The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-22
Immigrants Should be Landed Proprietors

The subject. of immigration has received
careful discussion throughout the State, and
many suggestions have been offered as tn the
best method of giving permanency to the
movement. In a late number of the Charles
ton NeaUs and Courier, the matter is discussed
by VIM. E. Simmons, jr., in favor Of making
land proprietors of the immigrants as the
surest means of identifying them with the for
tunes of the State. We have room only for the
conclusion of Mr.. Simmons article:
It is manifestly the interest Of individuals as
we'll as communities to make peasant proprie-
tors of the immigrants who come among them.
But how is the desirable object to be effected in
South Carolina? By giUialg the land to tie i1g-
migrants. In our State there is over 16, 900
acres of farmable land, not fourth OF which
is improved and under cultivation. The re-
mainder is held in large tracts, not one of
which would sell for anything like the figure
at which it is assessed. In fact, the bulk of it
is unstable, and burden to the proprietors.
If this land were divided into sections of ten
or fifteen acres and each alternate section con-
veyed in fee simple to settling family, the re-
naming sections would increase from ten to
twenty fold in value, and the general prosperi
ty Of the State be proportionately enhanced.
Life occupancy or long lease of the land would
not prove near so beneficial as conveyance in
fee simple to the settler, because he would not,
in that case, feel 1.-The magic of property"
which is the real stimulus to progressive in
dustry. When the settling immigrant is too
Door to stock his farm, it would be profitable
Investment to loan him the necessary capital
and take mortgage on his farm, being CAREFUL
however always to give him fair chance OF
paying off the mortgage. In Conunental Eu-
rope nearly every peasant, on buying piece
of land, stocks it this way, and 1t Is an aSreea-
BILE fact, very credtable also to the peasants,
that such mortgages are almost always paid OH.
The plan I have suggested of giving immi-
grants land, is, as everybody knows, anything
but new. But, heretofore, want of an agency
to carry it into effect has rendered it impracti-
cable Such an agercy we now have in the
Oranges, which are planted in every county OF
the State Let each landholder report to his
nearest Grange how much land he can give,
Let the secretaries of the Oranges Keep record
of the land thus offered, and communicate
with DR.. Newman at Castle Garden, New YORK,
with the German Society OF CharlestOn, or
perhaps even with Mr.. Joseph Arch IN Eng
land. In q short time large numbers OF desl-
rable immigrants could thus be attracted to
our STATE Immigrants VINO would prefer
TO locate in South Carolina, but are now
carried to the far-otf plains of the West by the
inducement of cheaper land. In undertaking
this work, the Oranges would also assume the
nostion of arhitrators between the landholder
and the immigrants, to insure that justice is
done on both sides. From a knowledge OF nu-
merous discussions that have recently occurred
in the Oranges, feel confident that they are
ripe for the work propose, and that the lnltla-
tive step only need be taken to insure the sue
cessful accomplishment of the end. -
The importance of this work 70 tle we Wenare
of the State is such that the majesty of its pro
portions tlwarfall others into insignlhcance, and
f has the additional merit Of forming another
link in the great chain of effort which is now
making for the physical and moral elevation
of the human race.