Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1880-11-05
MAJOR TOLER IN THE EAST.
What He Says Of His Traas-Rocky Mountain
Bxpsriences-Hints for Those Who Want
Colonies.

EDITOR HERALD: To give an ac-
count Of my visit to the States in
the interest OF IMMIGRATION to this
county in detail would require
much Of your space, but still it
may not be without interest to
the reader and those who feel an
interest in the settlement of this
county.
: I nrst opened an Office In Indian
apolis, Ind, as Commissioner of
immigration for Southern Califor.
mia, and advertised through the
papers of that place, giving notice
of location and object and invited
those who wished information of
this delightful country to call on
me. This notice created lively
interest throughout the State for
California, resulting in great
many calling on me for the desired
information in person and. by let
tiers, and the Agricultural and
Horticultural Society called a
meeting in the Court House of In-
dianapolis and I was called on to
address the meeting upon Southern
California, during which time
many questions were asked me of
the advantages and disadvantages
of this county, and being fully an
swered and explained in satisfac-
tory manner their interest In this
county was manifestly increased,
as the people thronged my office
afterwards to learn more particu-
lars of this county.
Some of the papers taking much
interest in my description of the
country, advertised for colonies, to
which many responded, and were
anxious to join in a colony, but 1
had no lands and could not offer
such Inducements as were required
to secure them. During my stay
there great many left for the
West, some going to Kansas, some
to New Mexico and Arizona and
some to California. After leaving
Indiana I then went to Chicago,
New York, Philadelphia and Balti-
more and advertised as In Indiana,
with the same results and like
interest manifested for California
in all localities. But the great
drawback is the transportation to
this far-Off land and the cheap
lands now being offered in the
States. They say they can pur-
chase homes there for what it
would cost them to get here. Many
are led to believe that the early
completion of the Southern road
will offer Inducements over that
road that will enable them to come
to this favored land, and many
whom I talked with were preparing
to come then. The completion of
the Southern road will open up an
avenue for travel to Southern Cali
fOrnia that the people can take adj
vantage of, If they will, IN The prop.
er advertising of this country and
bring an immigration to settle it
at an early day.
The immigration to our Ameri.
can shores for the past year has
been unprecedented, and during
my stay ut Castle Garden, where
thousands were daily arriving,
found majority with locations in
view, having made arrangements
before leaving their native shores
for transportation to that partIcu.
lar locality, but I found many that
came over for homes in America
that had no particular locality In
view. They feel that, once on the
American soil they could fluid
homes. and when not met by the
agents of the different States gen.
orally they went west with the party
they came over with. Therefore 1
say that, with the proper means,
much of that class of them might
be induced to come to the Pacific
slope.
l found that this was the case at
Locust Point, Baltimore. Many
came there with the view Of seek.
ing their friends advice as to the
locality to which they should 60.
Our people, by the proper means,
might secure an immigration to
this county through the opening of
the southern avenue of travel. But
to Invest their means in publica-
tons to be placed In the railroad
offices to be stored away out Of the
way, Is not a successful way to ad.
vertise the beauty Of this county,
to invite immigration to 1t. 1 have
been through the States and heard
Of and known of colonies being
formed In the different States by
means of Commissioners OF Immi-
grafton from the different States
properly laying the advantage of
their particular sections before the
immigrant and showing and tell
ing of its advantages, and working
up colonies In that way; and, If
our people want colonies to settle
their lands, it will be necessary for
them to do 1t in a similar way.
Yours, &c., W. H. ToLER.
Los Angeles, Nov. 4th, 1880.