The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-11-06
How to Get TmmfRrants.
lFrom the Rural Carolinian.1


That immigration is desirable ia almost
universally conceded. We need labor.
er8, intelligent, efficient laborers, but
above all, who shall have an interest in
the welfare of the country, own proper
ty, pay taxes, and help by their votes
and by the increased prosperity they
would bring, IT, make taxes light. 1t is
men-whlte men, who come here with
their families, and come to stay, that we
want. 1t matters comparatively little
where they come from, provided they
are Intelligent, industrious, law-abidinR
people, and become permanent settlers.
Europeans and NOrtherners should be
equally welcome. Once established here,
their interest and ours will he 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 inducements tOcome here-that is
rs a general rule. Weappeal to them as
labOrers. We ask them to come here
and work fOI US for wages-very low
wages too. They a work for other
people at home, Orif they come to Amer
lea, they can get far better wages at the
West. But the better class Of immi-
grants, the ClasAwe wait, do not come
here To work for wages. Many of them
may hire ont for a time, and there will
always he those among them who will
he available as hired labOrers, but the
primary idea with them all is to become
land owners, and make themselves COM
Portable, permanent homes, and we shall
never get them to come here in large
numbers till we recognize this motive
and appeal to it in some effectual way.
We have surplus lands in abundance.
Onr undeveloped resources are immense.
Our climate is unsurpassed and greatly
superior to that of the West. No cOun-
advantages TO the settler as the South;
and, whatever prejudiced or politically
interested parties may say to the con-
trary, there is no region where the im-
migrant, If well disposed, will meet with
Il warmer welcome Or kinder treatment,
or find more sympathizing and helpful
neighbOrs.
Do not these facts suggest the means
of inducing immigration We think so.
The immigrants want land. They
generally have a 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 mil
lions of acres of good nnimprOved land
that is utterly useless to those who own
it. Might we not advantageOusly offer
a portion of this surplus to immigrants
the sole condition that they settle on
and improve it. Who does not see that
If Ore-fOurth of all our land were dis
posed of in this way that the remaining
three-f0urths would soon be worth far
more than the whole now is. One may
give fifty acres, another q hundred, a
third five hundred, divided into small
tracks, and soon. The aggregate would
amount to millions. Then let the fact
he published to the world in several
made known throughout
America and Europe. together with the
advantages of soil, climate and social
privileges connected with it, and extra
facilities afforded for getting to these
lands and commencing operations on
hem. Here would be substantial in
lucrments to these people, and they
not be slow to see them.
All parties would he benefited by such
IN arrangement. The immigrant would
get a home, the country would get the
%Ouu CIltLttISg we StLOitIN gel Tile IHHUF
need, (hut shall not get by Our direct
,ppeals,) for these people would bring
with them or draw after them q surplus
If bone and muscle adapted to u pur-
W. are aware that this ia no new idea.
A few have offered to give land to immi-
grants on certain conditions, and at
have been made to induce a gen.
lraI movement in his diractiOp Tho |
ime had not come. We believe the
is now ripe for it. What we
want, at the present time, is concerted, |
organized and persistent effort. An in
can do little in this matter.
The people of the State acting together,
AN do every thing.
Perhaps no better agencies for .initia-
ing the enterprise q be suggested
han our County Agricultural Societies.
Will they not take hold of the matter at
,nce and in ~earnest3