The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-12-17


EDIToRs CLARION: As the negro exodus in
all probability will be greater this winter, and
next spring than it was last season, it will
devolve on the Legislature to adopt such
measures as will bring into the State other
settlers to replace those that have may
emgrate. 1t seems to me, that better popu-
lation should be procured if possible to replace
those that have left. If possible procure those
that will become owners of the soil, and will
be in sympathy with the white residents.
have been watching the movements to procure
immigration, not only in our own State, but
in the adjoining States As yet have not
seen any movement to my mind, that will
accomplish much, if anything, in procuring
immi graf on. In order to accomplish any thing
that will be a success, u different policy will
have to be pursued. | am not informed as to
the amount of money our State has expended
within the past eight or nine years. pre-
sumo the amount will not be short of thirty
thousand dollars. And nothing accomplished.
In order to accomplish anything, some practi-
cal plan must be adopted. In OrdertO do this
the Legislature should make sufficient APP
preparation, to enable the Commissioner to
make the business a success. l studied the
subject Of immigration more thoroughly for
three or four years than | ever studied any
other subject. In the two years l spent in
England, my whole time devoted to the
enterprise of procuring immigration into the
Southern States. l made every enquiry, as
to the course pursued by the Northwestern
States, as well to other countries. l met
immigration agents from Brazil, Queensland,
New Zealand Australia, Canadas, California,
and some from the Northwestern States. All
the agents | met had maps well pamph-
let's with accompanying maps. These differ
ent countries did not spare expense to accom-
plish their object.
Now if Mississippi wishes to accomplish
DhnY 4 Io
that is, to cause pamphlet mot necessary to
exceed $50 pages) describing the resources of
each county in the State its productions, soil,
timber, health, &c. The pamphlet should
contain wood cuts showing our cotton plants
at full maturity, well of other agricul-
tural productions. Each pamphlet containing
a map with each county marked out, 18th all
the railroads, naVigable streams, the princi-
Pile cities and towns, so that a person in
reading it might refer to the map and see how
each county was situated as TO the facilities of
disposing of such products as they might have
to dispose of. In fact all the information that
a person desiring to emigrate might desire to
known before starting out in pursuit of a
new home.
In order to make this pamphlet attractive
possible, an advertisement of each of the
steamship companies, that sail from the old
world to New Orleans, as well as the
cost of passage, also the railroad fare from
New Orleans to Jackson. By doing Thu, these
companies would at become interested
in distributing them throughout the old
world. All persons taking passage for our
State, would procure ticket from Now Or
leans to Jackson, before they went ON board
the vessel. All that Railroad would have to
do would be to present these tickets to the
agents of several steamer companies for
payment. By this arrangements all persons
paying their way through to Jackson, |
would be certain to follow up their tickets to
that place.
If this plan should be adopted by the Legis-
lature, it will be necessary toprocure a build |
oh MIL ell -tv,1 fc
where the immi grants couldremain say forty |
eight hours. There should be plenty of water
accessible, as well fire wood. OF course |
some family should have charge of the build |
ing who could furnish such provisions as these |
new Corners might require during their stay. |
The of the building should be free. The |
immigrants should be required to pay what |
their fuel and provisions costs.
l have no doubt arrangements could be I
effected with the Railroad Company to bring /
immigrants from New Orleans to jackson at |
one cent per mile, especially those that have
through tickets.
In order to be able to give immigrants who /
wish to purchase or lease land, correct ,infor-
nation, the assessor when assessing the |
property next spring, should be required TO t
call on each land owner in his county, as to /
what lands if any he wishes to dispose of or |
what lands he is willing TO donate to actual |
settlers if any. The land that owners wish to |
dispose of should be entered in q small book |
which shall be filed in one of the county Off /
ces, and duplicate of the hook sent to the I
Commissioner Of immigration to be filed in |
his office. The commissioner should be re-
quired to give notice in such of the Northern t
papers. as he might deem most to the interest |
of the State in procuring immigrants. request
ing all persons desiring information as to
the great resources of the State, to address /
him at Jackson, and he would forward them |
pamphlet giving the desired information.
To enable the commissioner to get the desired /
information to prepare the pamphlet, would I
suggest that he prepare a circular, and send b |
copy to each member of the Legislature re- /
questing them to procure such Information to /
immigrants they ought appear in the
pamphlet.
l cannot believe our State will stand still /
much longer before proper effort will be
made, aud that the right direction to procure |
immigration. There can be no doubt if the |
proper effort was made, it would be attended |
with success. All Stare that have made the
proper efforts to procure migration, have |
been successful Why not ours 7
Should the Legislature make the necessary |
appropriation, the commissioner should make |
every effort within his power to have the de-
sired information sent abroad At as early .
day as possible, so that the State by another
year might begin to receive The immigrants. |
It is impossible TO go into all the details of
so important q subject in 9 communication
like his
Could be present before the committee on
immigration, could go much more into de- |
tail. Respectfully,