The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-01-31
Immigration.


annual Report of the Commissioner OF
immigration. Mr. DEBAR seems TO
have been somewhat discouraged by
the fact that when he appeared before
the legislative committee on lmmigra,
ton last year, he found that none of its
members had yet read his report OF
that year. None Of its suggestions were
carried out, and he therefore declines
repeating them, and refers the Governor
and the members of the Legislature to
his former reports as containing a state
ment of what he has done and the policy
he thinks the State should pursue. He
states that the immigration to West
Virginia during the current year was
chiefly supplied from the neighboring
States of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and
that the influx from Europe since
January, 1870, will probably not ex-
coed fifty families, including ten or
twelve families introduced into Up
shur county by a charitable society
in London. The Commissioner thinks
that a profitable field for recruitment
during the present year may be found
in the French provinces Of Alsace and
Lorraine, now devastated by war, the
inhabitants being frugal and industri-
Gus people, mainly Of German descent,
and their country resembles West Vir-
ginia in many of its typographical tea-
lures. He says that whatever plan for
the promotion OF immigration is adopt
ed by the present Legislature, must en-
brace the following essential conditions:
l. Initiative action by the State, in
literally disseminating information; in
formally inviting immigration and ex'
tending to it official welcome and pro-
lection; in framing land laws, corpora
ton and other laws affecting the case so
as to encourage colonization, trades and
manufacturing on as liberal terms as
offered By any other State.
,. Cooperation on the part OF our
citizens, by encouraging the stranger
with material assistance and disi9terest.
ed advice; offering property for sale with
perfect titles, upon easy terms OF pay
ments and at prices not only fair but
below market rates, whenever neces-
sary to induce location, with pros
pect OF returning the temporary sacri-
flee through the future enhancement OF
surrounding lands. These advantages,
and many others, are held out with
great ostentation, and layishly conferred
by other States with invariable success;
and we should not forget that among
her many undeniable attractions, West
Virginia possesses none that would, at
the preseL time, compensate the absence
Of such inducements.
We are inclined to think that Mr.
DEBAR will not have to complain OF
the present Legislature for any lack of
disposition to promote immigration to
the State. The only difficulty in the
way will be the determination Of the
best plan and the employment of the
best means to serve the desired end.
We all recognize that immigration is
the great need Of the State, and we all
know that West Virginia can furnish
more advantages and greater induce
ments to settlers than many other
States whose population has increased
as much in one year as ours has in ten
years. But how shall We send this In
formation to those who are about to re-
move from their present homes? Where
shall we find them, and what facilities
can we afford to bring them here 7
These are the questions to be answered
by the Legislature.
But no appropriation for advertising,
or for sending agents abroad to influ-
ence immigrants to come among us, can
accomplish all that is needed. If each
citizen of the State, feeling an interest
in its prosperity and knowing that the
nopulation of the State will enhance
his individual good, we're to write to his
abroad, setting forth the
advantages to be found here and invit'
ing immigration, it would have more
effect than any movement under State
auspices alone.
We trust that the Legislature at Its
,uaaaat-. aesaiop.zill adopt liberal