The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1870-02-10
CHICAGO, January 81 1870.

The observer travelling on any of the
Railroad lines in our State will be struck
not only with the large quantities of land
once in a condition of prosperous cultiva-
ton going back to state of nature, but
with the extensive fields which we're cuI-
tivated last year and nevertheless have
valuable part of the crops that were
grown upon them yet ungathercd. l
can speak with special reference to the
region penetrated by the Mississippi
Central and the portion of N. 0. and
jackson road extending from Canton to
Jackson, having recently passed over the
route. 1t is sad reminder of the alb
sence of the labor which is needed to
bring into full development the resources
Of that magnificent region that Heaven
has spread out as gift to man, and
commentary upon the wasteful and i'm
provident system of agriculture by which
the noblest of all pursuits is so shame
fully abused and the fruitfulness of a rich
soil thrown away.
From these causes are to be traced the
immigration movement which is exciting
more than ordinary interest among the
industrial classes, and which is destined
ere long to reclaim our neglected lands
and convert our gloomy forests into fields
teeming with the elements of wealth and
power.
To the enterprising community of Oko-
Iona is due the first step in this grand
movement. Although the Society at that
place was organized but few months
ago, am informed that not less than
nine hundred immigrants have already
been located through its agency in the
county of Chickasaw Considerable ac-
cessions have also been made to the pop-
ulation of other counties in the region OF
the Mobile & Ohio railroad. Too much
cannot be said in praise of the efforts OF
the managers of that road to encourage
immigration and much of the success
that has attended the movement is due to
their liberal and wise policy. They have
employed an agent at large salary to
introduce immigrants along their line,
and are conveying laborers obtained by |
him to their new homes without a cent
charge. To all others, they pass actual |
immigrants at the moderate rate of one l
cent per mile. 1t viii be seen at a glance
that this liberal arrangement will, in due
season, yield an hundred fold. Every |
laborer introduced viii add yearly from
four to six bales of cotton to the transpor.
tation business of the road and proper /
tionally increase its dividends from travel:
and every settler will form a pucleus
around whom others viii gather.
In like liberal spirit the Directory Of
the New Orleans and jackson road have
fixed the rate of transporting immigrants
at one cent per mile. I am not apprized
of the rate established by the Vicksburc
and Meridian road, but have every reason
to believe that they viii be guided by the
same rate. The charge on the Mississinp
Central is t'co cents per mile, which give.
to the people who are accessible to the
M. d O. road great advantage in secur
ing immigrants over those who reside
along the line of the former. 1t is NO
believed that Col. Tate, Gen. West anf
the other enlightened and generous mer
who are managing the Central Road viii 4
permit this difference to remain. The,
viii not permit other companies to erce
them in liberality nor viii they Be puided
By alower standard of public spirit A. /
the case now stands, il can be easily aaen 4
how vastly the discrimination opersfes = 4
the disadvantage Of the region dependent /
upon the Central for transportation.
Il. b.
CHICAGO. February Isl. 1870.
Chicago il the chief point Of attraction
- n. - la