St. Landry democrat., 1881-08-20
IMMIGRATION.

IMMIGRATION.
norleans." in a communication to the Sugar
Bowl. gives the following as the best plan, in
sis opinion, to secure immigration
True, we have the land, but the question is
to secure the people, and the class that VIII Ge
a,ost suitable. We require active, enerSetlc
and Intelligent families to come here; put pc
fore we propose bringing immigrants, we must
be in a position to show them how and by what
means they are to make living on arriving in
Jnmisiana We cannot expect those coming
here to 90 right direct off the ship and settle on
some OF our fertile lands, without house or nap, nap
itgtion: this is not the reception they should
receive, We should have locations secured fer
those coming to our State; we should nave all
Immigration company OF assocla.on $50 .h. od MIN %, q
10 work and buy from 5000 to 10000 acres OF
land in a body-this can be secured at 81 80 per
acre. Divided out into so or 100 acre farms
with small house and fenced, could
he readily sold at the rate of from $40 to $50 per
acre on ten years time. This would prove OF
much benefit to our State, besides, paying m
Testment to those who would embark III the
enterprise. When there is SO much money
seeking investment in the South, are there not
some who will start an immigration company
1t is a certain, solid enterprise by which moth
ing could be lost and more than zoo per cent
made on the investment. With capital OF
100000 5000 acres could be purchased, IL oen-
tral factory erected with the most improved
machinery for working the cane grown on the
place, it would pay over 20 per cent on the IN
vestment and leave a large surplus. This, be
Neve would be the best means or inducing mn
migration to our State; we must encourage it,
and in this way we eau do so in a measure that
will benefit ourselves. and, at the same time
the South. am advocating immigration to
Southwestern Louisiona, the great prairie
country west Of the NJ Mississippi, towards the
Texas bOrder-the garden spot OF the South did
we but realize it. But we fail in this Ike Ill
many other achievements, and will only become
convinced when We see the strange, hardy for,
eigner thrive and prosper in our midst, and
then will we believe that that we really have a
1ich country.
This is all very nice on paper, but who is
going to furnish the 100000? Improved land
can be bought here now, on long terms OF cred
it, for less than $40 and $50 per acre; but very
little if any good unimproved land can be had
for $3.50 per acre. "The great prairie country"
of Louisiana is not much OF a garden spot to
those who have Travelled over it and know it
well. The greater part of the prairies OF western
st. Landry and of Calcasieu parish, except the
marshes for rice, is not worth two bits an acre
for agricultural purposes, unless the land has first
been cowpenned or manured. The land gradu-
ally grows more fertile by the continual depos-
its from cattle and horses, but long time will
slapse before its fertility reaches that point
where it will pay to cultivate it without the ap-
plication of fertilizers. The immigration COM
pany that buys up large tracts Of this western
prairie land, and puts it in proper condition for
cultivation, will have difficult and expensive
job. Good lands can be bought in eastern st.
Landry, but not at $3.50 per acre-we will take
some at that price right now. The natives
are in possession Of the best lands, and they
will not give it up to the 'hardy foreigners"
or anybody else, at $50 an acre. Immigration
is a good thing; but an old country like this
can not be suddenly flooded with immigrants,
without crowding out the natives" which,
they not being Indians cannot be easily done.
Out further west, where the prairie land is
mostly vacant and lacking in fertility, it can be
had cheap; but wood is scarce and confined to
streams. The woodland is mostly taken up
not public land-and sells higher. We believe
we will have gradual immigration as need
it and become prepared for it,; but we do not
believe that this country will suddenly bc over
run with immigrants any more than we believe
that the world will come to an end to-day, as
prophesied. So much immigration will do more
harm than good. The fashion few years ago
was for Chinese immigration to California un-
til it became a nuisance, and the opposition to
it is now an element in California and Federal
politics. immigration on grand scheme is a
good thing for capitalists and others who profit
by the labor of others but it is of very little
advantage to those who now inhabit the land
and till the SOIL 1t may make the aggregate
productions Of the country greater, but it will
not make the little farm of Jones or Smith yield
any more. Let us take it if it comes, but not
make ourselves miserable because we have it
not. Before we had railroad, nearly every
body thought one would make them all rich
and to make sure Of one Opelousas voted to tax
herself $4,000 to pay for depot grounds, right of
way, ETC. Well, the railroad has been here
nearly year, and we are as miserable as ever;
that $4,000 tax has not all been paid yet and it
is like drawing eye teeth to collect it. We
move that the Parish of st. Landry hold
special election to vote to tax itself 100000 for
immigration purposes in accordance with the
plan mentioned in the above quotation.
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