The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-09-04
IMMIGRATION.

We are willing to give the Parkers-
burg Times credit for a sincere desire
to promote immigration, but we think
it errs in ascribing to any considerable
or influential portion OF our citizens any
hostility to the cause. We cannot con-
ceive Of any good reason that cen intlu-
ence a West Virginian, be he ever so
much politician" or "demagogue,"
to oppose the introduction OF for eigners
or throw any obstacles in the way of a
judicious scheme for peopling the State.
The real difficulty that has prevented
the legislature heretofore from making
liberal appropriations OF money
to promote immigration has
been the poverty OF the State treas
ury and the consumption OF the income
in the payment of the immediate and
pressing expenses Of the government.
And there is perhaps another reason
that hiss deferred the Legislature from
appropriating money for this purpose
and that ia the difficulty OF fading
suitable person to te entrusted with
the management o! the iurd What
ever money is expended by the State
for immigration should inure to the ad-
vantage OF the State at large, and the
agent should have no personal interest
10 serve in directing hmm grants 10 one
locality rather than TO another.
1t would be maniiestly improper
for the State Commissioner Of lmmigra-
ton TO employ the public funds placed
at his disposal in bringing in settlers
for his own wild lands in preference
to any others; aui the people would
have o right to be dissatisf ed if the
agent used his official position to bring
immigrants to q locality in which he
had himself fixed up corner"
These difficulties have presented
themselves heretofore, but as they are
not quite insuperable we hope that
the Legislature may yet find some
way OF overcoming them, for we are
quite confident that the disposition is
rot wanting to do whatever is just and
practicable for the purpose OF peoplipg
the State.
Ia the meantime great deal might be
done by private companies OF land
owners. There will certainly be no
objection to their expeuding their own
funds IN bringing from Germany or
elsewhere purchasers Of their lands,
and establishing thriving colonies
where there is now an almost unbroken
wilderness. They could well afford to
expend half OF the present value OF
their possessions in bringing in imml-
grants whose labor will double the
value OF the other hall.
As we have already stated in former
article upon this subject, the resources
OF West Virginia are being extern
sively advertised in all quarters
ofthe country. Tie opening of the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad has had
the effect OF bringing to the notice Of the
nation the wonderful mineral wealth Of
our mountains, and the projection OF
half dozen other roads through our
territory has illustrated the readiness Of
foreign capital to aid in the work OF
utilizing our forests and uor mines. I'M
migration will come; it is coming; and
we think we may assure our neighbor
OF the Parkersburg Times that what
ever aid the State can safely and judi
ciously bestow to hasten the tide will be
cheerfully given. At ell events, wheth-
er their coming is influenced by State
SCENTS or by the enterprise OF private
companies, all industrious immigrants
may be sure OF receiving here cordia
welcome and fair chance.