The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1881-06-01
IMMIGRATION.

creasing, ana the great Northwest
and Texas are being steadily filled
up by foreign farmers and laborers,
Louisiana receives but the smallest
quota within her borders. Possessed
of large and fertile territory, that
would give wealth both to the State
and Individuals, i. is permitted to
remain idle and grow up in uoxious
weeds for the want oflabor. Indeed,
there seems to be supiue apathy in
this State on this question, that so
seriously effects the general veal and
prosperity of our people. With no
agents representing the State in for.
eign countries or in New York,
where most of the emigrants are
landed, they are enticed to other
places, to add to the productive
wealth of communities that are far
less blessed In natural advantages
than we are.
The funds appropriated by the
State government for this great pur-
pose are entirely inadequate, about
enough to support few favorites in
office on small salaries. The Con
stitution of the State has so ham.
pered the Legislature in reference to
appropriations, that but little aid
can be expected from this source in
the future. The amount of taxa
ton now allowed will not raise a suf
ficieDt revenue to pay the interest
on the bonded debt and the current
State expenses. Particularly will
this be the case for years to come
unless the Legislature will provide
some mode of equalization of the as.
sessmeuts on property throughout
the State. As it is now the larger
property holders do not bear theil
just proportion of the burdens O.
taxation. Let the next Legislature
remedy this evil, and collect the rev
enue promptly, and this will, per
laps, allow a larger sum to be ap
propriated for imm grafton purposes
Now that we are soon to have rail
roads traversing almost every sec
ton of the State, would it not be ad
visable for each one of the parishe!
adjacent to these lines of road to ta1
themselves a limited amount for Thu
purpose9 This, added to the amour
contributed by the State, would es
tablish an efficient Bureau of Immi
grafton that would, in time, turn tn
tide towards our State. We hav'
no representative of the Press abroad
to write up our peculiar interests AM
explain the advantages of our sol
and climate. In fact, if the emigran
ascertaius anything about Louisiana
, and it's inexhaustible resources, thi
is gained aliunde than by any enter
/ prise of ours.
!, We need first the means and thel
enterprising agents, combined viii
a the powerful influence of some grea
: metropolitan press, to present Louis
lana in it's true light to those VIII
, are seeking homes. Abused ant
misrepresented as we have been b,
: our political enemies, in the past, i
. will take much labor, pains and tim
to overcome the prejudices that ex
ist against US. These, in time, viii
f pass away, but, unless some activ'
and energetic steps are taken by tn
State authorities, with the combines
aid and assistance of the variou
, parishes, years will be marked Of
t the calendar before the tide is turned
D There is no subject that demand
. more the serious consideration of on
, leading and patriotic statesmen ant
citizens, than that which will I'll u
. our waste places with industriou
, farmers and develop our agriculture
interests. In the train of immigra
ton will follow all the concomitan
blessings of wealth, school. house
and churches, the two hand maid
of civilization.
We invite suggestions from on
!, readers as to the best mode of rails
ing means, BY this Parish, to aid tn
State authorities, and to obtain TIL
full cooperation of all the parishe
: in the State in this patriotic purpose
---~-o-~~o~~~-o.--~~->~>~~-
"A statement has been prepared
at the PostofIice Department, show
ing the amount Of matter mailed j,
the United States during the yea
ended December 81, 1880. This il
the second count of all matter eve
made by the Department, that made
in 1879 being the first. The state
, ment is based upon the actual coun