The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-07-25
To the Land Owners of the State
Of Louisiana.
OFFICE OF H BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION }
FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA :
New Orleans, April Is, 1868. J

" i he kCkAI oH
New Orleans, April Is, 1868.
Gentlemen-In 1867 we made an appeal
to YOU to come fjrward and offer your lands
to actual settlers at rates that would induce
immigration to come here.
The prompt manner in which you re-
sponded to our appeal showed the active
interest you took in the question of immi-
grafton; and those who have settled fami-
lies, at our solicitation, and aided in pro-
curing homes for laborers Of both sexes,
will readily testify as to the advantage such
immigrants have been to the State, and to
the land owners.
Again we invite you to send to this office
the most liberal inducements you can offer
to settlers and labOrerS of every class, as
we have every reason to believe, and indeed
know, that during the present year there
will be a tide of immigration flowing into
this State, and 1t is to the advantage of all
parties that the immigrants should be set
tied as soon as possible.
We therefore beg of you to send in your
propositions and applications as soon as
convenient, as those which are first regis
tered in this office will have preference in
their regular order, as far as practicable.
As many of the immigrants are poor, and
have but little if any means left on their
arrival here, and as the State does not au-
thorize this Bureau to pay the expenses of
immigrants while looking out for. locations
it is very desirable that those who wish the
benefit of the incoming immigration should
give special instructions as to the kind and
number Of immigrants wanted, and as to
the route and means 10y which they may
reach their destination, and also when pos
sible make some arrangements to aid IN
paying their travelling expenses from this
point to their new home, as all immigrants
wish to move forward without any delay in
this city. Wenot only ask the land owners
to propose to sell their lands at reduced
rates, but also endeavor to make arrange
ments to supply settlers with farming In
elements, houses or cabins, and r%ations,
until they are enabled to secure a crop, and
charge the same against their accounts.
For instance, the following is a PROPOSE
ton that has been offered by a gentleman
in st. Landry parish, viz:
Il wish families to settle on my lands |
will supply them with houses, and rations
for their families and stock | will give
them as much land as they require, and
provided they make arrangements with me
to buy said stock, and pay back the %rations,
and buy the land on a credit system, at the
end of the year, at whatever the market rate
may then be, they may have all they raise;
or el,e, if they do not wish to remain, they
can leave by giving me one.half ofthe crop"
This proposition was readily met with,
and the gentleman has sufficient for the
present year.
We have succeeded far beyond our OK
pectations this year, in settling immigrants,
and know from letters received, both from
the North and Europe, that next season the
business will be treble that of the past year,
and consequently that there may be no de-
lay, VIC respectfully ask that you forward
your propositions at the earliest period.
The following are certificates of gentle
men who have procured settlers through
the efforts of this Office, viz:
New ORLEANS, March 80, 1868.
To the Chief of the Bureau:
Dear Sr-Through the fundamentally
of the Bureau of immigration. of which you
are the efficient agent, | have obtained a
number of German families to whom | have
assigned portions of my plantation in st.
Landry. Their cheerful and patient indus
try, energy, and careful preparation of the
soil, nave been conspicuous, and excited
high expectations. Should this first effort
prove successful, I am confident of obtain
ing, through your exertions, many more of
the some laborers next year, and of having
every inch of my open land cultivated by
them.
| am sir, very respectfully,
Yours truly,
[Signe21 W. G.. DENEGRE,
1871 Common street.
The following is another:
April l, 1868.
To the Chief of the Bureau:
| have received a number of German
families from your Office, and | feel perfect
ly satisfied that they will prosper, as they
are all indu ,trious hard working men and
women.
TSigned1 P. A.. PARKER.
We have many more Of the same sort of
certificates too numerous to me- ton we
merely give these to show what success our
work has met with in the past year. .
Hoping you may respond to this appeal
with that win" every true son of Louisi-
ana should (Which is to your advantage as
well as to the settlers) at an early period.
/ reman, gentlemen,
Yours very respectfully,
C. KATHMAN,
- Chief IF tho r. rnau