Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-07
TENNESSEE'S FUTURE.
Another Stirring Letter from she
Commissioner Of Immigration -
What He Proposes TO do aud the
Help He Needs.

Another stirring Letter from the
Commissioner Of Immigration -
What He Proposes TO do aud the
Help He Needs.
To the Union and American:
Having promised in my letter Of the 5lh
to lay before your readers an outline of the
plan Of operations proposed to be inaugur-
ated by the Bureau Of Immigration, here
with enclose you advance slips from the
circular which 1 am preparing to send out
to our own people.
From the numerous Propositions that are
made by different parties and the appeals
for the adoption OF the favOrite plans of
each, deem it prudent thus early to give
the people an. opportunity Of Judging which
to adopt.
We want a vigorous effort made, and we
believe the people are now prepared to
make il; and it is all important that it
be made in The right direction, and that
neither time or money be spent on imprac-
teal plans.
We see it suggested that a convention of
land owners and real estate men be held
in our city at an early day; if this be deem
ed best upon mature deliberatiOn, the
Commissioner will be most happy to Co
operate with those who desire 10 get up
the convention; that proper arrangements
be made TO secure for the delegates trans
pOrtatiOn at reduced rates, that we may
have a large representation. There is one
serious objection TO convention for the
whole State-there would be no probabili-
ity that all parts Of the State would be rep
resented. In our opinion it would be bet
ter to have three, one for each division Of
the State, held within a few days of each
Other. At each Of them the Commissioner
of immigration could attend and confer
with the people upon the best means to be
adopted. Or it might be better TO have niue
or ten conventions and let each group Of
counties send their delegates TO The one
nearest them. In this way the whole
State could be leavened with the spirit Of
development. We shall be glad to confer
and cooperate with Messrs. Wood and
Saterield, Mr.. Collins, or any other gentle
men interested.
1t Is all important that unanimity pre-,
vail, aud that any plan adopted be carried
out in q spirit Of unity and cordial coop
Grafton, otherwise our time and money
will be wasted. We ask a careful reading
Of the following outline of plans, and
would say that if our State press will
give it a wide circulation they will con-
tribute much to the good cause,
And in the first place, let me remark that
the State does little more than afford the
people an opportunity Of cooperating, as
the amount Of the appropriation made
could, unaided by the people, accomplish
little.
Yet, by the hearty cordial cooperation Of
all our people, and all enterprises that viii
be benefited by an influx Of enterprise and
capital, we are satisfied great work can
be accomplished and several millions ad-
ded to our State wealth during the next
two years.
The amendments to the act OF 1871 were
prepared after mature deliberatiOn and a
careful study Of the question of immigra-
ton in all its details, both as to the wants
of our State and the class Of immigration
to which her attractions offered special in
ducements; also the best means 10 secure
that class.
The conviction has been forced upon me
that in the present condition of our State
all that we could hope for in the way Of
State aid was a small appropriation to form
a neucleUs around which our people could
rally ard by their own efforts accomplish
the work, making those interested in the
making Of sales or developing manufactures |
contribute TO The work Of spreading a knOwl-
edge of the State abroad. Hence the whole
spirit Of the act contemplates cooperative
effort. The State will supplement hut not
supersede individual aud corporate effort. |
and if our press, cur railroad companies.
our Patrons Cf HusbanGTy, cur real estate
agents and associations. and our individual
mill toll =
Commissioner of immigration, a great
work will be done.
Let me now state in few words the plan
proposed TO be pursued:
1. The Commissioner with the small sp-
preparation Gefrays the expenses of his
office. Remember the whole State appros
pTiatiOn is only two thIusand dollars,
hence yOU see that it will require rigid
economy and good management on that
sum 10 pay Office rent, stationery and post
age bills, salary Of Commissioner and
necessary clerical labor. Yet We think.
nay, We feel sure it can be done.
Now in this Office all land owners and
others who have investments 10 offer, eth
er by themselves or through their agents,
viii be permitted 10 register what they have
to offer upon payment ola fee Of & for each
piece sOregistered. Thus every investor who
comes to our State can come to the Office
and see al a glance what is offered in all
parts Of the State.
,. The Commissioner shall with the
funds thus created publish from time to
time a land and investment register. con-
tanning all these advertisements in a con-
densed form, each under their appropriate
lead, giving the name Of the real estate
agenC, association or owner Offering it for
sale. This to be accompanied with def
mite information as 10 general attractions
Of the State as 20 soil, climate. society, min
erals, manufacturing facilities, etc.-iu
word, as far as possible all the Information
a man seeking an investment would re-
qUire. Publish this register and send it
out in all the channels where the infOrma-
ton would prove effective, and the parties
into whose hands they 60 would have an
interest in their general distribution. And
let me say these channels are all opened
and ready to receive and distribute this
information, through the efforts Of the
Commissioner during the past four years.
Let me specify a few Of the channels.
l. We have over three hundred core
spOndents scattered all over the Northern
States and Canada and Great Britain. We
have the international agency with its |
headquarters at Birmingham, England, and !
its sub-agenCies scattered all over the |
United Kingdom. These are especially |
interested in finding homes and invest |
men,s for their clients, and why? Simply |
because, in these countries where capital, |
skill, enterprise and labor are the plus |
quantity. and resources the minus qUanti- |
ty, the duties Of the agent are exactly tie |
opposite of what they are here. Here the |
agent, for a compensation, undertakes 10 4
find his client a market for his surplus nat
ural resources. There he finds him a
market for his surplus capital, skill or
labor. In each case the agent renders to his
clients a valuable service for which he /
Justly demands and receives a cOmpensa-
ton. Hence, these foreign agents are as
anxious to receive our information, and /
tell their customers where they can buy |
as our agents are TO tell their
customers where they can sell something.
Therefore, they form the most eiieetual
channels through which we can send
of our State.
?. We have the transportation lines,
who offer us the facilities Of all their ageu-
cies. At the head of this list we place the
proprietors Of the Allan Line
Of Ocean Steamships, who offer, through
their agents, to distribute for us all over
the continent Of Europe. Next We have