The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-05-30
How to Get Ilnrnixrants.
(From tho Rural Carolinisn.)

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That immigration 10 desirable is almost
universally conceded. We need laborers
intelligent, efficient laborers, but, above
all, who shsll have an interest in the vel
fare Of the country, own properly, pay tax.
es, and help by their votes and by the in
creased prosperity they would bring, to
make taxes light. 1t 10 men-white men
who comes here with their families, and
come to stay, that we want. 1t matters
comparatively little whore they come from
provided they are intelligent, Industrious,
law-abiding people, and become perma-
nent settlers. Europeans and Northefners
should be equally welcome. Once estab-
lished here. their interest and ours will be
one, and all can work together to promote
the prosperity of the State.
Well, the practical question is, how
shall we get such immigrants 2 1t strikes
us that we are not at.present, at least in
South Carolina. taking the right course.
We are calling loudly for immigrants, but
are not placing before them the proper IN
ducements to come here-that is as gen.
er:d rnle. We appeal to them as laborers.
We ask them to come here and work for US
for wages-very low wages too. They can
work for other people at home, OF if they
come to America, they can get far better
wages at the West. But the better class
of immigrants, the class we want, do not
come here to work for wages. Many of
them may hire out for time, and there
will always be those among them who will
be available as hired latorers, but the pri-
mary idea with them all is to become land
owners, and make themselves comfortable,
permanent homes, and we shall never get
them to some here in large numbers till
we recognize this motive and appeal to it
in some e1ectual way.
We have. surplus lands in abundance.
Our undeveloped resources are immense
Our climate is unsurpassed and greatly
superior to that of the West. No country
in the world offers to-day so many advan-
tages to the settler as the South; and,
whatever prejudiced or politically inter
ested parties may say to the contrary,
there is no region. where the immigrant.
If well disposed, will meet with warmer
welcome or kinder treatment, OF find more
and helpful neighbors.
Do not these facts suggest the means of
indncing immigration? We think SO.
The immigrants want land. They gen.
orally have little money, but not much.
Many of them are not able to buy land
but could put up a Lighthouse and stock a
little farm. We have millions OF acres Of
good unimproved land that is utterly use
less to those who own it. Might we not
advantageously offer portion of this sur
plus to immigrants on the sole condition
that they settle on and improve Who
does not see that if one fourth of all our
land were disposed of in this way that tie
remaining three fourths would soon be
worth far more than the whole now is.
One may give fifty acres. another hun
dred, a third five hundred. (divid0 into
small tracks,) and so on. The aggregate
would amount to millions. Then let the
fact be PUBLISHED to the world in several
languages, made known throughout Amer
lea and Europe. together with the advan-
lagos OF soil, climate and social privileges
with it, and extra facilities af-
orded for getting to these lands and COM
nencing operations on them.s Here would
be substantial inducements to these peo-
ole, and they would not be slow to see |
hem. |
All parties would be benefited by such
IN arrangement. The immigrant would
yet home, the country would get good
citizens, We should get the labor we need,
but shall not get by our direct appeals,
or these people would bring with them or
lraw after them surplus of bone aud
MUSCLE adapted to our purposes.
We are aware that this is no new idea.
4 few have offered to give land to immi.
rants on certain conditions, and attempts
ave been made to induce general movS-
nent in this direction. The time had not
ONE. We believe the country is now
ipe for it. What we want+ at the present
ime, is concerted, organized and persist
mt effort. An individual can do little in
his matter. The people of the State act ej
ne together, can do every thing.
Perhaps no better agencies for initia-
ing the enterprise can be suggested than
ur County Agricultural Societies. Will
hey not take hold OF the matter at aace1
nd in earnest 2A y
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