New-York tribune., 1879-01-02
SEND IDLE LABOR TO UNOCCUPIED LAND.

10 me J. II ttOr or me IftOUne.
SIR: If you can spare the space, the writer
would ask leave 10 suggest through your columns to
your readers who interest themselves for the improve
men Of the condition Of the poor to make organ
zcd efr: large removal of idle people to vacant
lands IN the West or So ith furnishing transportation
and the first nccessaries to those needing them,
grand business enterprise, to iDIuce Government
helD for that purpose in the present stagnation.
When dozen families settle other on vacant
aud. which i'll that section be secuscd chcaply by
small payments, the value OF that, well OF that
10 tbem, Is at more than IreOicd hence by
merely holding hens mortgages for any advances To
settlers giving them easy terms TO repay the same.
ties who would thus employ rer money would be fully
II ehalf the which is spent to relieve
poor only Temporarily in Ii larger manu- aciuring
cities used ard SIR wiling but idle people
on thirty Of foryaoe farms. who they could pay fOr
IN four five years, thOus nds OF II lt"' would 10
come independent, sel!-suppOrtinE and conf -'re 4"
general good the country whO without help frO
others in that direction, simply perish in the over
crowded cities. The writer observed years since. While
out on the plains those prOhng by the homestead
laws are mostly rich farmers older states who have
the meaus TO start lands but as it takes $500
or 81 900 for family alone to reach place. secure
shelter, teams, implements, seeds, " breaking some
acres and to subsist until harvest brIn-s them re
turns the poor are practically deharred from al! benefit
thereby. Even those who served III !ht att WIZ, anu
Tor whom special legislation Was enacted as 10 securing
such lands cannot brncUt thelrOl, lof the same
reasons III Congress wouli provide for the removal OF
those wiling to settle Vest and to furnish settlers The
means to ana uDsist the first year l. done lot
Indians probably 100000 would leave the crowded
manufacturing mining districts III one year. when
would az once prove tnIngs for those TeahiuS i'm
taxable wealth would soon become large source
OF revenue whore expensive military service Is te-
ourrd and very large NUMBERS would go VINO have
means anu would pay good prices Tor select land near
such settlements and tnOsr getting the advances would
willingly repay them, the Government would reap
great advantage and large returns by the outlay.
There being chances Tor boys TO learn trades
thoroughly cities ana what they may learn Is use
less mostly when they grow up Ur leave one factory
would seem matter Ot course thai means should be
adopted by State ana National Governments TO re-
move those ho Other become use mass
i'm cities those districts which fortunately are yet
vacant aud need only population 10 make them vast
sOurre of wealth. The writer has urged the plan In
different ways and to single advertisement had over
$50 replies lmostly from American families from New
Jersey TO MassaeCusetts), all or the same tenor:
"WCiid like to go West. but have no means, or not
enough get starsd except about three, who had
means Iut dIP not wish To 20 alone. MECHANIC.
Netr YORK.. Dee. 30 lS7o.