Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-02-02
IMMIGRATION.
Report OF Commissioner BOhnm 70
the Month Of January.

4
missioner Bokum presented his report
for the month Of January, which will be
| found below.
With reference to the plan adopted by
the Convention of Railroad Presidents
and Superintendents held on January 4
at Atlanta, concerning reduced fare for
those who come TO explore the State in
the interest Of immigration, resolution
was passed appointing Richard b. Cheat
ham, Esq, to confer with the committee
appointed at that Convention on the SUBJ
ject in question:
To the Board of Immigration of Tens
nessee-Gentlemen In presenting to
you report Of the labors during the
month Of January, shall dwell
L. On the increase of immigration, and
the character and result of my CORE
spondence.
2. On the approval with which the
course Of the Board is generally re>
garded.
3. On the steps which have been taken
to bring immigrants to the South at re
duced rates.
L. The following is an abridged account
OF my correspondence, and OF items con-
nected with it:
A tinSmith with some capital desires
to come to Tennessee. He has been d.
rected to the point where his labor is
wanted. -... ...-..-. ...-...
Mr.. McKeehan, from Pennsylvania, has
sold his farm in Pennsylvania to come to
this State and purchase. t.a .r
Mr.. Oldfeld, from Ohio, and six other
families, are preparing to remove to Ten
nesse. They bring with them about
$4,000.
In Bradley county, Mr.. Cook, from
Canada, is working farm on shares. He
will report to some 400 families, at whose
request he has come to this State.
Augustus G. f. Miller will start for this
State shortly in order to purchase a farm.
Thomas Walker, of MeMinnville, gives
an account Of large number of families
who have immigrated to that part OF tn
country, and states that they are but the
beginning of very large immigration
that will come to that county this year
Frank Donahue, of Pennsylvania, gives
an account Of three small parties coming
to Tennessee, one Of them to buy land
for colony. He also states that these
are but the skirmishers of the Spring i'm
migration from that quarter, and thus
confirms the statements Of Mr.. Walker.
John G. Vess, of Germany, asks in
his name, and the name of others, for a
region of country fit for the raising Of
grapes. -... ...
Nathan King, of Ohio, and two other
families, have sold their farmes in Ohio,
and are about to come to this State.
John Wieland, who lately purchased
valuable farm near Knoxville, writes
that one family will go Immediately with
him, and that if the half,fare arrange
ment should be accomplished, others will
go.
Mr.. Helm, from Pennsylvania, one of
my correspondents, and five others have
purchased farms in Dickson county, and
Mr.. S. Look, also from Pennsylvania,
whom | have furnished with an account
of the resources Of this State, is now in
East Tennessee, looking for a home for
himself and several families.
=. Among the evidences of the favor
with which the labors Of the Board are
regarded, | mention the following:
Prof Stafford, the geOlogist, speaks
favorably of the result obtained thus far,
and dwells on the importance of immie
grafton to the prosperity Of the State.
Hon. G. II. Diss Debar, Commissioner
of Immigration for West Virginia, rejoices
in the comparative success which has
crowned the labors Of the Board during
the past year.
Col. r. II. Ramsey, editor Of the Mi
ner's Journal, dwells on the Importance
of the work in which the Board Is en-
gagged, and in the necessity of circulating
information concerning the resources OF
the State.
Similar expressions Of approval have
been received from gentlemen connected
with the State governments Of Arkansas
and Georgia they propose to adopt SIM
liar measures in their respective States,
3. At the convention of Presidents and
superintendent held at Atlanta on the
4th of January, which attended, a re-
port was presented which dWells on the
fact that We should profit by the example
Of the railways of the Northern and West.
| ern States, which have a reduced fare fol
immigrants, and whom employ agents to
look after the foreign immigrant before
and after he has landed on our shores
A similar plan has been adopted by that
convention; the details for working it out
are being arraigned as rapidly as possible,
and when the railways and hotels agree
ing to cooperate are all heard from, adj
| vertisements will be inserted all over the
country and full explanations will be
published at the same time.
The report closes by suggesting the
Importance Of the Legislatures of the
Southern States establishing, by law, 1
board Of immigration with commission.
er in charge, and with ample appropria'
tons TO carry out their objects, and re
fers to the State Board Of Tennessee, ant
to the labors Of their commissioner, as al
instance Of what may be accomplished
even with limited means.
| Through the influence Of c. Bennger
Of GAINESVILLE, Tennessee, who is inter
ested in the settling Of Stewart county
the Louisville and Nashville and Clarks
vile and Memphis railroads have agreed
10 carry actual settlers at half rates. H.
has obtained promise TO the same effec
from the Nashville and Northwestern
railroad.
In Blount county an immigration so
ciety has been organized. A number 0
| Northern families have settled there ant
many others are about to remove to tina
county.
In Knox county series Of measure
have been set on foot which are likely t
bring there a considerable immigration.
The few letters 10 which | have re
ferred present but very imperfectly tn
evidence | have received during the pas
month that the labors of the Board dur
ing the year 1868 have not been in vain
The information circulated throughou
the North is still working as leaver
and in several localities, to my knowl
edge, large number of families are max
ing arrangements to remove to thi
State. Many Of those who have alread
invested capital in this State, and VII
have gone back to the North in order I
arrange their affairs, are acting as vol
untsry agents of the Board by the favor
able statements which they are making
have also endeaVOred to remove mi:
apprchensions with regard to the plan
which the Board proposes to carry on
1t is not INDECENT foreigners whom tn
Board proposes to transport to the Stat
at the public expense, and who may bt
come burthen to the State after the
have come to il. The Immigrants WI