The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-16
SWISS lMMIaRArrox.
A promising outlook for our New
State.

PfOmthlnS OUTLOOK IOF eur New
State.
In addition to the work Of the Commits.
sioner Of Emigration, our State seems
likely TO derive some benefit from the
efforts Of the Swiss government to found
colony on this side OF the water. From
copies Of the Bsrns Inttigsn:JldH Of No,
yember 25 and q last, we notice that the
Geographical Society OF that canton, at a
meeting held on the 10Th Of that month,
had under examination the advantages 81
this section as field for colonization en-
terprizes, and seems to have been favor.
ably impressed with the inducements held
out to emigrants from abroad.
The htelligenEJldn, which commends it.
self by the adoption Of first class name,
says:
The main matter before the meeting
was the consideration OF a statistical atlas
concerning the different States of the
American Union. The book shown was
one OF the main documents which Dr..
Emanuel D. Ludwig, during his stay In
America gathered in the interest OF the
Swiss Export, Import and Colonization
Association Of Loup Greek, Fayette coun-
ty, West Virginia. 1t is strictly an official
work, not intended for sale, but only for
the use oil the Government and State
officials to whom 1t was sent, and about
two aud q half million francs were expend.
ed by tho American Government in
its preparation. Through DR.. Ludwig,
Governor Mathews, OF West Virginia,
forwarded q copy to an officer OF this gov
eminent, Herr Edmund Won Steiger, oil
Berne, member Of the Loup Creek Com.
mittee, and through his courtesy it was
placed before the society Its gotten up
with great care contains q number OF
photographic, geographic and geologic
maps, and shows the different nationali.
ties comprised in the population OF the
United States. 1t also furnishes statistics
Of immigration and emigration, descrip.
tons OF school systems adopted, climate,
condition otsoil, products OF farming and
mining hygieniC welfare, prevailing dis.
eases Of body and mind, condition Of
colored population and their relations with
the whites, relative proportions OF native
and foreign born population and their des-
cendants, and many other interesting
items. Tables contained in it show that
the increase in population in the
United States from 1790 to 1870 was
at the rate OF thirty-three per cent,
every decade, and according to this pro.
erosion the population Of the States and
territories in 1880 will be $685. 900, in
1890, 100000, and in the year 1900, co..
100000.
Still greater establishment was aroused
in the society by the exhibit 1.-THE wealth
OF the United States, which has doubled
during the last ten years, and will in
crease more rapidly as their natural re-
sources are developed. New territories
will be titled, woods cut down, mines open
ed, labor.saving machinery hundred
fold increased, and steam transportation,
by land and water, correspondingly ex-
tended. American exports already show
the never before attained figure OF Sl0,.
000, 600 for one week, the first in Septem.
Der, 1870. The atlas is great achieve
ment, maps and tables being accompanied
by the necessary text, and gives plain
picture, in every respect, Of the grandest
confederation Of States on the surface Of
the earth"
In its issue two days later, the same
paper states that "aiter considering the
documents pertaining 10 the proposed
Swiss colonization at Loup Creek, W. Va,
furnished by Mr.. Ludwig, the committee
formed for that purpose determined to
hold a meeting to-day, November eth.
Its conclusions will have considerable
effect on the committee Of experts to be
sent over 10 America. 1t is hoped that
this enterprise will prove successful for
the welfare OF our near home as well as for
the whole Of Switzerland, and that the un.
dertaking will by this action DO brought a
step nearer its conclusion. We shall be
able in our next number 10 give more di.
rect intelligence about the state Of affairs,
and about the basis on which this col.
onization shall be established"
The foregoing translation Of aleading ar.
ticle from a prominent and influential
Swiss journal, indicates the interest mani.
tested by leading citizens OF that Repub.
lie in tho examination Of the advantages
offered to immigrants by the United
States in general and by this
State in particular. 1t may seem strange
that a community as prosperous as Switz.
erland should encourage colonization en-
terprises, which apparently tend to retard
Its own progress by the withdrawal Of Ia.
Dor and capital, but in reality there Is a
boped.for advantage in this case which
does not appear at first sight,
One Of the main industries OF Switzer.
land has been the manufacture oil wooden
articles OF use and ornament, and this
employment has given an occupation and
livelihood to large numbers OF her people.
OF late the difficulties in the way Of pro-
curing the material necessary for this
work has occasioned considerable concern
to those engaged in It, and the attention
OF the government has been called to the
necessity OF providing means by which
wood might be more readily and cheap.
ly furnished, Ono Of the earliest plans
that suggested itself was the founding OF a
Swiss colony in some locality where oil