Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-29
Treatment of Immigrants In the
South.

ment or certain German Immigrants VINO
recently came to this State for settle
ment. Our correspondent has been told
by one of these immigrants that when
they landed at Castle Garden they were
met by gentleman who told them he
wished to engage mechanics and appren-
tees of trades ts go to Georgia in the
employ of the Georgia Land and Lum-
Der Company, and that he pictured to
them in such glowing terms the great
advantages they would enjoy if they
accepted his proposition, that number
of them were induced to do so. On the
trip to this city they were treated with
every courtesy and kindness, and fiat
tered themselves that they had entered
upon a lucky enterprise. When they
arrived at McRae, however, they were
driven about fifteen miles in the woods,
and were put in uncomfortable shanties,
which, as it was raining hard, leaked
terribly. In this condition they were left
for two days, without seeing any one,
and. finally, they were each told to pick
out piece of land of fifty acres, clear
and cultivate it, with the view of event
ually purchasing it; but as they had
no farming implements, mules nor
money, and besides knew nothing of
farming, they could not do this. and so
they decided to leave McRae and that
section in disgust, and endeavor to reach
some city where they could work at
their trades. They claim that the con-
tract they entered into in New York was
never carried out, and that, in a word,
they were completely victimized.
We sincerely trust that the above state
ment is much exaggerated, and that the
treatment of which the informant of our
correspondent complains was not so bad
as he represents it. He might have had
his imagination too much excited by
utopian views held out to him as to what
he might expect to accomplish in the
South, and as to the rapidity with which
he might acquire fortune in Georgia; and
when he found out that in this State. as
everywhere else, he would have to work
hard before Fortune would smile upon
him, he, perhaps, became discouraged.
Or, again, he might have been the victim
of some bogus emigrant agent with
which New York is full. or many other
circumstances might have existed which
can be explained away. 1t is natural that
emigrants, when they first land in foreign
country, should feel strange and home
sick. This may have had something to do
with the feeling of disappointment and
Encouragement of this particular party,
which feeling. perhaps, induced them to
take a too unfavorable view of the situa-
ton, and determine, too hastily, to
throw up their contract with the Georgia
Land and Lumber Company, of which
William E. Dodge, of New York, is, we
believe, the President
If the statement of our correspondent
is correct, however, it ought to be pub
lished. 1t is certain that industrious
immigrants to Georgia are offered ad
vantages of soil, climate and opportuni-
ties for future prosperity unexcelled any
where in the world. We know, more
over, that all such immigrants will, at
all times, be cordially welcomed to this
State, and will be given every posi-
bic encouragement All along the
lines of our railways, and in
easy access thereto, good lands
can be purchased at reasonable rates and
on easy terms, which must increase in
value, and, in a short time, make the
owners thereof independent. while the
numerous factories being erected, and
the growth of our cities, offer inviting
fields for mechanics. These are undis-
puted truths, and they must make their
power felt eventually. But it is heces-
sary that the immigrant should
make up his mind to work hard,
and perhaps meet with obstacles at
first, and it is especially necessary
that he should take no decisive step,
until he obtains full and reliable informa-
ton from responsible parties as to his
future expectations. There are many
German citizens in Georgia who are
prosperous and contented, and the recent
reception rendered a body of German
immigrants to this State by the
citizens of that nationality in Savan-
nah shows how ready they are to
encourage their compatriots who desire
to exchange the Fatherland for the
sunny South. There is no reason why
the body of thirty who make complaint
to our correspondent should have been
victimized as they claim, and if their
grievances are well founded, we have
no doubt they will be speedily rectifed.