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

immigration.
AIKEN, S. c., Sept. 20, 1880.
Hon. d. Il. Butier-Dcar Sir: In
accordance with your request, take great
pleasure in writing to your Department nay
observation of many years, and the facts I
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 10 our State. In
order that we may have right comprc.
hcnsion of what is necessary to accomplish
that ehd, it is we'll that We should look to
the far West and inquire how it has accom-.
plishcd the same object, and as we all know
with success and profit TO that section of
our country. For many years the follow :
ing has been tho mode adopted. Four or
five German families, 10 all averaging %
persons, soou after their arrival in New
York, take the cars for Illinois, there they
settle in radius Of about 10 miles. Ere
quently they find some of their own coun-
trymen in their ncighborhood, who gladly
render thom any assistance needed; if not,
the native Americans are always cordial to
tho strangers, and in a few weeks the new
settlers nd themselves quite at homo in
the new land Of their adoption, aud 20 TO
work to prepare for their first crops; their
ncighbors are ready aud willing to lend n
helping hand aad give them the benefit of
their experience, ubdit isnot long before the
Immigrant forgets he is iu strange laud,
and he is soon called on to give the aid he
has received to other now comcrs who are
pDl Of mt 10 nrriS in t1,a
1t must be admitted that tho West has
one advantage over the South, in the abb
sencc of the colored race, who arc cspe-
caly repulsive to the German, at least in
c first years residence, but after becom-
ing accustomed to them, they soon learn
how 70 treat them, aud get along very we'll.
And if we of the South extend tho friend
y treatment to tho immigrant that he
receives in the West, aud make proper
display of the natural resources Of our State
10 attract thom, there is nothing lacking
~ success.
If tho people of South Carolina really
desire it, there is no reason why, in the
space of 20 years, We may not sec
hillside and fertile plain of the State
teeming with busy farm homes, end our
water courses humming with manufactures,
converting our raw materials iato the mani.
fold useful articles of commerce, thereby
emancipating our State from the manufao..
turing power of the North. In ordor to
accomplish this our State government should
empower the proper branch of it, to ap.
point general agent who is capable of
transIating 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 well as South Carolina, who will
know how to place the new corners in looai.-
ties most resembling their former homes,
aud to get employment for the mechanic,
aborer OF servaut. Such an ugeut 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-agepts in Germany. Said sub
agents to receive one dollar for every pro-
per aud healthy emigrant between the ages
OF Is and 40, drawing his wages every
three mouths, or as may be agreed on.
Said agents should be literally supplied
with the statistics of the Agricultural De-
partmcnt, and all other papers showing the
States resources, translated into German,
and properly endorsed. These sub agents
should be selected from the merchants, no
tel keepers, and ship agents who are in di-
rect communication with eMigrants. When
| visited Germany last summer / made
inquiries and observations of this matter,
aud found none willing to do anything to-
wards it unless under regular contract.
The officers of the Hamburg Steam Ship
Company said they received one dollar for
each person shipped by them over the Erie
Railroad, and should not ussist in leading
emigration into other channels unless they
received the same 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
on objection raised to my country people,
as an acquisition to the population, either
on account of their social or moral habits
They gcnoraly come with some means and
some education, and easily adapt themselves
to tho new circumstance seek to cultivate
friendly relations with tf9sir neigbbors and
soon acquire tho language. In time Of
prosperity they accept their share, and iu
timo of trouble willingly and eheerfully
should their portion of it.