The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1878-01-30
Immigration 10 Mississippi.
W ESI NUUhI D KEI
MEMPHIS, Tenn, January, 1873.

MEMPHIS, TENN, January, 1873. )
To the Editors Of the Clarion:
We have been requested by large num-
Der of gentlemen owning land in the
northern portion of your State, to take in
hand the subject of immigration to that
section, and the settleing up of that portion
of your State, and we have consented to do
out utmost in the attempt; and the better
to carry out that object have associated
with us Mr.. r. w. Kicking, late Assistant
Commissioner of Immigration for Tennessee
--he having had a great deal of experience
in the business and which proved a success.
So far as we have been able to ascertain
your State has no work on her resources
published since the report of DR.. Harper,
the State Geologist Of 1857, (twenty years
ago)-and not being able to obtain any
more recent work, we have commenced TO
get together such facts, as in our opinion,
will be the best for the work, and when so
gathered we intend to compile them in
pamphlet for the purpose of distribution
over the North, Canada and abroad. Now
this work, simple as it may appear to some,
will be the means of doing great good for
your State, in that through the sources we
to the resources of the State. This, of course
will be work OF expense, and it is partly
on that ground that we write to You. Not
having the names OF all the members of the
Legislature. we thought letter through
your paper would stir them up on the
question and cause them to discuss the
question treely-and finally do something
tor that which is greatly needed to your
State-immigration,
We are well aware that in asking your
State to make an appropriation for the
cause of immigration, we shall meet
with opposition on the part of
some in that it is the wish of
your Legislature to cut down all the expen-
SEES that can be fairly reduced. We know
that for some time a large amount WAS
yearly appropriated for the cause, but was
so wasted that the amount was cut down to
the insignificant sum OF 500 per annum,
not enough to pay one years postage We
think now they .have every justifiable rea-
son for making an appropriation for an I'M
migrant Bureau, and with man at the
head of it who understands the business.we
think a great deal of good can be accom-
plished. Such an amount should be voted as
would enable an exhibit to be made on the
of the State, giving each county
separate, and stating what kind of agricul-
ture is best adapted to the various soils,
show up your lands, minerals, timber, etc.,
and your means of transportation by rail
and river, and, publish with it, a geological
survey of the State. With such a volume
as that in his hands your Commissioner can
with every confidence invite the people of
the States in the North, East and West and
abroad to come and settle with you. He
can show them what your country is.
They can read of it at their own
firesides, thousands of miles away, and
will be able to make up their minds before
they leave their present homes what part of
your State they intend to settle ia. We are
aware that some will cry out at the expense
and say the State cannot afford it. We
would answer, if your State wants to reap
any benefit from immigration, she must be
like other States and pay for the means of
getting her immigrants. Working for "love
and glory" will ''not pay bills" Look at
some of the other States paying out thous-
ands of dollars yearly to obtain settlers.
Even take your neighboring State of
Tennessee, some of the people there cried
out at the expense of publishing her
resources, but the wiser heads said
it would pay and pay it has. Large
numbers of good farmers, capitalists
and manufacturers have been brought into
her borders and others are following fast
aud all because her resources were published
to the world. Do the same for your State
of Mississippi; give the world information
of what you have and your State win event.
ually rival the leading States in the Union.
Though you have not the rich minerals to
be found In other Stctes, you have such
minerals that for their specific purposes are
rich in themselves; you have fine timber,
your land is good and better adapted, be-
cause of climate, TO more diversified sys-
tenn of farming, and under such will pay |
better than land in the North; your crops |
can be harvested earlier than those of the |
North your winters are shorter by weeks, |
ayemonths, than the Northern winters You |
have fine sea, river and railroad accommoda- |
tion.and why should yon hide these flights 1
ander bnsiel-n All these and numerous
lther advantages can be well placed before /
The Northern immigrants and It viii bring |
Fou n goodly number Of her best farm
sra and t0ek men-men with means and
lining, and what yon need - much I