New-York tribune., 1879-03-13
COLONLZING IN TIE VEST AND SOUTH.

COLONIZING IN 1HE VEST AND SOUTH.
We are in the daily receipt of letters from
workingmcn and farmers in every part of the
Middle and Eastern States asking for advice
as to the most suitable place for them to
emigrate to in the South and West, or for
detailed information as to the climate soil,
markets. etc, in some remote region to
which their inclination draws them. 1t would
be simply impossible, even if it were right,
for TIE TRIBUNE to become the judge in
matter upon which every man of ordinary in
telIIgence ought to decide for himself. The
previous knowledge, skill, circumstances and
health of one man and his family might
enable him to settle, live comfortably from
the outset, and grow rich in place where
another would find only wretcheGness and
disappointment. The TRIBUNE, thousands of
miles from both the would-be emigrants
and the settlements, assurcdly cannot under
take TO fit one to the other All that we can
do or lately undertook to do, was to furnish
accurate information as to the soil, climate,
resources, price of land, ETC., in the upper
Southern States. and to give reference to
trustworthy and disinterested men in each of
these States, who would give more detailed In
formation and advice If desired We have been
less active lately in promoting emigration to the
West, partly because we believed the removal
of a poor man and his family to so great a
distance to be a more risky experiment than
TO the older and nearer States, and partly be-
cause there is no lack of information about
the West for such man, Oh of societies to
help hlm TO go there.
Now, before the Spring opens, is the time
to move in the matter, if at all; but the way
to move is not to sit down and write to The
TRIBUNE or anybody else 10 decide what you
shall do. That sort of cOnidng helpessness
would keep a man starving IN Kansas or
in New-York. If you have made up your
mind to go, let it be known III your village
or neighborhoOd, and ask others to join you.
If You are "a man known TO have any push or
force in you, you will find plenty of comrades
soon enough if not, perhaps you would better
stay where you are. State, Ii you choose, as some
of our correspondents have done, in some
widely read paper what you wish, and
where you want to CO. and so gather
your ASSOCIATION from outside limits. Make
I'D your own colony in this way, and
you cannot quarrel with anybody if it
does not suit you afteFward. Consult with
and then either send one of your number to
examine into the ground and report, or, if
that be not practicable, write, stating your in
tentions, capital, number, and resources in ex-
pcrience, handIcraft ETC., to the Commissioner
of Emigration or Agriculture in the State
selected, directing to the Capital. If there be
no such officer regularly appointed, there
is almost always some one TO attend to that
class of business. Ask for information as to
colonies, price of land, markets, etc. The in
formation you receive will be authoritative
and impartial. In short. in this, as in all
other matters, make 1t a rule to transact
your own business, and TO transact it as far
as possible with the heads of the firm, and not
with middemen.
We know of colonies which have been
started in this way and which send back flat
trring accounts of their success, which we be-
Ueve to be true. But we would not send any
man to join them, or undertake to warrant"
them. as shopkeepers say. They may be
ycritable Arcadias where peace ard plenty
abound, aud whers none but honest men are
found or they may be Mark Tapey's kind of
Eden, the swindlng schcmes Of land -jOObers
and sharks. TIE TRIBUNE il not omniscicnt,
and will not be responsible for them.