED the wagon
wheels with 1t, the nearest market being 15o
i 41,or ia 1H+y1f hat
Was only attempted when necessity made Il
absolute.
Cheap lind at Natal was the inducemeut
That led many to this portion Of South Africa,
two shl}}sngs and si1pence an acre being She
average price In that day, and cotton growing
| the proposed pursuit In the coast districts.
However, ruin attended the cnterprise-na-
tive labor failure. After a series Of mistor-
tunes sugar became the staple, land Coolie ID
Dor from India the help, but seven years Of
struggle md disaster had to be borna before
the right track Was hit upon. sent on four
hundred settlers who founded the village Of
Of Vcrulam, forty miles from Durham, the sea
port, md begrared myself and family by the
project. 7 am therefore most anxious that
The crrors and mLtakes I Imadomay not be
re-enactcd By e1nIerants to the far West
I would suggest Commissioner be
appointed by Local Commit
tee chosen by public meeting,
that maps, drawing and photographs Of the
districts suitable for the, settlements be pre-
pared; specimens Of timber, stoner carths OF
soils, grasses. grain, flowers, cost Of every
article needed for working, shelter OF labor,
with NIL and every information SO desirable to
be informed upon relating to land, produce,
cattle, sheep, swine, cheese, butter, wheat,
oats. maize, water, supply, breadth, depth.and