The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-22

as the company might have in Its hands
for division and sale TO actual settlers.
For instance, there is in one Of the counties
OF this State, at this time, body OF land
under the ownership Of a number oil heirs,
which comprises some 5000 acres, which
although valuable land in itself and heavily
timbered, yet by reason Of It's uudsvelopsd
condition, and its lack Of trssportation fac
ilities, could be had, with q guaranteed
title, for less than 81 per acte. 1t
Is thought that the proposed com.
pany by investing in one or more such
bodies OF land, and having 1t properly
plotted into small farms, could dispose Of
them very readily to a desirable class of
emigrants possessed Of small means, who
would be glad to exchange the condition
Of life which surrounds them in Europe
for the greater opportunities that could be
offered to them and their children in this
country. Unfortunately, there is consid.
erable prejudice against West Virginia in
Europe, arising in part from the fact that
her territory lies within the so-called
"solid South" and also on account Of ex.
aggerated reports which have been indus.
triously fomented by Western emigration
agencies, in regard TO her land titles. It
would be the work Of branch Office,
such as Is proposed in this scheme, to dis.
abuse the public mind Of Switzerland and
contiguous countries in regard to the sd-
verse reports which have been spread
abroad to our injury. 1t is believed
that the desire to emigrste to this
country is SO great at this time
that q plan OF this character
would speedily arrest the attention Of
Swiss emigraats, especially as West Viz.
,ginia has been called the Switzerland Of
America. The general topography, cli-
mate and soil OF the State are such as to
recommend 1t to the Swiss peaaantry, and
inasmuch as the Swiss are every where es-
TEEN to be desirable class Of immigrants,
1t would seem to be the interest Of the
people OF this State to look with favor on
any plan tnat promises to beset spirit Of
emigration among them to our territory.
As we have said, the details OF the pro.
posed scheme have not been mstured, and
it is barely possible that when they come
to be considered they may be found to be
somewhat impracticable, but we see no
reason why all difficulties presenting
themselves may not be disposed OF in
some satisfactory shape. II We are not
mistaken there is a somewhat similar
organization in the State Of Missouri, and
we have also heard that considerable
settlements have been made in the State
OF Illinois, and perhaps in other States,
through the agency of similar orgauiza-
tions. Careful attention to the prepara.
ton Of o proper plan OF organization,
ought, as 1t seems to US, to insure success
to the scheme, including pecuniary reward
TO the stockholders: and while We are not
prepared to recommend or indorse any
particular plan, yet we do most heartily
concur in the idea Of taking some steps to
dissipate the preiudices that operate to the
disadvantage OF the State in the matter Of
immigration, and we trust that the time is
at hand when through come such move.
ment as this, the current OF immigration
now setting SO heavily from Europe to our
shores will be at least to some extent di.
verted to the cheap and untettled lands
OF West Virginia.