The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-02-10
Immigrant Labor.

There can be no question Us to the wisdom
of inducing white immigrants to this State
from either the North or Europe. Those
| who have come from the North and settled
permanently in our midst have always been
valuable acquisitions to our population and
society, and it mattered not whether they
came as day laborers or as men of means.
The European immigrants have likewise
proven their worth and efficiency, and are
slowly but surely working their way into
the good graces of our people, and will soon
take that position in the South that their
thrift and industry entitle them to. 1t is
true many of those who came into the
State six or seven years ago, when the sub
ject of immigration was first agitated, were
worthless from having remained in North
ern cities long enough to acquire bad habits,
but with the exercise of proper care in Sc
lecting laborers good and reliable men can
| be obtained.
In this County, and probably throughout
the whole up-country, Senator Crayton has
doubtless tested more thoroughly than any
one else the efficiency of European labor
for farming purposes, and has satisfactorily
demonstrated the practicability of employ
ing it upon the farms of the South. Hese-
Gently gave q reporter Of the Neps and
Courier the benefit of his experience with
Immigrants. which we reproduce on &C.
count of the general information furnished
on this important subject. He said:
I think it was about five years ago that
got out the first immigrant to work on my
farms in Anderson county. first got one
man and his wife from Castle Garden, and
next season I brought out from Germany
his children and eight other immigrants
The following season brought out fifteen
or twenty families, who are now located on
my place and the places of my neighbors in
Anderson county.
The cost of transportation from Germany
to New York Or Baltimore IS about $50 per
immigrant. From New York to Anderson,
by way of Charleston, the fare is SIS, and
from Baltimore by way of the Air Line
Railroad, the cost is $1O.50. Arrangements
have recently been made by Mr.. Melchers,
however, by which the cost from Charleston
to Anderson has been fixed at $3.50. I pay
them for their work on an average of $R
month for males and $6 month for females,
and out of this they have to find them
selves.
The wages are about the same as are paid
for negro laborers, and the quality of the
work is better. They are as fine ploughmen
as have ever seen. The women hoe cotton
very we'll indeed. They work little slowly
but do the work WE'LL and make expert cot
ton pickers. Ny experience with them is
that they stand the climate perfectly we'll,
remain remarkably healthy and keep their
homes and themselves strikingly cleanly.
They are constant workers and expect but
three holidays in the year-Christmas, New
Years Day and Good Friday. have both
Protestants and Catholics on my farms, the
latter being of Polish descent. They have
for the most part come from Posen, pro-
vince of Prussia.
have at present about twenty of these
Immigrants in my employ, and suppose
there are as many more working on the
farms of my neighbors. They have re-
NAMED more contented and have had less
trouble with them than any class of laborers
have ever had to deal with. They all read
and write German, and the younger ones
acquire English with facility. I look upon
these immigrants as the very class of people
we want here in South Carolina to supple
ment onr negro labor. do not think they
will supplant the negroes, but there is an
actual scarcity of labor, and there is ample
room for thousands of them. They are
thrifty and economical, and have tenden-
cy to strike out for themselves as soon rs
they have accumulated little property.
In this way VIC secure the services of first
class laborers for several years who, by their
oun axartiona elevate themselves tn pOod
and prosperous citizens Where persons
propose to bring these Immigrants from
Germany they are required to give notice
by the oath of June Of their intention to
leave, otherwise their landlords can hold
| them