The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-02-28
For the VALLEY VIRGINIAN.
immigration.

s'rhe subject OF immigration is one of
more vital consequence to your State than
any, if not all others. Upon immigration
we must look for relief from the heavy tax
alton assumed in building railroads, State,
county aud municipal buildings, and
educational appliances, equa. to popula-
ton many times as large as the one we
have. II IS the aoeaHh qoe are to receive IN
taxable property brought here by inanaigro-
tion, and not to qoeaAh TO be earned here,
that ave must look to FOR rapid reduction O
the rate oftaaation, and a lessening Of all
public burdens.
''The property gain of immigration, how
ever, is not it's main nor its most important
feature. The chief element of progress and
power in State, is men, and the measure
of character possessed by the men brought
here by our inducements for immigration,
will fix the measure OF the honor and pow
er OF the State. True, numbers are valua-
BILE, but character is indispensable and, SO
far as it is in our power to choose, we should
secure, by immigration, men and women
who will, by mental, moral and education al
fitness, give steadiness as well as momen-
tum 70 our growth as u State.
10 accomplish this, the attractions of
climate, productiveness of soil, and promise
of gain, must be supplemented by evidence
of an existing civilization, cherished and
represented by those we most need and
want. There are to-day enough of the very
best citizens of the Northern States of our
own country (and of Great Brittany who, il
they but knew OF the advantages OF our
State and its freedom from the crudeness
of civilization they have believed to exist,
would swell our population far above two
million before the close of the present de-
cade. This class of people will be Of us as
habits, schools and churches, will be to them
an immediate home, and their assimilation
be so rapid and so complete as to cause not
the least jar of discord."
The foregoing with change of but three
words, is an extract from a Governors mes
sage to the Legislature Of his State. It's
importance and truth are so NANTES to the
thoughtful reader who has observed the eff
feet of intelligent immigration upon the de
velopment of the natural resources OF a
State, and the Increase of its wealth and
tax-paying power, that he commends the
wisdom of Governor Holiday in calling to
it the attention of the people and Legisa-
ture of the Commonwealth, agitated as they
now are by the discussion of the vital prob
lens of State debt and taxation. Or was it
Governor Kemper or Governor Walker who
did so at an earlier date? I regret to say
that it was none of these, nor was it the
Governor of any Southern State, for the
message is signed Geo. Il. Anthony and
is dated at Topeka, Kansas.
Let us look little at the rapid growth Of
this stalwart young giant of the West, which
was born into our family of States when
Virginia, the mother, sat crowned with
honors, dignity and prosperity, at the head
OF the table. Kansas has an area of 81, BIS
square miles, great proportion of which is
covered by the Great American Desert, and
constituting great, slightly rolling plain,
sloping gently to the eastward, and over
which the great storm winds of the Rocky
mountains sweep with unrestricted violence.
The eastern portion of the State is very rich
aud productive but all is comparatively des-
titute Of timber and, thoughi lying in the
same latitude as Virginia, the winters Of
Kansas are colder. her summers are warmer
and her annual isothermals sweep far north
ward through Pennsylvania and New York.
In 1860 her population was but 107, 206,
owning real and personal property valued
at $31, 327, S95. In 1870 she had risen from
the 33d to the 29th rank in population, with
1854, 399 inhabitants, worth $1SS, 1892, Ol4. In
| 1877, the population was not far from 701,.
600, while the true value of property was
reported to be 1929, l34, 216 and valuation Of
farm products for the year, 500, SS5, 547. The
| hiCtOooS IA tAiO doSOSSON VoAoS Va PAoPSAV
in seven years, including four years Of I'M
exampled financial depres sien, was more
than forty nine percent. How much OF this
remarkable increase in wealth and popula-
ton is due to immigration may be inferred
from the fact that in 1870 but one-seyenth
of the population, including, of course, a
large proportion of the children and non
producers, were natives of the State. Pros
porous, energetic, entcrprising, Kansas pat
in 1876, State taxes amounting to $1,221,
79S; county taxes, 81, 451 ,342; city taxes
1925, Ol9 township taxes. $375, 1875 and dis
trict school taxes, 81, 466, 635 j; making al
average taxation of $3.4S per $l00 of assess
ed valuation of property.
Energy, enterprise and public spirit ha!
accomplished this great work which may
well serve as an example to old Virginia ant
other Southern States. The State agents
and immigration societies OF Kansas, ever
When it was Il poor, struggling territory
spared no labor or pains to present and per
slstently urge to the attention of the Las
and Great Britain her resources and advan
tages while the railroad companies extend
ed every possible facility to the settler
''Their interests" says Governor. Anthony
ARE closely interviewer with those OF th'
State, each depending substantially upor
the same elements for prosperity. Eacl
railroad company is an immigration agency
doing State work OF Unreasonable valu.
for lis az well az for themselves =