Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-03-27
OLYMPIA, SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 81, 1871
AIDS TO IMMIGRATION.


The most sensible action that has yet
been taken with view of advancing
the material prospects of the Territory,
owes its origin to few enterprising
ladies. of this place, who have volun-
teered to collect and impart such infor-
nation as will attract general interest
to our latent resources among those
who from severity of the Eastern eli
mate, the grasshopper plague. loss by
food, and other causes, have been i'm
PEELED to look westward for new field
Of operations. Already the example has
become contagious, and similar organi-
cations are springing up all over the
Territory, while competent citizens in
many of the counties are engaged in
collecting such information as will be of
service to the societies that have under
taken to place it before the class it 10
designed to influence in making the
choice of home. Probably the great
est difficulty experienced in making the
scheme feasible, is for want of funds to
place the material collected in proper
shape for general distribution, and this
is an impeachment which would not ex-
list if all our people felt an interest il
the measure which its importance de-
serves. The cost would not be large
for pamphlet, in which plain and con-
else answers to the ordinary inquiries of
those contemplating immigration, could
be supplemented by essays descriptive
of the geography, adaptability, climate
and general resources of the Territory.
Ten or fifteen thousand copies Of such
a treatise, would find ready welcome
among the thousands who turn to the
far west as haven of relief from the
fearful effects of the scourge and pesti-
lence which has devastated large por-
ton of our national domain.
No effort, we believe, has yet been
made to secure subscriptions for this
purpose. A small sum to defray post
age and stationery and meet the immedi-
ate wants of the society, has been do
mated by few of our public-spirited
citizens, but the response has not been
general even among those who have
had an opportunity to aid the project.
If we wait for a Legislative appropria-
ton to defray this expense, the golden
opportunity which appears to be pre-
sented at this time, may have passed
away. Who then will volunteer to
help the cause, by raising fund suf-
fcient to aid the ladies in their patri-
otic endeavor? Who will devote few
hours, or days if need be, in advancing
q project which will bring the bone and
sinew, and with it the capital, to develop
t6s resources winch ::i,as q wac q span
of enterprise to place the Territory in
the line Of promotion to independence
as sister State of the Union.
The plan adopted by the Immigra
ton Society of this place, of publica.
ton through the local press, is but {
poor expedient, to accomplish the OBJ
ject, and was adopted as the only alter
native presented under the circum
stances. The circulation of the HON,
press is necessarily limited, apd con
fined almost exclusively to the Territory
and this renders il very Imperfect
channel for communicating with the
people of so wide an extent of country
as is presented fora field of operations
The Society cannot command even
this aid without funds. The publish.
ers have already donated more than
their share of the expense, and cannot
continually furnish free papers. even TO,
80 good q cause. We trust, therefore,
that the iabors of the Society viii not
be rendered fruitless by SO small an OBJ
stacle. A response from somebody
who possesses the necessary qualifca-
tions for canvassing, is now in order.
Who will volunteer to raise O small
fund for really meritorious object.
-<>%-
SAD RUMoR.-A report has reached
this place that the steamer Ruby was
lost off Sandy Point, last Wednesday.