Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-01-29
,nn,oaA1,ow 70 oaDssTA

I IMMIGRATION 10 pAteTA
Tho Situation Seems le Demand Exten
I Observation-Disclosures snEEes.
tiens ny . Correspondence Who Is
H. In Earnest About Il.
Editor Of Yasktos Daily Press-S1R Tn
portion Of the governors message which
dealt with the subject of immigration wa
commended IN your leading column Is emf
nently sound in every particular. I mus
confess, however, that I was a good deal dis
appointed in turning to the message itsel
to find that this eminently sound PROPOSE
ton consisted of-what !? Why, that three
authorized agents should be appointed at q
salary Of 500 each, and an allowance Of
$233 for expenses. That means that each
of three gentlemen shall give 800 worth Of
his time and ability, on his own estimate,
to the compilation Of pamphlet about the
resources and advantages of his district, and
get it as we'll printed and translated into
various languages. circulated and adver-
tised, as he can for 5000 more-not enough
to pay for the Translation alone-after
which he will retire to resume a more re-
munerative employment, and those
whom his pamphlets and ad-
vertisements may induce to make inqui-
ries about the territory will seek in vain
for any one to answer them. There will be
no one to apply to any more than if no
agent had ever been appointed.
This scarcely seems the way to encourage
immigration to the extent which the case
demands. We want men who will distrib-
ute in all parts Of America and Europe such
descriptions of the inducements offered to
immigrants as shall compel attention; men
who shall answer the flood of questions and
applications from Americans and foreigners
which their pamphlets and circulars ought
to provoke; men who will help those who
have already settled here to show the friends
they have left behind what a good land they
had found, and to tell their friends the best
and easiest way of following their exam :
pie. The wrighting Of a pamphlet is really
the smallest part of the work which a good
agent ought to accomplish.
If our state and territorial legislatures
had an adequate perception of the enormous
benefits which would accrue from a more
rapid settlement of this western country,
they surely would do more to promote immi
grafton than they do. Could not the agents
be paid a liberal allowance per head fol
bona tide settlers to stimulate their zeal
And could not some system be contrived Sc
that the intending immigrant on paymen,
of a small fee might obtain precise informa.
ton respecting the uuoccupied lands, and
on payment Of earnest money might have 8
quarter section secured to him for sufficient
time to allow him to come out and take il
up? Assuredly the very least that ought
to be done is the appointment of men vel.
qualified by q general knowledge of the
subject and by such special and
precise knowledge as they can obtain by
visiting and thoroughly examining fol
themselves the section Of territory allotted
to their respective agencies in order tina
they may be able TO answer all reasonable
questions and applications orally or in
writing, as the case may be. 1t is needless
to say that such agents cannot be obtained
for a 500 a year. Ten times this sum
paid to able and energetic men would soon
repay the territory a hundred fold.
To conclude, let it be remembered that
there is no time to be lost. Every day at
this season of the year is valuable, and un.
less something more than has yet been off.
cially proposed is done, and hat speedily,
another year will be lost, and other lands
will obtain the immigrants who might have
been led to Dakota. K.
Valley Springs, Dakota. Jan. 26, 1878.