The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-21

| WEEKLY kEGfSTEH. rs-
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From the Parkersburg Times.lo III iE.1,r @.
!, f. An Appeal for Immigration.
notwithstanding the insufRciency o.
the legislative appropriation for the en-
couragement Of Immigration, / have, al
an early day, taken steps to secure for
West Virginia portion Of the large
agricultural and manufacturing popula.
| ton about to emigrate from Alsace and
Lorraine, the French provinces now
being annexed to Germany. but, no
amount OF correspondence will supply
the benefit to be derived from personal
Wait, and the verbal explanation given
in reply TO the thousand questions
usually propounded BY those contem.
plating the serious and solemn under.
taking of emigration. A European
trip being ont Of question for want OF
means, l have, in addition to my direct
correspondence with Europe. connected
myself with parties in New York
about to organize an Immigration So
ciety 10 receive and direct Immigrants
from those provinces and assist them in
locating in sections best adapted to their
circumstances and pursuits But in the
first step OF my efforts I am confronted
by these que. tons: Are You merely
endeavoring to get settlers to buy your
lands, or are you prepared to offer any
gratuitous inducements, at least to the
most needy of the new corners? And
have you any immediate and steady
employment for those who are not pre-
pared to become landed settlers at pres
emit? These questions, | regret to say,
| cannot answer 80 satisfactorily as |
would desire, although l have, both in
my official reports and through the
press, frequently suggested to our peo-
pie and especially to our landholders,
certain measures to provide for the very
contingency now before us.
intend to visit New York some
time next month to conclude arrange
ments with the proper societies, provid
ell ! can do so holding in my hands
some inducements that will at least
compare favorably with those offered
by other States. And first l beg leave
to ask: Why is it that West Virginia
is one OF the very few States, if not the
only State, in which not a single public
collection has yet been taken up for the
French victims OF the terrible war just
closed? What could have been more
effective way to attract attention in this
direction than such manifestation of
true and disinterested sympathy? 1t is
not yet too late to introduce ourselves
into notice by this means, and hope it
NAV he done without further delay, as
a matter OF good policy, if not upon
any other grounds. Then | would sug-
gest that all land owners DESTROYS to
attract settlers to their estates, furnish
the Board of immigration with de-
scription Of their properties, stating
how much land and in what sized par
GELS they wish to donate to actual set
tiers, and at what price and on what
terms Of payment they would sell the
remainder in lots to suit purchasers.
Perhaps the most practicable plan on
which to make the donation, would be
to convey to the settler at once, and for
one dollar consideration, say % acres Of
whild land, or less, if improved, out OF
each lot of from so to 100 acres, and to
sell him the remainder on time. The
unconditional ownership OF home
stead, however small, will be power
full inducement to a newcomer in
strange land with all the difficulties
and uncertainties of pioneer life be-
fore him. By disposing Of every alter
nate lot in this manner, the UNCHANGED
value of the intermediate lots will,
within a year or two, much more than
compensate the temporary donation; for
within that time the most destitute i'm
migrants who come first, will be follow
ed by their more comfortable neighbors
and friends, and a steadily improving
current is established
would like also to learn from en-
ployers in every county, what kind Of
hands and how many are wanted, and
what wages would be paid during the
first few months This information
should be thoroughly reliable, 80 as not
to expose the strangers to become dis
heartened in search Of employment
from place to place.
Both the provinces of Alsace ard Lor-
raine contains numerous and extensive
manufactures OF plain and printed cot
ton, wooden and worsted goods, Of oil
cloth, sail cloth, plain silk, iron, steel,
glass, earthenware, porcelain, paper,
arms, chemicals, strawgoods, hardware,
furniture, agricultural implements,
woodenware, etc, etc, and all the ma
chinerv Used in those establishments
made there from native iron and tin
Der. The fuel coal for all those mills,
numbering $50 to 800 in upper Alsace,
aloneais transported by canal, over
distance of 100 to $50 miles, while here
they would find it at their very door
Many of those manufactures, who with
their designers, engineers and superin-
tendents constitute the most intelligent
and high spirited norton of the populs-
ton will emigrate at any sacrifice, and
where is there a State offering more
powerful, natural inducements TO Their
industries than West Virginia?
Iappeal to all those who have the
prosperity of our young and backward
State sincerely at heart, and the means
to contribute to its development not to
permit the golden opportunity presented
i-.b;, 1aa~o' ;ranioratiop IN mass ~