Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-09-23
Tenuessee,s Lost Opportunity.

Mr.. G. G. Giers, OF this city, reached home
from the Vienna Exposition and European
tour, Sunday night. He speaks in the most
glowing terms of the Exposition, and says
that sight of the bulldogs alone would
well repay one for the expense incurred in
going to VieDna. He says that Kentucky,
Joining Tennessee on the north, and Ala
bsms, our Southern sister, were well rep
represented a. the Exposition, while not a
thing from this State was exhibited, for the
reason that no appropriation had been made
by our pennY-wise and pound-foolish Legis-
lsture last winter to defrsy lhe necessary
expense connected with display of the ar
ticles sent over by this State, and Of course
the Commissioners, all of whom paid their
own expenses, could not be expected to
make this outlay.
Mr.. Giers was assailed all over Europe by
residents of the various countries he visited,
with inquiries regarding America, its Gil
mate, soil, ETC., and the advantages partic-
ular sections offer TO European immigrants.
BE was surprised and mortified to tLd that
less is known of Tennessee than any other
Ststein the Union. On the passage home, bis
vessel stopped at Queenstown and took on
five hundred emigrants destined for various
States, but not one coming to Tennessee.
At Lucerne, Switzerland, he made the &C
ouaintance of Mr.. Vim. Joos,
the head of the emigration
movement in that country, and this
gentleman was specially DESTROYS of getting
soma facts and figures with regard 20 East
Tennessee, that section being very much
like the country surrounding Lucerne. Mr..
Giers made an appointment to meet him
the mex Gay and furnish him with certain
information in relation to this State, but
the train leaving at an earlier hour than he
had anticipated, he was unable to keep the
engagement. Mr.. zoos was so interested IN
the matter that he followed Mr.. Giers to
Studgard, where be saw him, and told him
be would have followed him to Liverpool,
rather than have missed seeing him.
Mr. Giers says this is a very favorable
time to work up emigration in Europe, and
especially in Germany, as the people there
anticipate another war with France, and as
a general thing the masses OF the people are
not favorably disposed toward any more
blood-shed. The fact that the young men
all have to serve three years in the army,
even though there be no war, is another
thing which reconciles them to the idea OF
leaving their native land and seeking a
home in America. Mr.. Giers speaks OF one
man he met in Germany who told him he
had three sons, the eldest of whom will
soon be old enough to go into the army.
This man was exceedingly anxious TO come
to America, saying that If he could come
now, he would save the nine years military
service his boys will be compelled to serve
if be remains where he is.
Wherever Mr.. Giers went, he did sill In
his power to make the advantages ard re-
sources of lis own State known, but be
found in all large cities regularly or
gsnized corps of agents, representing all the
Western States especially, and these men
work under system so effective that nearly
every man, woman and child who leavl 8
the old country knows just where they are
going to locate in this country, before they
start.
1t is high time the people of this State re-
alize the golden opportunities they are los
ing in the way of securing immigrants, and
measures should be taken at once to place
our State right in the countries across the
water, from which countries thousands of
jQst the kind Of people Tennessee needs
ar emigrating every year.