Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-06-18
IMMIGRATION.

Since the close of the late war, the people Of
this State, both through the Legislature and by
private enterprise, have zeaously entered upon the
work of repopulating the State, by. immigration
from abroad, These efforts have not been attend,
ed with that degree of success calculated to en-
courage their further prosecution upon the plan
heretofore adopted.
It is admitted that an increase of the laborine
white population of the State, would be beneficial
to the interests of all classes of people, and would
do much towards restoring the prosperity Of the
past, To accomplish this effectually, there ap'
pears to be, in our view, but one plan Of action
likely to succeed. We must first offer sufficient
inducements to emigrants, five would have them
settle among US. The propositions, heretofore
made by the people, have not been sufficiently lib
eral to attract the tide of emigantsf from the cheap
and fertile lands of the West, to our poor and
worn out farms in this State.
If then, our large land holders would propose
to settle families upon alternate sections of good
land-say of forty acres to the family-with the
privilege of working and improving for five years,
and then of buying, if desirable, at stipulated
price, sufficient inducement would thus be offer,
ed to settlers. The owner of the land, by thus
disposing of alternate sections, would be able to
secure purchasers in few years for the land 50
disposed Of and would at once enhance the value
of the sections retained. The emigrant, in the
meantime has secured for himself and family, a
home, without cost, for five years. with prospect
of being able to buy it, at reasonable price, at the
expiration of that time His relatives, friends
and neighbors abroad, are, in time, attracted to
the same locality, and in this manner whole sec
tions of country, now lying waste and worthless,
can be restored to cultivation and marketable
value The emigrant is generally sensible enough
of his own wants, and sufficiently informed as to
his interests to 90 where both are best cared for.
He does not come among US because we invite
him to do 80. We must first make it profitable to
him to come, and when convinced Of this, he will
respond to our invitations.
Of the many proffers of lands to emigrants made
through the Commissioner Of Emigration, we have
been somewhat surprised to find only few per-
sons offering their lands upon terms likeyto prove
acceptable to anybody, much less to companies of
individuals from abroad who come among us al
most without means; and who expect by honest
toll hereafter, to acquire an interest in the soil.
If then we would encourage emigrants to come
among u.s. let us offer something like an induce
ment for them to do so. We may advertise, in
Europe, our Southern farms for sale, from now
until doomsday, without the hope of finding pur-
chaser. If, however, we give notice that landsare
free for FIVE years, to the permanent settler there
will be sufficient number to find it out and en-
brace the offer; and thousands of farms would
spring up among our now barren and pro6tess
hills. The landowner would be well recompensed,
in time, for his prudent liberality, and the State
would once more witness the wheels Of progress
in motion Why cannot some concerted effort be
made in this direction, by those who will realize
profit therefrom?