Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-07-10
IMMIGRATION.

10 our Guy anu county.
OF course the occasion looked for
ward to, limits what might otherwise
be said, to benefits susceptible of
being derived from immigrants. We
commence therefore with the state
ment, that one of our greatest needs
is the influx of strangers, possessed
of means to purchase homes and
farms, and impart impetus to indus
tries not already prosecuted.
In endeavoring to obtain that class
of immigrants, it must be remember
ed that u county differs in some
important essentials from some of
those of Kansas and other portions
of Missouri, where there is yet abund-
ance of land to pre-empt or enter.
Our whole territory is owned by in
diyiduals, and a considerable portion
of it is reclaimed and under cultiva-
ton. Indeed it presents a most
strong contrast to such places as fur
nlsn opportunity for the accommoda-
ton of large colonies of either natives
or foreigners. In addition to being
extensively cultivated, Audrain has Il
moral and peaceful population, is
well supplied with churches and
school houses in connection with a
roomy Court House and jail, both
recently erected and paid for. There
are also banks and other institutions
at Mexico, abundance of stores and
increasing trade. At the same time
our population might be profitably
multiplied, the expanse of our farm
correspondingly enlarged, and the
character of our agriculture relative
ly improved. The industries already
existing might be varied and enliven-
ed by the introduction of others. The
special inducements that Audrain
county holds out to immigrants is
possibility of cheaply acquired homes
and opportunity for prosperous en-
barkment in new industries. If it be
true that the money expended IN
county buildings, roads, bridges.
churches and schools-prime neces-
saries of civilization and not suscep-
tible of being dispensed with any
where-constltute a Just part of the
cost of lands and ought to be included
in q fair estimate of their value, it
must be apparent from the cheap rates
at which farm can be at present
purchased, that desirable homes can
no where else be obtained for less
outlay. In addition to this, there
are fertility of soil, largeness of
production, case of culture, suscep-
tibility OF improvement and nearness
of market over railroads in cheap and
prosperous operation. Among the
further sources of employment in and
around Mexico, are those that would
naturally spring from increased pro-
duction and more fitting use of wool,
tobacco, hides, corn, wood, and iron.
Among these may be included manu-
features Of boots and shoes, WOODEN
goods, clothing, -four, meal, wagons,
agricultural implements, &c. There
is a good opening for a foundry-one
IN the hands of q couple of skilled
mechanics would do well. A pottery
could be inaugurated with great adj
vantages for production and sale.
There is abundance of superior ma
terial. Lime might be burned to
great advantage at many places in
the vicinity of railroads. Starch,
owing to the abundance and cheap
ness of corr might become a staple.
There are other openings that we
have not space to notice that might
give employment to hundreds of ope-
ratives and thousands of capital. To
such as are familiar with the manu-
featuring establishments existing
along all the n of travel into
and out of New York it would seem
that at such a place as Mexico SO adj
yantageously situated, so near to the
great emporiums Of Western traffic St.
Louis and Chicago, and of such easy
access from Kansas, Texas, and the
far West, there would be no lack OF
employment for mechanical and
manufacturing ability. If interior
towns, distant from markets of actual
consumption, destitute of motive
power, a thrive by employing ma
chinery, how much more ought
Mexico TO be able to do so on account
ofthe immense supply of coal exist
ing in its vicinity?
If we were to stop here it NIGH
be concluded that our only want wa.
emlgrants possessed of considerabl,
means and skill. 1t would be
great mistake however to take up tina
idea of our condition. Indeed grea
as is our need of that class, there i
still greater necessity of bringing il
along with it another. Passing owe
the necessity of more laborers il
view of the introduction of new in
industries, we would not, and coul,
not il we would, conceal the need tina
exists of bringing to both Audrai
and Mexico more industrious whit
laborers. Upon inquiry, the write
heard previous to harvest, and eve
as early as corn planting, of number
of farmers, that would gladly hav
availed themselves of the services c
newly married whites, the wife q
wall "a the husband. thronob bor,o.