Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-01-05
FOREIGN IMMIGRATION-A LET
TER FROM PROF. ERNs.

We find in the Knoxville wing an in
teresting letter from Prof. Erni, now Con-
sui at Basic, Switzerland, on the subject
of Foreign Immigration. It's directed to
John Z. Helms, of Knoxville From it
we make the following extracts, which
viii prove of interest TO those solcitous
about Foreign immigration:
'First of all, you ought like most other
Southern States who are in earnest, TO
have a responsible, energetic agent
abroad, who, being paid, could devote his
time in making known personally, and
through the press, the great and real ad-
vantages the State of Tennessee offers
above all others, in regard to climate,
prOductiveness, pure water, mineral
wealth, etc, etc. Or, the next best
thing: Tennessee ought to publish, like,
for instance, North Carolina, an elaborate
pamphlet with statistics, maps, etc,
setting forth these advantages, prices of
lands, etc, of Tennessee, and spreading
it all over Europe.
4 commissioner of immigration, with
out some direct connection with, OF aid
from abroad, can do little, in my opinion,
to turn the current of immigration in
certain new direction, since such immi-
grants as arrive at American seapOrts have
usually made up their minds where to
locate, or are misled by sharpers or in
tercsted countrymen of theirs.
In proof of this | will relate what Mr..
4. Schumacher, (of the rich German firm,
A 1-av & 4 Tbo-1aC 81 Dol
timOre, Agents of the North German
Lloyd Steamboat Company told me to his
own regret:
-Four first-class steamers nov sail direct
from Bremen to Baltimore, connecting
with Havre and Southampton, and not
only accommodate cabin passengers with
every comfort, bat carry out from 500 to
600 immigrants, landing them at Balti-
more. Now, although Mr.. Schumacher
himself desires an influx of settlers into
Maryland or the Southern States gencr-
ally still nearly all proceed westward. A
railroad track connects with the place
where the steamers land, and he, Mr.
Schumacher told me that immigrants
could be sent South in first-class cars at
two and a half cents q mile
The reason why | could not directly
promote the land interests Of Tennessee,
is, that | neither have time nor available
means to use the press; besides, in speak
ing openly in favor of a certain State and
steam line that would bring immigrants
thither, | would get into trouble with le-
giOn of European immigrant agents in
tercstcd in, and representing certain steam
lines in almost every city. There are some |
five at Basic alone. ] went abroad with
my family in the Baltimore steamer Leip-
zig, expressly to study this new line and
examine into its arrangements, comforts,
etc, and confess ] was highly pleased
Again, there are western and eastern
land owners abroad who blow their own |
horn, and publish statements often iniu |
rious to the South, whence men of fami- |
lies, particularly, are actually afraid TO go |
thither. Nearly every young man here
abouts speaks and reads English, and the |
reading rooms furnish English or German
American newspapers.
Indeed, some South American republics |
send agents here. who offer as an induce
ment to Immigrants, free passage to the
place of destination. A good plan for |
Tennessee landowners might also be to |
associate together and offer liberal in
ducements to a colony of settlers, invite a
leading man as an expert from abroad to |
examine the lands, titles, etc.
Yours, very respectfully,
II. ERNI.