The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-07-04
our Surplus Lands-How to Find Settlers.

In the last six years there has been numer
GUS conflicting theories as to the most eigibl
mode of attra citing immigrants to the South
All acknowledged the Importance of immigra-
ton, all were anxious to promote it, but few
could agree as to the measures to be adopted
At first. indeed, there was such an influx VI
Northern men who came prospecting" as the
phrase went, aud there was such talk all
over the country about buying Southern farms
that it seemed to those Of sanguine minds, we
would have nothing to do but to fold our
arms and await the rush Of purchasers and
quietly decide between the multitudinous Of
fers. Some land.holders grew SO confident
that they began to put up prices at exhorbi
tant figures, and to become extremely dainty
as to what class of bidders they would condos
cend to sell to. When this delusion as to
easy sales and high prices was dispeled aud
il became manifest that persistent and we'll
directed efforts would have to be made to Sc.
cure purchasers and settlers, all sorts Of pro-
jects were started Each had its day, ran its
course, and ended in disappointment. Final
ly activity was succeeded by stagpatcn, and
at present. the word fiat will express the con-
dition of our people as to this, their greatest
interest. Of course this quiescence and mac
tivity cannot long continue. The necessity
for effective measures to attract immigration
and capital becomes greater every day. Here
in Virginia we have millions of acres OF sur
plus lands, not under cultivation, and paying
taxes. We want purchasers and settlers for
them. We need the money for which they
would sell. We need the productions they
would YIELD if under cultivation. 1t would
be better to sell them at one-half or one fourth
of their value than to retain them as wild
lands. 1t would be better to give away atern
ate sections than to continue to hold them and
pay taxes upon them year after year.
In recent Issue We suggested as pre-
requisite a mode Of collecting and dssemina-
ting at the North and in Europe correct iu-
formation as to the advantages, capabilities
and pecularities of the several divisions of
the State.
The following compact and well-cx pressed
article from the Washington Patriot contains
matter for reflection, and presents plan Of
action which. if carried out, would doubtless
WELD excellent results. It has the merit of
economy as we'll as of sim plicity.
'sThe South must do much more than seek
abroad in order to encourage a substantial i'm
migration of thrifty aud useful class: She
must offer adequate inducements at home,
and these inducements must be such as will
compete with the jealous, determined aud 10.
telligcnt efforts made by the States of the
Northwest, their railroads and land agencies,
/ to keep the tide of population flowing in their
direction as it has hitherto done Land must
be cheapened to immigrants labor and good
wages assured them; and especially must they
feel sure that they will enjoy that perfect So
cial quality which is SO large an clement in
the inducements which actuate the Europcon
proletaire when be abandons his old home
and ancient associations and customs for new
home III the untred West. IF the planters
of the Carolinas, Georgia and Virginia, in
stead of encouraging the appointment of pol
iticans as Estate emigration agents." were
to form themselves into Homestead societies, +"
subscribing land instead of money, and guar
anteeing to incoming labor small farms at
nominal prices, the houses upon which are to
be built and paid for out of the wages of the
immigrant, they would not only procure la
Dor, but that very kind IF permanent. settled,
domesticated labor which they themselves
most need and which will be most useful 10
restoring the State to healthy condition =
Let it be known to the thrifty peasantry OF
tie agricultural parts of Italy that married
man oy going to the South. can obtain at
once farm of twenty or thirty acres of land,
with house uron it for his immediate occu-
pancy, all of which he can make his own fee
simple property by the labor Of five years, and
an important immigra ion will be at once Sc
cured
In any plan that shall be adopted our rail
roads will play an important paft One of
them the Orange Alexandria and Manassas,
has indeed entered the field with a compre-
hensive and we'll dieested plan, which we re-
Gently explained. Others will probably fol-
low An interest so vast cannot much longer
lie suffering for want of some feasible plan of
action. Tie best thoughts of our people
should be given to the subject. We have
the advantage of six years ofex periencc which
has taught lis that schemes about which SO
much was spokea and written were only chi
meras and decisions. Having seen our way
out of errors, it is to be hoped that we shall
soon find the real path to success Whi1
lN0rket3.