The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-30

the plain reason that no one would desire
to sell lands without receiving a present,
not prospective equivalent.
How could the State become apurchaser,
when she is fortunately prohibited from in
creasing herpublic debt except to provide
for public defense or like extraordinary
emergency 2 Taxpayers at large would
most decidedly and properly object to sub
hitting to an increase Of taxation on their
own property, for thes"purpose of relieving
the embarrassment Of more luckless land
holders, yet no other mode is left open,
because the State cannot issue bonds in
payment of such purchases of land.
But, granting that the State could levy
tax for payment in full, or issue bonds for
land acquired, as suggested, has the gener-
al management Of public domain by State
authorities been successful? We think
not. 1t has been neglected, and fur
nished locations for squatters, who make
no improvements, because they have no
title, or has been mine Of political
favoritism or corruption and the supple
politician, not the honest farmer, has reaped
the profit. atl M I
That the State can do much, and ought
long ago to have done something, to SYSTEM
atize, supervise and aid liberal immgra-
ton policy we have always held; and we
feel sanguine that the present Legislature
will provide for the establishment of
State board Of immigration; but we feel
equally certain that it must be an cconomi-
cal organization, its operations conducted
with as few salared official as possible, and
that the main expenditures must be pro-
yided for by the people Of such localities as
need and desire its agency. aa.
We know that the suggestion, land own
ers shall give an irrevocable power of at
torney TO the board to act as their sole
agent in treating for sale or settlement of
their lands is worse than fntile it is an in
suit to common sense to suppose men will
deliberately tie their own hands for re-
mote contingent advantage, as they would
by giving such u power of attorney to a
board which did not advance even dollar
on the property they tied up. Nor will a
State board at the capital, even if COM
posed of men with high sounding names,
drawing liberal salaries, and occupying an
imposing suite Of Offices accomplish the
needed work.
A central office as a point of general re-
cord Of facts, and to which local officers
would send ali needful information, and
from which they could receive in return
such information as would be useful to
Them, is o certain necessity; but local
board, composed of suitable persons select
ed from each of the counties contiguous to
Petersburg, would prove more effective
agent for good to those counties, and give
moro reliable and general information to
land buyer. So of other towns.
Few counties would demur to raise by
subscription, or even by tax, the sum ade-,
quate to compensate some proper person
for his services as the representative of his
county on the local board, and in the public
buildings of almost any townin the State the
board would find cheap and ample conve-
nienccs for holding weekly or monthly
meetings, while one of their number could
be selected as a permanent agent of the To-
ca. board, to receive proposals 30 sell, or
to buy land, and be always prepared to
answer inquiries of intending purchasers,
and give them official. reliable information
as to where they would find such an invest
ment as they desired to make. ,,eis
Let such boards be organized at the sew
eral centres of population in Virginia, in
constant communication with the central
board at Richmond, and their regular meet
ing days duly announced to each other
board, and a stranger who visited Rich
mond, or any other point where board
was organized, could ascertain on what
day he might be at any desired locality and
meet parties who would give him all the III
formation he needed. ie4 d
These regular meetings would speedily
become popular gatherings, strangers would
be made to feel at home among those
whose neighbor he might propose to be-
come, and the friendly interchange of opn-
ion would be serviceable to all, bring out
facts inrelation to agriculture, and benefit
all parties. sl
Encouragement, it is true, is the present
feeling both among new eomers and land
owners who wish to sell, but we trust this
will be temporary. 1t is, however, mainly
caused by circumstances, not to be con-
trolled by ordinary means;
"a mind diseased no remedy can physic,
and the public Virginia mind is, at present,
affected with Ego-phobia, disease which
has, hitherto, baiiled the skill Of the faculty,
but may yield to treatment when rare
medicine, known to the ancients as common
sense, can be procured in sufficient guam
tity.
And while many new Corners have been
disappointed, all are mot so unfortunate.
We make a brief extract from letter
which appeared in the columns of the Lon
don Times of late date: s..ie 70
1t is undoubtedly true that in parts OF Virginia
many Of .the owners of flourishing estates and
farms hnfOre fhp late WAR have been utterly