The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-04-08
immigration.

immigration
Editor South estern:
Dear SRI redeem, in part, the promise made you
a few evenings since, by this communication.
1t has long been felt by observing and rejecting
men that the existing want of cultivation of the
tehsVe heds of the South is running u.s. and that to
store these inherently fertile but now unproductive
wastes TO culture would be to restore the country to
soivency, comfort and power The convincing rea.
sons for believing that the husbandrv of the South is
susceptible OF the greatest range of useful products
that her manufactures and should be indefinitely
extended; that her mineral treasures varied rich
and easy of access cannot in any brief space be pre-
sented shall therefore take it for granted that that
portion of your readers who take an interest in the
restoration and advancement of the country concede
the plain TRUTH that in all these respects, our country
is teeming with undeveoped resources This is too
easy of illustration and indeed, too generally known,
to require detailed statements to supportit. Now,
this country of ours is like beautiful, healthful well
waered, FERTILE sparsely settled frontier except in
this In new regions the forests must be removed
the soil reduced to mould the roads and bridges made
| the dwellings constructed the towns and cities built
and the legal social religious and learned institutions
of civsed life founded and established In all these
particulars and many more, relating to useful sanitary
observations and regulations and common stock of
experience to the hurtful and the useful in divers
respects closely relating to the comfort and welfare of
society, our country differs widely from the new set
Elements, as every observer will concede.
These reflections extended and varied they de-
to be, have not failed to attract the attention of
others than ourselves. The capitalist of Europe, with
all that caution which the possession of capital usually
engenders looks at now partially depopulated
South with its natural wealth of climate SOIL naviga
BILE waters minerals and manufacturing power, and
artificial advancement in plantations, towns cities
schools, churches and the appliances Of navigation and
commerce, and exclams is there such another
try earth for the hardy and industrious emgrants"
| La " A..
feeling of wonder wanting to of this CONT
nen who allow themselves to become acquainted with
real condition. and to estimate existing facts with
an unbiased judgment. Consequently, men of clear
heads, large experience and ample capital who wish
examine for themselves and those associated with
hem the real facts of Southern country are COM
ing among Such men have met and conferred
with and able to state that the result of their ex
ploratons of our country, and of their intercourse with
our people, is most favorable So much So that they
see insuperabe difficulties in the way of the intro
duction to extensively desolated South of
numerous, industrious and thrifty population from the
small tenantry of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
Germany and Sweden. Paupers and convicts, they
we'll know, we do not want; and such could not
pay for lands ana would not work them the interest
of all concerned would be promoted by Withholding
them. They will not be sent
The plan which has been presented to thinking men
at Mobile New Orleans Memphis Vicksburg, Canton
Jackson and various other Southern towns is in very
brief outline, about this: There being many hundreds
of thousands of of lands included Within or per-
tanning to, plantations formerly under culture but
lying waste upon which the can hardly pay his
taxes and will grow less and less able to do 30 until
population in form shall be restored it is fair to
presume that such an owner will be ready to convey
his large and proitess domain to association pos
sessng the ability and the will to again populate and
put into cultivation without unnecessary delay This
may be done Cfhis lands be such the company seek
by appraisement, sale and acceptance of stock
in the association with perhaps portion of cash in
payment. These particular lands no longer his,
but he has in lieu of them the certificates of his stock
in probably half million of acres, more or less i'm
proved lands upon railways and navgabe
rivers, with valuable population in forward state of
pre- paraton to settle upon them. In order acli-
tate immigration and settlement, these large bodies of
lands will be surveyed mapped described by accurate
field notes and placed sale lease with European
agents of the most respectable character and con-
frmed reliability Selections being made by fifty,
hundred or two hundred families. primary fences |
buildings, wells, cisterns &c, viii be promptly pre-
pared for their reception by the superintendent on
this side, so give the immigrants cheerful and
comfortable home, with land less prepared for
immediate cultivation. These Improvements being
made at the ultimate expense of the immigrants will
be conformed to his order SO far practicable
10 make these surveys, Improvements, &c, and per-
haps to purchase occasionally intervening tracts per-
tanning estates in the hands of duciarics who cannot
transmute them into stock, will require money
This readily be obtained by 1nortgagn ng per CEN
tage Of the lands But, as every practical will
see comparatively small sum will be required, as it
is confidently expected that the class of immigrants
we propose to introduce, will bring with them or
less money; most of them, probably will make par
tial payments their lands before leaving their
tive country. The prices at which these lands will be
sold to them will be low beyond any precedent within
their knowledge, and still be sufficient reimburse
the company and afford compensation for labor and
enterprise bestowed.
In New Orleans, Mobile, Memphis, V;cksburg Can
ton Columbus, and other important cities and
of the Southwest, active have already been
taken Mr.. John Everett, of the house of Everett,
Lucas & Co., London, ex-Mayor Teman, of New
York, DR.. G. K Marshall of Mississippi and General
of Tennessee, have visited the points
above named and perhaps Others in ection with
this scheme of Southern resuscitaon, and have at all
points been most cordially received Before the Cham
Der of Commerce, New Orleans they presented their
plans with great ACCEPTANCE much so, that the
Chamber unanimously ordered preparations for public
meeting of the merchants and citizens, which held
the next evening in Masonic Hall and at which dis
cussons of the most animated character resulted in
the unanimous adoption of resolutions suited to ad-
vance the organisation of extensive joint stock
land and immigration company. committee of
twelve of the well known merchants bankers under
writer's and property men of the city were ap.
pointed to elaborate and present plan for permanent
organisation, who faithfully at work under their
appointment 1esteFuav, olot MaTcn, a convention
was assembled at Jackson, Miss, of delegates from
organisations already completed Or from provisional
committees at the various points above mentioned to
consider all matters bearing upon this great and to
US, vital concern of repopuating the South with agr
cultural laborers, and making her unproductive
plantations again TEEN with varied and richer
harvests than her sons have ever seen upon her soil
in the palmiest days of her prosperity.
OF you will note how much is herein lacking
fill up the details of this extensive plan to meet
Ill possible cavils and objections At this have not
aimed but, at your request currente calano, have
presented food for thought, to thinking Objec
ions be urged to any thing and are popularity {
,ed against the noblest plan that devised for
human salvation; and yet, something must be done.
Let every patriot resolve, honestly and maturely the
pressing questions " What resources have we?" and
How they be most advantageously used?'
l should be pleased to see Shreveport and Northern
Louisiana organised for participation in the benefits of
his plan of Southern amelioation provided it be, all
hings considered the best plan or if there be bet
er, can say, on behalf of the New Orleans provis
onal committee that the presentation of it would be
Tery gratefully received European emgrants require
o know that their future homes are to be near rail-
Ways navigable streams. Are not Northern Louis
ana the Red River valley and its conterminous fertile
lpands entitled to consideration.
With great respect, yours very truly,
is. coPEs.