New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-05
90 NOETH.

There never was Il better time than the pres
cnt for emigration to the South. The wise,
conciliatoIy policy Of President Hayes is fast
removing the remains Of mrca,0ning preju-
dice against Northern men, and in nearly all
the Southern States public opinion is spring.
ing ND that favors the encouragement Of
Northern settlement. Even in old States like
Virginia and North Carolina, there is still
more land than labor to till it, and in almost
every county thousands of acres are growing
nothing but weeds and bramblcs because there
Is nobody to cult waite them. 1t is true that
much of this waste land appears to the eye Of
q Northcrn farmer 20 be deficient in natural
fertility. but in most eases it is only exhausted
and ali it needs to bring ii up is manurinG and
careful culture. II any man would see what
can be accomplished on apparently poor soils
by industrious and intelligent culture, let him
look at the region south Of Norfolk and
Portsmouth, Virginia, where Il large number
of English farmers have settled during the
past ten years. The once desolite tracts OF
fiat sandy land are now dotted with pretty
cottages, surrounded by fine orchards and
prolific fields.
There are thousands of industrious men in
from the country not many years ago, and
who have tolelable practical knowledge of
farming. Many of them are out of employ
ment or are living upon low wages in hand
tO-mOuth sort of way, with no prospect of
bettering their condition. If these men would
90 South and get upon the land they would
in a few years become independent, and their
lives and those of their wives and children
would be much more wholesome and happy.
The great advantage offered by the South is
cheap lands ready for immediate tillage, living
in settled communities within comparatively
short distances of the large Eastern markets.
TIE climate i'll the Upiand regions, away from
the malarious influences of tide water
rivers, Is as healthful as that of any part of
the United States. The Summers are no
warmer, even az far down as Northern
Georgia and Alabama, than in Ncw-Jersey and
Pennsylvania, and the Winters are so short and
mild that the farmer has at least two months
more in the year for outdoor work than in
this latitude.
1t would perhaps be invidious to specify any
localities as best adapted for Northern immi-
grafton. Unless there are particular reasons
for seeking the warmer climate of the Gulf
States or the sandy plateau of the Atlantic
tide-watcr region, we think, however, that
the settler would do well to select home in
one of the valleys Of the Allegheny Mountain
system, or in the hlly country of the Pied
mont region which lies III broad belt along
its base. This gives an ample range for choice
of location, for II includes portions of Virginia,
North Carolina, Tenne 5sre, Georgia and A,a-
bama. The reasons for prefering this section
are % it is Il fruit country, where the apple,
pear, peach, grape and all kinds of berries
flourish (2) 1t is a grass country, and no
Northern farmer ever feels at home III a re-
gion destitu of green pastures; (3) all the
roots and small grams are profitable crops, and
it is, therefore, well adapted to small farming;
(4) the country has good water, good air and
pleasing variety of scenery.
The best method of emigration would be
for few families to join iii forming "A colony
buy one or two large plantations and divide
the land between them. From two to ten dol
lars will be the range of price per acre. Each
settler should have a capital of few hundred
dollars to commence with. His first payment
on his land need be but small, and long credits
should be secured for the subsequent pay
ments, 80 that the profits can be applied for
two OF three years to needed improvements