Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-01-31

| EtttAUn anu EAAAl&E8GlOu-Wna nat
Constitutes n State Patent Adver-
Experience-What One Man
has DOne-HOw to Get out Of Rebt-
How to Utilize cur Fields and For
ests.
To the Editors Of the Union and American:
CRossvILLE, CUMBERLAND COUNTY,
Tenn, Jan. Is, 1871 notice with inter-
est that the subject of immigration is being
discussed, at this time, with reference to
our own condition and wants. This is
well; because if something very efficient is
not done soon, our population will decrease;
in fact, is decreasing, 1 think. Texas,
Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, ETC., are draw
| ing largely upon Tennessee to recruit
their own population. 1 doubt not that
two persons are leaving this State where
one comes to it; and we sit su-
| pinely and witness this waste of our
numbers; a waste that is unnecessary
| and one that will continue until we, as a
| people, become aroused to a sense of our
real condition, and take hold earnestly to
/ counteract the mischievous influences now
| at work to diminish our numbers and our
wealth. Others of the comparatively new
States are rapidly augmenting their popu-
| lation; not, however, because they possess
| climate or soil superior to ours, but because,
In some instances, the State gives Of its
means and Of its influence to accomplish
| the desired results. In other cases, the
railroads offer inducements for immigrants
in the shape of low fare and cheap lands.
And the desired results are produced;
population flows in, and with it
comes skill, labor and capital. And
what but these constitute the wealth of
State? We cannot, reasonably, expect to
maintain our credit at home, nor abroad,
without efforts, and expenditure Of time and
means: for blessings are not to STATES nor
to individuals, gratuity. Something does
not come from nothing; but all advantages
are had at a cost, to somebody; and if the
State of Tennessee wishes to secure immi-
grafton, and the benefits resulting from If,
it must be done through effort, and at cost.
The State should be the power to move the
machinery; and this machinery can be made
effective.
Population cannot be expected to flow
into our borders unless our advantages are
made known, and vividly so, too. In a
sense we must initiate the manufacturers
of patent machines, that is, we must publish
to the world what are our advantages as
State we must give information of our eli
power; we must make known to every
class what We possess; and we must keep
the facts before the people; must use the
pen and the press and this must be done
persistently, energetically, and with deter |
mination that certain results shall be accom-, |
plished.
To illustrate what may be done in the |
way of indacing immigration to our State, |
hot oh tOr1ld
mention my own experience, and what re- |
suited from my efforts.
In March, 1866, came into this country |
with the intention of informing the great |
public of the advantages of their table lands. |
To accomplish this lgave my time, means /
and efforts to the work. l used certain |
newspapers, which had large circulation
at the North, to influence correspondence,
and gained my object, for letters of inqui-
ry came to me faster than l could reply to
them. then publiSed circular, in which
l gave a minute description of these high
lands, more particularly of this county,
hoping thereby to diminish my writing.
Resulting from this came steady stream
of immigrants, Or more cor
rectly, prospecsers, to investigate the
truthfulness of my statements. a part of
these are now citizens of this county, say to
the number of about one hundred and
fifty families, and are aiding to develop our
physical resources. Many who left home
to come here, are now citizens of White,
Warren, Coffee and other counties, prefer
ring that portion of our State to this. But
for the opposition manifested, on each side
of the Table, to my efforts, there would,
be here, at this time, over five
hundred families from the North and the
West. Nevertheless, we have a strong nu-
good foundation for prosperous fu-
ture. When arrived here in 1866, there were
only two Northern families in the vicinity.
| have been aided by others to secure the !
one hundred and fifty immigrant families
now in the county. l gave myself to the
work of inducing immigration hither three {
and half years, and then felt that | could '
not afford to work longer gratuitOusly for s
the State, nor the public. If such a result !
as l claimed to have produced by my own
efforts, either directly or indirectly can be
what might not be expected if the
State would step in with its influence, and T
aid, and put many similar intin- 7
ences at work? {
And this appears TO be a peculiarly !
auspicious time to take hold Of, and push !
his much needed work; the railroads COM
Dleted, being built, and soon to be built,
make it so. With the iron track traversing
much of the State, running through our
,erritory in various directions, with a eli
mate not eEcelled anywhere; with a soil
capable of being made very productive;
with healing matters which cure many dis
eases, and greatly alleviate many others; !
with timber, such as few countries can
BOAST; with fruit unsurpassed in excellence /
and keeping qualities; with mountains lit
orally crammed with coal, and ores, why
should we not invite immigrants hither?
And why should not the State, like wise
md careful parent, make this her own pc ]
,uliar work? I
Every dollar wisely expended in this '
cause would bring many in return. Tax s
able wealth would come with the immi-
grants, and natural results follow its invest
nents by them. Increase largely the gen 7
,ral wealth of the State, and the Legisla- i
.ure will find it an easy matter to raise
needed revenue, and then our State
bonds will not be sold at a discount of
thirty or forty per cent. :
1t is impossible for our present population q,
10 use all our acres. We have room and 6
work for a few more millions of enterpris- 7
ing and industrious citizens, whose privilege
and Joy it should be to aid in converting our
waste places into beautiful fields; to utilize
our streams; to increase our flOcks, and
our herds to manufacture our timber, and
our ores for the supply of our wants and
The wants of others; to produce individual,
and consequently State wealth; to create
homes of gladness, and secure for the State
4 reputation that would be enviable amongst
The sisterhoOd of States.
New York, Boston, and other Northern
cities, build and furnish their houses to a
extent from timber which
grew in the forests of Maine, Ohio, Indiana,
etc. At present, to a small extent, they
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