The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1881-01-12
re InnIonAII0N QuIsTI0N.

kAllolb lANAHhVNN0N'
As a citizen Of one Of the interior Coun'
ties OF West Virginia-a foreigner by birth
Il feel deeply interested in the much
talked Of necessity for taking some steps,
public or private, to induce people to come
into the State from abroad. ACtuated by
this feeling of interest for the IutuTe of the
State, | desire to submit some suggestions
for the consideration Of the legislators
about to assemble in Wheeling for aIorty'
i've days session,
There have been several acts passed by
former legislatures in regard to immigTa'
ton, but all have failed, more or less, Of
their objects, snd for the simple reason
that this State has thus far only received
people from different parts Of the United
States, land not a great many OF them
who have had large capital, and who have
come into tho State to simply skim its ma.
tural resources in some way, by opening
up mines or other resources OF the noun
tains and forests, and have not become
actual Re,tlers-tillers Of Its soil or particle
pants in ils every day liIo. They come
among rs for temporary and ~aggrandiaiug
purposes, and not to cast IL their lots
among us ind become part and parcel OF
our people aud our future. This IL not
what We need In the way OF immigration.
II does well enough in it's way-has its
uaes-bnt such iubux doeH not go TO the
root OF our neCessi lea. We must have q
better foundation, and 1t Is with respect
TO a foundation that ! would speak,
There Ia in West Virginia a large
amount OF unCultiva.ed land that can
easily be settled and made productive, but
intelligent effort Ia necessary 10 bring this
about, The Rveuuea to this effort are
plain enough. AT least ;hey are to those
disposed to take a plain, common sense
view OF our situation.
Our landa are lying Idle and u%nprOduc.
t~iye-belIing but little Of the tax burdens
OF the State, and throw ing an unequal
burden on other property, They are sold
for State taxes from time to lims in order
to escape local taxation, being thus freed
in the hands of their owners from local
tax. What we need is to get these lands
into hands that will till them, make them
productive to the public ut large, a source
OF income to the State and q participant in
the race Of progress. Who wants to see
the present state Of things last another
generation? Surely no well WiBher OF the
htAte.
Tho European people adapted for set.
Element In West Virginia are those from
tho north Of %EuropG-tho Danes, Swedes,
Norwpgians and Swedish Firms, Their
counties are numeTOuBly populated and
their Governments free. Their people
are not prevented from g0!Dg where they
please, and there IN II surplus Of young
men and women seeking homes and find.
ing none. They can command means rag.
ing in amount from small Bums to several
thousand dollars, They are able 10 pay
their own expenses to this country I've
want no other kind) and also able to buy
q piece Of land Tor q home. The Rtate.
sioneIa Of the State Of New York elbows
that the emigtanls from the above II
tries have more money than those from
any other countries. Their ages too, are
uniform, whitley Sto all in tho prime Of
life, aud stout and able bodied. They arc
all working people, such 10 farmers and
mechanics, and but few city people. They
arc grain aud stock raising people, and
the BtatistiCs Of tho world show that the
northern part oiEurope, where these people
come from, exports grain and stock to oil
parts Of Europe. The land there Is very
high in price and the population Is III to
the square mile, and the Legislature car
see plainly that the Bnrplua population Is
80 great that they must seek homes else.
where. They misG fruit for their own
uie but not for export. They are not 4
wine.drinkinS people, but sober and indus.
triOuR and hardy, Injured to toll and econ.
Omy. They would make West Virginia
blossom as the tose. They ate all Of one
kind Of religion, viz: LuthBtRnB- under.
stand each others language, and have 4
fair education, and are very apt In learn.
ing foreign languages. They areth0 peo.
ple TO induce to COme into West Virginia,
aud they eau easily be reached. To do
this, however, VIC must do as other States
have done.
The statistics Of this country show that
these people 20 to tho west, especially the
northwest, for settlement. They have
been encouraged to do 30 by the action Of
those States. Those States have made ap.
p%ropriatious and used agencies In order 10
reach these people, aud We must do the
Bane thing. We CGn do II II our Legisla.
ture Is equal TO the occasion and the OPP.
%portunily, II, on the contrary, they are
not, these people will still give US the 60
by and settle elsewhe We muat inform
and Instruct these people before they
leave home In regaTdto the advantages OF
West Virginia. 1--WE do not do 10 10
body will do 90 for us, and we cannot do
this unless the Legislature makes the nee.
essRry appropriation and sends out the
right kind Of an agent. We must instruct
them at their homeB III regard TO our loca.
ton and latitude, our roll and climate,
Our water and lumber, our mineraIs, our
coal, mstketp, grains, grasses, stock,
schools, churches, and institutions Rener.
ally. This n usl be done in their own
language, by %reFponsibie persons who
have lived In the State and know whereof
they speak. In this way their confidence
can easily be gained, and great may be the
gain 10 Us.
The frat step necessary Oh the part Of
the West Virginia Legislature ia 10 seek
out The right kind Of an agent and pend
him properly accredited to the north Of
Europe, to the homes Of these Danes ard
Swedes. The appropriation need not be
la%tge-Sl0,0W will answer for FIVE yeaFs.
This ngent should 20 ut all eaily day
among these people Nnd prepare for the
next seasons emigration. lie should go
at once to the country Districts, among the
small farmers who have means, and open
oft his mission among them. H6bhOuld
be abundsnty supplied with West Wiz.
gihia facts and figures printed In their own
language, and be able TO explain TO small
gatherings, called together on purpose to
hear him, the advantages oil the State.
We want no colonies, bus families, TO be
scattered promiscuOusIy throughout the
State, and thus intermiXed with the whole
body Of the people. and forced ns rapidly
As possible TO acquire our language, Ideas
and customs. Families should be picked
out for their special individual value, al.
ways getting the best, most intelligent and
best of. This can be accomplished by
vista from house TO house. The agent