The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-01-18
IMMIGRATION.

portant considerations to which We direct at
tent;on is the field Of operation and the mode
of reaching those who may be disposed to
change their homes and their country. The
English and German people more readily
ooalesce with our people and adapt themselves
to our customs and modes Of doing business.
The most important duty of the people OF
Virginia to perform, is the diffusing Of prop
er information as to the advantages of this
State. We have already an immigration
board, composed of Col. T. J. Randolph, of
A!bemarle, and Messrs. ". H. Mcfarland,
of Greenbrier, B. w. haxall, Of Richmond
and w. H Richardson, Of Heurico, who is
the Commissioners Of Immigration
It might be advisable to procure the SER
vices Of some active, energetic and well quail
fled man, to collect the necessary information
as respects climate, products Of the soil. and
the average price Of land, and to spread such
information throughout Europe, as to induce
the emigration Of volunteer colonies. In
such we would be sure to find a desirable
class Of population. Although Of Gallo ex-
traction, the inhabitants of Alsace and Lor-
raine, would be proper people among whom
to spread the required information, and if
found necessary, give some tangible eneour-
agement The French government is now
trying to induce that people, since their ter
ritory has been under the jurisdiction of
Prussia, to emigrate to Algeria, and colonize
that country. This, however, cannot be ef-
fected. It was tried in 1915, by Louis Phil
lippi, but their tenacious local attachments
could not be shaken, until were added to the
promise Of lands, horse, a cart, COW and
several pigs. These induced many to under
take the journey and encounter the chances OF
that arid country. The whole scheme, how
ever, failed. The unproductive soil, the
drouths and the frequent incelrsions of the
roaming, hostile Arabs, rendered their labors1
useless Their economy and ACCOMMODATIONS
but stimulated the-cupidity of these vaga-
DOpuS, duu CHeSe ldClSf 1o@oAAAa '''o
country, stopped~she tide Of emigration.
That people are now dissatisfied with their
-present government. Although never adopt
iog the gay and frivolous habits of the French,
they, nevertheless, had become attached to
the French government, and do not regard
with favor Prussian rule. The character of
their productions are similar to those of Vir-
GINA, embracing grains, potatoes, hemp, flax,
tobacco, grapes and fruits of all kinds
Their habits of economy and industry are
proverbial, as is their docility marked fea-
ture of their character.
We have now letter before US from an
intelligent and educated foreigner, long res
ident Of this country, himself an Alsatian-
from whom we gather the above facts-who
regards the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine
as the most propitious fields to operate in
His services, as an agent of the State, would
be invaluable in that country, because he
could command the confidence of his own
people, and, give them such information as
they would desire. He has given the sub
ject of immigration much thought, and has
fruitlessly endcavored to excite an interest in
it among the people of distant Southern
State. Attracted by the views advanced by
Gov. Walker, in regard to this matter, in
his recent annual message, he wrote to US,
enclosing a slip which contained his own pro-
posed mode of operations.
The fear we entertain is that, in Virginia,
any scheme that may be organized, will fall
into the control Of broken-down politicians,
who are ever seeking to thrust themselves
forward for selfish purposes, and with no real
desire to benefit the State The recent In
migration Convention held in Richmond, was
mainly, BY just such persons.
We have no use for them in this enterprise.
We want live, practical, energetic men to
push forward the work
Appropos to the subject. we take the fol-
lowing paragraph from the Richmond Wing
Of a late date, Col, Baldwin showed his
SSoou 5euse, anu lcdl luteIeht III Tue SuOJecG, !
in giving the direction he did to the letter
of inquiry. It would have been good op-
portunity for him to have delivered bun
combe speech, if that had been his disposition
But as he could not give the subject the atten-
ton he thought it deserved, he sent the let
ter to the source whence the desired infor-
nation could be communicated. Tho result
is stated in the paragraph:
Several months since Prof Chas. Lempri-
ere formerly of Oxford University, England,
addressed letter to Col. John B. Baldwin
Of this State, making number of inquiries
about Virginia lands, their quality, price,
ETC., and stating that he had formed compa-
ny of Englishmen of education, character and
means, who proposed to purchase and settle
10000 acres of land in Virginia. The let
ter was referred by Col. Baldwin to Gen. W.
II. Richardson; Commissioner Of Immigra-
ton, for answer. The commissioner not only
replied very fully and explicitly to the inqui-
RIGS contained il the letter Of Prof Lemprie-
re, but he subsequently, addressed letter in
person to him making such suggestions as
the case called for, embracing information
as TO the soil, climate, etc., and advising him
that, instead Of sending deputation after
Christmas as he proposed, to examine and
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