The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-03-03
I4MrGRATIOv.

of immigration that it is reasonable to
suppose that larger number of people
will seek homes in Kansas this year
than in any previous one in its history.
This is by no means unexpected. The
last year was regarded as the last one
needful to establish to the satisfaction
of all eastern people the capability OF
the State to produce good crops, and
Notwithstanding the season was in part
unfavorable, the fact was proven that
the soil of Kansas was not more likely
to be parched with drouth than that of
eastern localities whose improvement
had never suffered the misfortune of
disastrous beginning and the bad name
fostered by jealous rivals, and further
that Kansas was not more likely than
any other State to be afflicted with
short crops from dry weather. Hun
dreds Of eastern men regarded the pub
locations of our real estate agents and
the friends of the State who have set
forth the advantages of Kansas as the
exaggeration of Spectators, and have
waited to see all the facts set forth sub
stantiated by actual results, before they
would venture to make investments
here. They are satisfied now that, how
ever enthusiastic the. friends of our
young State have been in the praises
thereof, their exaggerations have not
been in its capability to produce those
things whereby the life of men are sus-
tanned, and their hs line4s and prosper
ity secured. And now they are ready
to come, and they are coming.
In view of the great influx of new
corners this year, it is proper to ask
what is being done, if anything, in our
own town to induce them to come here,
to stay here, and help build up our city,
and county? Heretofore the natural
advantages, the location, the character
of the people by whom it was first set
tied, and the great extent of country
tributary to it in a commercial point OF
view has caused it to grow independents
ly of the efforts put forth to attract the
attention of immigrants to its advanta-
ges. Henceforth different policy must
be adopted. We can not depend upon
natural resources exclusively to supply
the occasion to keep men here. The
opening up of the border counties tc
settlement afford an attractive field o.
speculation, and the chances to gel
cheap land, or of local trade in view Of
the emigrants to those counties, viii
carry immigrants beyond this pOin
whether such chances for success are
absolutely less than they are here oil
not. The idea prevails that the exten.
sion of the A. T. 81 S. F. road up the
Cottonwood valley will operate against
the trade of our city, and unless VIZ
show substantial proof to the contrary
the effect of this idea viii be to carry
immigrants beyond us who purpose tC
engage in trade.
Then what have we to induce men tc
stay here? We have no special induce.
ments whatever, except what we make
We must go to work with a will to pro-
vide means of employment The ener'
gy and enterprise that has been display
ed heretofore in advertising our city
and drawing here the means of building
it up must be directed to things that
will themselves afford men the means
of support and induce them to stop here
We must work earnestly and united
ly to establish manufactures. Every
enterprise that looks to the develop
ment of our natural resources must be
encouraged and pushed forward. TIC
this end there must necessarily be unity
of action. The local iealousies anC
strifes that now divide onr community
and defeat every measure projected
from honest motives and earnest con
: victions for the public good must bC
harmonized by the mutual yielding o
opposing wills before we can reason
J ably expect to succeed. The extent tC
which the community is divided by sucl
feelings is lamentable in the greatest de-
} gree, and say what we will, is the mos
damaging condition OF things will
which we will have to contend in estab
fishing such institutions and enterprises
as will inure to the public good anG
put us on the high road to wealth and
prosperity. We can not submit ques
ton of bonds for any public use to the
vote of the people with any hope of il
being successfully carried. We can not
secure any unanimity of action in or.
ganizing societies for the promotion Of
any interest whatever. We have nc
agricultural or mechanical association
in the county, practically, and can not
get enough men together to form one
and what we may say of the effort made
to establish one may be truly said OF
every other attempt to make an organ
lied and concerted effort in behalf OF
any particular interest-enough men
could not be brought together in such
interest, or if they were they would not
pull together. We regret to say this,
but it is true, and in order that it may
be obviated and our city receive any
important degree of benefit from the
immense immigration to the State ex-
pected this spring, as one of the first
steps, we would suggest that for our
public offices at the ensuing spring cleo
ton the people unite to bring out men
who have not been heretofore identified
with leading parts in our local strifes.
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