Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-01-15

SNNNA~~-~S-~-~-
from Gen. Wagner, Commissioner of I'm
migration, to Gov. Orr, will be read with in
terest:
S. O. BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION,
W. 7 CHARLESTON, January l, 1868.
10 his Ercellcncy James L. Orr, Governor. ot
~ South Carolina.
aS1R: Conformably to the Act of the Gene
rsl Assembly, of 1866, and in obedience to
bic request of your Excelency, / respectful
llgssubmit the following brief report of the
I Operations of this Bureau:
On the 18th of February last, had the
honor to receive the appointment of Commis-
sion6r. I forthwith advertised in all the
papers of the State for registration of lands
4 for sale, and for notice of such labor as should
be wanted. At the same time prepared q
pamphlet Tor distribution in the countries Of
Europe and of our Northern States and cities,
eontaining sketch of the history aHd re-
sources of South Carolina, with other mat
4 iers of useful information, and such regstries
\ Of lands and labor as had been made, to which
was appended map of the State. Of this
1900 copies have been printed in English,
5000 copies in German, 1000 in Danish and
1900 in Swedish.
4 In April, your Excellency appointed MIR.
Ferler the agent for Scandinavia, and in May,
4 Capt. Melchers for Germany and Maj. Ryan
for Ireland. Messrs. Ferler and Melchers, af-
ter having given bonds for the faithful dis
1 charge of their duties, sailed for their fields
Of operation in May but Maj Ryan, having
since removed to Texas, has resigned his
office, and no successor to him has, as yet,
been appointed. In June, found it necessa-
Try to publish circular to the citizens of the
/ State, urging their cooperation with the ell
/ forts of this Bureau. In August, had OBJ
tained so many additional registries that l
4 deemed it proper to publish another parnph-
4 let, Supplement No. l, in which, at the same
time, endeavored to reply to some animad,
versions of the European press. This has al
so been published in English, German and
the >..::a:.--ian languages. have, on sew
.cral occasions, been strongly advertised to
publish a translation of the pamphlets in
French, but not being myself a sufficient mas.
liter of that language to perform this task,
would ask the concurrence of your Excellen-
icy and your permission to employ transa-
tor at reasonable charge. There is no
doubt that our success depends very much
\ I,on liberal distribution of useful information
4 of our State aud her resources, and of gain
ling, in this manner, the attention of the emf
grant. have encountered very bitter op-
] position in my endeavors, both at home and
/ abroad, but have also found numerous friends
j and we'll wishers, even in the North and in
IEurope, and their advice has uniformly been
lilo print in every language and scatter our
.koamphlets broadcast everywhere.
During tho year, have delivered several
addresses in various parts of our State, for the
purpose Of awakening @ general interest in
the measures. Of immigration, which, through
the kindness of the press and DcB61c's Re
vier, have been extensively circulated. In
October published another circular, with
special reference to labor, contracts and the
advance Of the passage money for such indus
trious Immigrants rs could, in that manner,
be enabled to accept employment in our State
From Germany and Scandinavia, many such
could have been obtained but l am sorry TO
say, that our people were so embarrassed IN
ready means, that no result was obtained.
Having received advices from our agents that
it might be possible to establish line OF
steamers to Charleston. If any encourage
men. of reasonable success could be obtained,
I took the liberty to address letters to the
Charleston Chamber Of Commerce and Board
of Trade, of which your Excellency received
copies at the time, requesting of them such
information as they: above all, could best fur
nish regarding the matter; but no reply has
been received, excepting a note from the
President of the Board of Trade, that he
would forward tho matter with hearty good
will. am grcvcd at this, because our mcr-
chants are class of wcli-informea people, Ca
pable of making reliable reports, that would
exercise powerful influence in Europe. y
line Of steamers would be Of the greatest
benefit to us, not only in the matter oftrade,
but in giving us share of the better class OF
immigrants, who generally prefer to cross The
ocean in that manner. Besides, am OF opln-
ion, that by inducing the railroads 20 Com,
bine reduced rate of fare to Memphis, and
getting such line Of steamers, the port o
Charleston might become the entry for i'm
migrants to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi
Arkansas, Tennessee, etc. The immense
value Of this must be Obvious 70 all, without
my going into any further details OF reason
ing.
In accordance with the requirements Of
tha law, have opened a book for the regis
try oe lands, and these now number 10 pro-
prietors, with 3ll, ,272 acres Of lands, at rates
of 50 cents to SIS per acre-senerally rang
ing from So to SIS; in a few instances, ex-
.ceeding even the highest mentioned figure
OF these, two plantations have been sold
through this agency to Northern parties, anc
cae has been settled by the proprietors with
small colony of Germans, and called Ger
manyille, on such just and liberal terms, tha
it is certain to succeed and increase rapidly
Other registered property is now being treat
ed for by Northern parties, and have the
assurance from Pennsylvania that compa
nv of mechanics and other u OF enterprise
{ is now being formed, to purchase one o
our water-powers, and 10 develop it at once
i. I have also opened books for employers
, and another for employees. lOl persons have
obtained work in the country, and our rail
, roads have kindly, upon my request, tor
|. war1ed them at half fare. Another book, {
general registry of immigrants, shows tha
, 248 persons have arrived in this State, o
] whom this office has had cognizance. Many
, more have arrived; but not having appllee
I to me, have not been registered. vi the 24e
The III 1 greater portion (l47) have found employ
| ment in Charleston, one of them only having
reported sick, and gone to the hospital, !.
have received and answered nearly 400 let
ters. and have distributed nearly 1000 pam
kpblets in the Northern States and cities.
, had advertisements in the German and lrisl
nnpers of New York, which have broug hit mt
! a number of applications for special inlorma
= tion, and for situations, which was not oil
+ ways able to furnish. In the absence of ou
3 agent for ireland, have accepted the kint
!, aid of several gentlemen and shipmasters, t,
!. distribute in that country and in Scotland
, N. I.aal xanrLlntr Rnt I danm /