The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-03-03
Report Of the Commissioner Of
Immigration.

Report Of the Commissioner Of
Immigratiou.
Below We givc valuable extracts
from the report Of the Commissioner
Of Immigration for this State, which
will be found we'll worthy Of careful
pcrusal:
RESULTS AND PROSPECTS.
IN my last report stated tho mum.
Der OF immigrants induced TO West
Virginia directly, through my agency,
In 1867, to be 233 men, women and
|cIildren, who registered their. names
with ME, besides uearly an, equal NUN,
lbcr WHO landed at VARIOUS points 81
the railroad and the Ohio river, with
out reporting to me in person at tho
| time.
During the year 1865 not more than
one half Of that number, to the best Of
my knowledge, came to our State for
permanent settlement. But ) or l0
families. and probably over 80 single
men. labOrers and mechanics, who had
come with the intention Of permanent
~ remaining, left again for other parts
| in quest Of smoother land and more
rcmumca,ivc employment. The gen.
crul stagnaiion Of business which last
ell throughout the year, aud has not yet
subsidized, was no where more severe.
ly felt than in West Virginia, tncL
very difficult to conceal from the oh.
scrvalion Of strangers, Or 10 explain to
their satisfaction. After looking
around awhile, without meeting the
expected encouragement, they gcncr-
ally set their faces once more 10 the
West, where they Imagine things call
not he worse in any event.
My last report alluded to the expect.
ed visit of the Agent OF the Swiss Na-
tional Emisrant Society. This gentle
man, after exploring Virginia and
Maryland, visited II portion ofour own
State, expressing himself greatly
pleased with, and commenting the
country and my official course in his
letters to the press ut home, copies Of
which are in my possession. At the
! same time he did not conceal the fact
that lilll" or nothing was done OH the
part Of the State 10 practically cncour-
age Immigration. After promising to
return, in order to conclude arrange
mcnts, and assist me in urging liberal
measures before the Legislature, this
agent took trip TO the State Of Ten
mr>scc, where Il very different state Of
things seems To have worked upon his
feelings. liz found himself immcdi-
alcy the object Of every attention,
private and public, and everybody nc
came ia contact with ut once entered
into his plans. Among the rest he
WAS trndcrrd an option of 2l0.00O
acres OF excellent table land, In u mild
/ climate. umdcriaid with Goa, well tim
bcrcd. quite near II railroad, and at \
price all'or,ling Il handsome prof, by
sale To actual settlers at Sl.30 per acre.
The offer included also Il gratuitouS
| donation Of lO,0W acres, and contracts
from railroad companies 10 transport
! the immigrants, with their baggage.
goods and implements 1T half fare. |
need not add that Inducements srScn-
crous were most promptly ntccptcd,
aud very wisely, too, ./Or h@i MiS
.lgcnt canc0SScd cccry backmootis conn.,
" Of West Vnyiain, the donations .Jor
his encouragement WoHld not haze
amoanted 10 one hnndrcd acres, antl
prices rouM haze risen before him in
| proportion 10 his nnricty 10 d0 business.
Such is, indeed, the inlniuatiOn of
mnuy OF our large proprictors, that
they will rather live md die on the
vcrS &c of personal want, thau to make
an apparent sacrifice, however small.
to-day, in order TO benefit themselves
and the community Tomorrow. This
course is the more unwarrantnblc, rs
there is no prospect whatever Of their
wilderness tracts being required by
our pioneer population or its natural
increase. 1t cannot be denied that
from u variety Of causes this class Of
our people is imSt looscninS tho bonds
OF traditional affection for its nntivc
hills and valleys. and that the fever Of
western emigration is rapidly invading
many already too sparscly settled sec
tions Of our Statc. 1t is true that
among those who arc now leaving,
many will be reminded Of blessings
left behind by malarious disease, the
want Of timber and pure water, aud by
many other equally trying inconvcn-
fences, aud tnir proportion Of them
will eventually rctuYn with shattered
fortunes aud constitutions, nS II warn
ing to others. But in the mcantimc
this general cagcrncss TO sell ont a,ul
tcacc excrts IL discouraylng influence
upon strangers who come here to settle,
and induces critical examination into
many local circumstances not decided.
ly Objectionable at first sight.
Tho most lislcartcning feature OF
our country which oJtrudcs itself up.
on strangers, about half days ride
from the Ohio river or railroad, Is the
wretehcd condition Of our country
roads, especially south Of the latter i'm.
provement. + have made numerous
starts TO- show our interior counties to
parties from peighboring States and
from Europe, butin few Instances only
succeeded iu progressing with them
south of tho Little Kanawhn river.
These people cannot imagine what At.
trnctions our remote sections might
present to compensate tho Inconvenience
Of inaccessibility, and scclusion from
civilized intercourse. | regard II aS an