The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-14

ONAOf%N-
Frank Schaller, of the Immigration Bu-
reau, to which the attention of all parties is
called:
ATHENS, GA, March 6, 1871.
To General VIM. H. Richardson, Commissioner
of immigration of virginia;
GENEnAL,-Upon my return from Macon as
A delegate to the Georgia State Agricultural
Convention, where several hundred delegates
from the county agricultural societies met, and
where was appointed chairman OF the COM
mittee on immigration and land companies, to
bring before our coming Legislature the
subject of immigration, upon the basis of
bill matured by said society and resting upon
nv actual experience on the subject, received
a letter from my chief agents in Germany,
Messrs. Meyer & Co., of Hamburg, the largest
emigration firm in Europe, of the utmost i'm
portance to the State Of Virginia. In it am
informed that, upon my request, they have,
even during the war just closed, continued the
business OF the State agency at Hamburg,
which / established as the centre Of the several
hundred agencies created by me throughout
the continent, and that they have answered all
com % unicatious addressed to them on the sub
ect of immigration to Virginia, to the dste o.
their letter. They were, at the time OF thelr
writing, (20th January, 1871, "ia receipt OF
applications from various portions OF the
conntrv. mostly from well-to-do farmers" in
regard TO settlement in Virginia; that, after
this long delay, they are at fault how to reply,
and am requested, at my earliest convenience,
to give to them the necessary instructions as
| to
l, Whether or not these settlers may expect
| the aid and protection of the State, promised
| in the vario publications of the State Board
| and its agents. i
Q. By whom these settlers will be received,
| both in New York and Richmond, and who Will
| locate them in Virginia.
| 3. To whom the emigration agents on the
continent have to look for their commissions
| for actual settlers.
These several questions am utterly unable
to answer, without first applying to you for the
| requisite information.
You are aware that the agencies established
by me are yet, to-day, de tacto existing no
official notice having been given to them Of
their discontnuance; being, as l was at the
| time of my leaving Europe, in hopes that the
| State of Virginia would, at the earliest op-
portunity give her fullest attention to this
most important subject, and that she would
not contemptuously throw away the labors Of
years the expenditure of thousands of dollars,
and the weighty results already attained
| through the system OF agencies established.
| Firmly convinced as / was in June, 1870, that
| Virginia would never commit such an indis-
cretion and utterly destroy her future pros
| poets, that she would never ungratefully dis
we'll as General Tochman's, mine as well as
Colonel Hutton's-labors which have not cost
her cent took it upon myself, when lack
| of means forced me to abandon my labors in
| Europe, penetrated by this firm conviction
and trust, to prevail upon my agents to con-
| tinue their labors in behalf Virginia shrink
| ing from a premature avowal by such dis
| closure, through these agencies to the emigrat.
| ing masses OF Europe, that Virginia has not
only-repudiated the faithful labor OF her agents,
but that she to-day declares, by discarding the
| efficient system inaugurated, that she will not
| protect and aid any emigrant that, in short,
she does not wish for immigration.
The results of nv faithful and energetic Ia
bors, for which have in my possession testi-
monials from other persons than from you, or
from Gen. Tochman, was by me foreseen and
has been predicted by me at various times in
| my official communications. These expected
| results led me, and they lead me to-day, to urge
again upon you and the Legislature of the
| State the maintenance of the established agen-
| cies. During my presence in Richmond, In
| July last, the same hope, yet to save what had
| been achieved, induced me to be willing to CO.
operate with Gen. Tochman for its realization.
| Sometime in September, Gen. T. requested
| me to forward to him report. My answer
| was: s'In regard to report on emigration
operations, have finished a draft. If you
| think that the time is auspicous now, l will
furnish you with copy. have thought that
owing to the indisposition of the present
Legislature, the continuance of the war, the
| recent food in Virginia, it would, perhaps,
be well to await the assembling of the new
Legislature which, learn, meets next year (;
| but will comply with your decision in this
respect"
| No answer was received, nor any notifca-
| tien to me of the arrival or non arrival at
| Richmond of Mr.. Hildebrandt, North Ger
| man, who was then on his way to Virginia.
| These facts authorize me to assume that Gen.
| 7. has abandoned all further interest in behalf
| of immigration to Virginia as State measure.
l have now the honor to request you to in
form me at your earliest convenience
l. Is there any prospect that the system OF
immigration to Virginia, as inaugurated, the
only one ,chich ,Ou bring to your State those set.
| tiers she needs, will be maintained, fostered and
aided by Virginia?
O. Who is the State agent at Castle Garden
to receive the settlers
8. Who is the State agent at Richmond tc
receive and locate the settlers2
4. Who will pay to the agents in Europe
the commissions for actual settlement in Vir
ginia? -.
So earnest am in this matter, that l will
upon invitation of the Senate committee OF
immigration, even at great personal inconve
nience and injury to my business, (providet
my expenses be paid,) give to that committee
nm account Of what has been achieved and o
the inevitable consequences which will ensu'
should our labors be discountenanced anC
abandoned. And l am furthermore willing
and anxious that committee, consisting 0
competent persons acquainted with the Ian
guages 10 which written, should fully examine
into and report upon my labors and correspon
dence in behalf of immigration to Virginia.
If ever time was precious and auspicious t
Virginia in this business, it is the present
And believe me, what Virginia should SO short
sigbtedly reject will be eagerly gathered up b,
other States, much less in extremties than
your State. While should always, and unde
any circumstances, hold Virginia to be th
, State of this Union offering advantages unsur
passed on this continent for the settlement c
, farmers with means, duty to my Europea
countrymen would nevertheless compel me
counsel them to avoid your State as long a
your people, through its Legislature, fails i
establishing, what ace an Europe consider, o
efficient State Department for the encourage
ment of immigration, analogous to that $
1 happily inaugurated, without which there ca
be no guarantees of a safe and prosperous b.
ginning of new life to any emigrant, no ma
ter how humble he may be.
Your prompt attention to this communic
!, tion is respectfully requested, as from your al
swer will depend whether the agencies esta
s lished by me in Germany, Austria, Switze
land, Denmark and Sweden, in behalf of vi
: ginia, can be maintained.
i copy of this letter has been forwarded
v | Al oh of tha nm it