The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-07-11
no the Land Owners on tfse stsaEe
of Louisiana.
OFFICE OF THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION
FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA 7
New Orleans, April Is, 1868.

OFFICE OF THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION
FOR THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
New Orleans, April Is, 1865.
entzemeu-In 1867 we made an appeal
to YOU to come f rward 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 il the question OF mini
grafton; and those who have settled f'lni-
lies. at our solicitati n, and aided in pro-
curing homes for laborers Of beth sexes,
will readily testify as to the advantage such
immigrants have been to the State, and to
the land owners.
Again We invite you 10 send to tbs office
the most liberal inducements you can offer
to settlers and laLorcrs 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 flown & iuto
this State, and 1t is to the advantage OF all
parties that the immigrants should be set
tied as soon as posSibl
We therefore beg Of you to send in your
propositions and applications as soon as
convenient, as those which are first regi~-
tered in TIL, Office will have preference in
their regular order, as far as practicable.
AS many Of the Immigrants are poor, and
have but Eth If any means left on their
ARRIVAL here, and as the State does not an-
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 by 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 wi hout any delay in
this cit;7. Wenot only ask the land owners
to propose to sell their lands at reduced
rates but also cndeavor to make arrange
ments to.supply settlers with farming m
plements, houses or cabins, and rations,
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:
~ wish families to settle on my lands I
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 lack tn r~ations,
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 ell e, if they do not wish to remai", they
can leave by giving me one half Of thc crop"
This proposition was readily met with,
and the gentleman has sufficient for the
present year.
We have succeeded far beyond our *
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 b. no de-
lay, we respectfully ask that you forward
your propositions at the earliest pcrio4.
The following are certificates of gentle
men who have procured settlers through
the efforts of this Office, viz:
New ORLEANS, March so, 1868.
To the Chief Of the Bureau:
Dear Sir-Through the instrumentality
of the Bureau of immigration. of which you
are the efficient agent, | have obtained a
number of German fami les to whom [ have
assigned portions of my plantation in st.
Landry. Their cheerful and patient indus
try. energy, and careful preparation of the
soil, have been conspicuous, and cxciled
high expectations. Sh ,uld this first effort
prove successful, | am confident of obtain
ing, through your exertions, many more of
the some labnrers 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 !, 1868.
To the Chief of the Bureau:
| have received a number of German
families from your office, and | feel perfect
" satisfied that they will prosper, as they
are all indu trious hard working men and
women.
[signed] P. A. PARKER.
We have many more Of the same sort OF
certificates too numerous to me ton we
merely give these to show VIII tsuccess our
work has met with in the past year.
Hoping you may respond to this appeal
with thai win" every true son of Louisi-
ana should (Which is TO your advantage as
well as to the s~et.lers) at an early period. :
rcma gentlemen,
Yours very respectfully,
j. e. KAUFMAN,
Chief of the Bureau.