The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-11-05
The sII..Is.iPpI valley Society.
From the n. O. rimes.I

From the n. O. Timesl
1t will be remembered that we last
winter advocated the objects and plan Of
the Mississippi Valley Society OF London.
This society Is itself a recognition Of the
Importance of our great productive valley.
In hls tenth volume of the History of the
United States, Mr. Bancroft saws: The
Mississippi River is the pledge of the
union OF the States of America. Had
they been confined to the eastern slope Of
the AlIeghanies, there would have been
no geographical unity between them. and
the thread of connection between lands
that merely fringed the Atlantic must
soon have been sundered. The Father
of Rivers gathers his waters from all the
clouds that break between the Allegha-
MES and the furthest ranges of the
Rocky Mountains. The ridges Of the
eastern chain bow their heads Mt the
north and at the south, SO that long before
science became the companion of man.
nature herself pointed out 10 the bArba-
rous races how short portages join his
tributary rivers to those of the Atlantic
coast. AT the other side his mightiest
arm interlocks with the arm of the Oregon
and the Colorado, and by conformation
of the earth itself, marshal highways 10
the Pacific"
OF the valley itself he saws: This
magnificent valley, lying in the hest part
of the temperate zone, salubrious, won
derfully fertile, is the chosen muster
ground of the most various elements OF
human culture brought together by men.
summoned from all the civilized nations
of the earth, and joined IN the bonds of
common citizenship by the strong,
invisible attraction of republican free
DOM"
One of the special features of the
Mississippi Valley Society consisted in
the cosmopolitan design of fostering
international prosperity by inducing
delegations from the old world to visit
the South and West under the auspices
of the parent society, and that of the
branches in this country. The practical
advantage OF such plan has been observ-
ed recently in the visit TO the West and
South by a small party of prominent
EngIishmen. We learn through various
Western journals that these gentlemen
were received with great favor in those
cities where branches of the parent So
ciety have been established and that they
were pleasingly surprised ut the vast ex-
tent and variety of our natural resources
Especially has this been the case in
their visit 10 New Orleans. They did
not come hither as special delegates, but
rather in a semi-otiicial capacity; one
of their number, the Hon. John Crossley,
of Halifax, England, being at the same
time member Of the British Parliament
and prominent officer Of the London
society.
In the reception given to Mr.. Crossley
by the New Orleans Branch, it was clear.
ly evident that the organization is admi-
rably fitted to meet the peculiar wants Of
the South and West. Mr.. Crossley said
that the information most needed in Eng
land to induce capital to come hither.
was now in process Of being furnished
through the London office, and that his
friends had been greatly benefited
! through the Branch organizations in this
country. He further urged the impor-
lance of sending from the Branch in this
city information Of every kind pertaining
to our citizens that reliable statistics and
information bearing on the agriculture
and commerce of the country would be
gladly received and so used by the Lon
don Office as to prove equally beneficial
to his countrymeD and our people.
Mr.. Crosslcy touched upon the subject
Of immigration 10 the great valley in a
very practical manner. He suggested
that large company be formed with
sufficient capital to furnish assistance 10
needy emigrants, the company retaining
a lien unon the land nurchaged until these
advances were repaid. lie thought that
corporation could be formed which would
be ofgreat service to a new country, nnd at
the same time prove remuncrative to the
stockholders. This seems to US = very
good suggestion. We trust that tina Lon
don society will SO elaborate it rs TO bring
it fairly before the attention olthe capI-
taljsls.