Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-11-11
immigration.
AIKEN, S. G., Sept. 20,

immigration.
AIKEN, S. G., Sept. 20, 1880.
Hon. Il. Il. Buter-Dear Sir: In
accordance with your request, take great
pleasure in writing to your Department my
observation of many years, and the facts
have gathered thcrcfrom in regard to i'm
migration, hoping my communication
may facilitate the much needed
influx of large, new, industrious
aud orderly population TO our State. In
order that SIC may have right comprc,
hension of what is necessary to accomplish
that end, it is woll that we should look to
the far West and inquile how it has accom-.
plished the same object, and as We all know
with success and profit 10 that section of
our country. For many years the follow :
ing has been tho mode adopted. Four or
five German families, in all averaging 25
persons, soou after their arrival in New
York, take the cars for Illinois, there thcy
settle in radius Of about 10 miles. Ere
quently they find some of their own coun-
trymen in their neighborhood, who gladly
, render thcm any assistance needed; if MT,
the native Americans are always cordial to
tho strangers, and in few weeks the new
settlers find themselves quite at homo in
the new land Of their adoption, and 20 10
work to prepare for their first crops; thcir
neighbors are ready and willing to lend u
helping hand aad give them the benefit of
their experience, and it isnot long before the
immigrant forgets he is i'll strange land :,
aud he is soon called on to give the aid he
has received to other new comcrs who are
constantly arriving in the West.
1t must be admitted that tho West has
one advantage over the South, in the alb
seuce of the colored race, who arc cspe-
cially repulsive to the German, at least in
t c first years residence, but after becom-
ing accustomed to them, they soon learn
how 70 treat them, and get along very we'll
And if we of the South extend tho friend
ly treatment to the immigrant that he
receives in the West, and make q proper
display Of the natural resources Of our State
70 attract thom, there is nothing lacking
10 success.
If the people of South Carolina really
desire it, there is no reason why, in the
space of 20 years, VIC may not sec
hillside and fertile plain of the State
teemiug with busy farm homes, and our
water courses humming with nufactories,
converting our raw materials iato tho mani.
fold useful articles Of coz, nioroa, thereby
emancipating our State from the manufao..
turing power Of the North. In order to
accomplish this our State government should
empower the proper branch of it, to ap.
poiut a general agent who is capable of
transating into the German language all
documents, pamphlets, regulations, etc., Of
tho government on immigration, and one
who is fully acquainted with his native
country as we'll as South Carolina, who will
know how to place the new corners In looali-
ties most resembling their former homes,
and to get employment for the mechanic;
Iaborer or servant. Such an ugent should
be sent as early as possible to Germany to
secure the next spring tide Of emigration,
with instructions and means to employ good
local sub-agents in Germany Sud sub
ogeuts to receive one dollar for every pro
per aud healthy emigrant between the ages
OF Is and 4O, drawing his wages every
throe months, or as may be agreed on.
Said agents should be lborally supplied
with the statistics of the Agricultural Des
partmcnt, and all other papers showing tho
States resources, translated into German,
and properly endorsed. These sub agents
should be selected from tho merchants, no
tel keepers, and ship agents who arc in di-
rect communication with emigrants. When
visited Germany last summer 1 made
| inquiries and observations of this matter,
and found mono willing to do anything to-
wards it unless under regular contract.
The officers of the Hamburg Steam Ship
Company said they received ono dollar for
oach person shipped by them over tho Erie
Railroad, and should not assist in leading
emigration into other channels unless they
received the aamc pay.
speak only Of German emigration, be-.
cause, being from Germany, | know more
of that. havo lived in South Carolina
over fifteen years, and have never yet hoard
au objection raised to my country people,
as an acquisition to the population, either
on account of their social or moral habits.
They gcnorally come with some means and
some education, and casily adapt themselves
to tho now circumstance, sock to cultivate
friendly relations with tssir neigbbors and
soon acquire tho language. In time OF
prosperity they accept their share, and in
timo of trouble willingly and eheerfully
should their portion Of it.