Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-07-01
Supplementary Report of Commission.
er of immigration.


SupER'D'r BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, !
CHARLESTON, May ls, 1868.
To HIS ErceI1ency Gorcrno1' james L. Orr.
SIR Since my last report to your Excel
lency, thirty-one persons have been register
ed in this office, and have found employment
in this State. There, are now twenty per
sons OF the way from. Germany and Scan
dinavia, via Baltimore, and may arrive in a
few days. The registries Of lands now en-
brace 332 GOO acres, in almost every District
Of the Stale, for sale at reasonable rates and
on favorable conditions; and nearly 5000
acres OF good lanis 10 salubrious sections OF
the State have been registered to be given as
free donation to actual settlers, upon rea-
sonable condition of improvement.
am glad to perceive more favorable
consideration of our State ia Europe, aud
the indications are. that rs soon as we can OBJ
tain greater and regular facilities for passage,
We shall certainly receive share OF immigra.
ton. Indeed, there would now be no want
Of wcllinclined labor for US. if our people could
make the arrangement for an outlay of the
cost Of transportation.
In Germany, there are now three inhuen-
tial papers that advocate our cause, although
l am sorry to say wehave, as yet, multitude
oil very bitter opponents. Ia Sweden and
Denmark, our influence is also extending and,
after while, practical results will follow. In
Ireland, several gentlemen are kindly distri-
buting our pamphlets. have mentioned to
your Excellency, on former occasion, that l
desired very much the establishment OF direct
steam communication with Europe. With
reasonable sacrifices this could be effected
with Bremen. Hamburg and Glasgow, where
ship.owners are very favo"ab!y inclined to our
project. The rail roads from Charleston to
Memphis being willing to transport immigrant
passengers at one cent per nile, and their
baggage at very reduced rates, would make
this route to the West a more favorable one
than over eish.r New York or Baltimore. 1t
should be our constant aim to accomplish so
desirable an arrangement, and trust, when
eaiaEs ttafh Tes!ue -wr nDrruny nysu5tsrn=
fort that shall be made in that direction. l
had, besides, intended to have published a
suggestion for an industrial movement, which
seems calculated not only to be of great ad-
vantage to our people, generally, but would
aft ,rd facilities for the profitable employment
of. a considerable number of immigrant en-
ployees.
intended to suggest and urge the estab
lishment of at least one cotton factory in
central and eligible position, in every District,
for tho making up Of the raw material into
yarns, the capital to be subscribed in lands at
a low valuation and the lands to be sold to
enigrants. To make the profits OF these es
Establishments secure, the planters to pledge a
certain number of bales of cotton to be yarn.
ed on toll only Indicate the outline ot the
plan for your consideration, deeming the con
fused state of public affairs unpropltious for
attempting it at present. 1t seems that even
in the city OF New York there is perceptl
BILE want Of sufficient laborers for the farmers
in the viciDity-the papers complaining that
the better class Of. Immigrants, however In
large numbers they arrive, are already, before
they leave Europe, billeted for their destina
tion in tie Western States, aid that only the
worthless and indifferent remain for local en-
gagement.
This agrees entirely with my formerly ex-
pressed opinions, although b it seems that some
of our planters have obtained labor from
New York. I had made arrangements with
a gentleman in Pennsylvania 10 furnish labor
of any kind, andof a superior character, to
such planters as could comply with his terms
which were very reasopable-and whenev-
er have been applied to | have furnished his
address. But l still continue to believe that
our resuscitation must be founded upoa the
incurring Of an immigration of small turner's,
who will lie followed by reliable laborers and
skilled mechanics of every description, ana
that the most practical method of etfectlng
that is direct steam communication with Eu-
ropcan ports, proffers of cheap lands and q
multiplication Of our industrial pursuits.
i have the honcr TO be,
you. E1celency's obedicnt servant,
JOHN A. WAGNER
Commiss;oner of Immigration.