The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-10-03
Immigration.

ton, wh0se duty 1t ID to suggest
the best and most practical plan Of
inducing Immigration to this par.
Iisl. The committee was rot con.
tined to the Boar,l of Directors or
stock holders Of the Association
hut embraced several IF the hest
informed men vf our parish. So far
the committee hns made no report.
We wish to call their attention to
the fact, and suggest that the gen.
tlemen composing the committee
prepare and present some feasible
plan during the annual meeting Of
the Association. There il no ques.
ton Of greater Importance to the
property holders OF this parish than
that Of obtaining the proper kind OF
laborers. those that will sympathise
with us in every way, and assist in
retaining and building up the for
tunes Of the State and parish. The
large bodies of land that are sus.
ceptible Of cultivation, are not only
unprotluctive 20 the owner, but an
absolute expense. Each year they
detcrioratc in intrinsi: value, the
fencing and other improvements
are subject to decay, and still the
taxes must be paid. 1t is poor
economy to expend large sums 81
money each year in trying to keep
large tracts Of land under fence,
which are growing up III noxious
weeds aud grasses. There is u su.
perabundance OF open and tillable
land in the parish, more than would
employ ten times the laboring pop.
ulation than is now in it.
It would he wise economy to have
,he great surplus in cultivation,
at q price, it nothing more, which
would pay taxes aud make the, usual
repairs. It is almost impossible to
purchase small tracts of land, and
unless the land owners change
their policy, it will be difficult to
induce white men to locate in the
parish, and what few have come in
the last few years will leave, as
they cannot be contcnted in any
country where it is next to an i'm.
possibility Of obtaining a home
stead. This is the great object OF
every farmer to accumulate a suffi-
cheney to purchase a home for him.
self aud family. The short sighted
policy OF not offering proper induce
ments white men seeking homes
in our parish has already turned
from it large number, and will
materially effect our future progress
and prosperity il persisted in
These are great and vital questions
which the committee on Immigra-
ton should consider, and in the
preparation Of their report make
some suggestions that will remedy
this and other evils that operate
against the best interest OF the
Parish. We should favor a tax
direct, through the Police Jury Of
the Parish for this purpose, but
there is no law which authorizes it,.
We need agents to travel for us and
give All accurate description Of the
lands, their protlnctiveness, the
climate, it's advantages, etc. At
the same time the land owners
could make propositions through
these agents to those who are look.
lug for homes.
O This would be an inducement
perhaps to some, who would like to
know the precise terms on which
they could lease or purchase lands
before irnmigrating to any country.
We feel satisfied that with proper
exertions, the great tide of immi.
grafton that is pouring into Texas,
carrying with it wealth, energy and
civilization, could he in q great
measure diverted to Louisiana -
Hitherto the large planters have
preferred the negro as ]aborer
and just after the war, millions of
money was expended in bring ng
this kind OF labor from other States.
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