The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-09
Southwestern Immigration Work

The work of developing the Southwest and
opening it to settlement has not been pursued as
work of pure benevolence, and it is fortunate
for settlers that it is so. It is we'll that this
work has been done by intelligent honest and
thorough business men, who have looked at
things in business light, and have only begun
operations in any given section when that sec
ton was ready to be settled. In Kansas, when
the railroads had reached the plains, and it was
possible for the farmer to reach the market with
his grain and stock. the attention of the entire
country was called to the immense bodies of
magnificent farming land which were offered at
phenemenally low prices. In ten years three
quarters of million of people went into that
State to stay. Thousands who would otherwise
be living on rented farms or working by the day
in Eastern cities are now independently situated
on farms of their own in Kansas Towards this
end the railroad companies worked remember
ing that their prosperity depended upon that of
those along their lines Now that the adyan-
tages of Kansas are so universally conceded, at
least one of the railroad companies is looking be-
yond Realizing that the settlement OF Color
ado, Utah. New Mexico Arizona California and
old Mexico would not only make homes for
thousands who find q bare subsistence else+s
where, but would also add materially to the rev
enues of the company in the future, the Atchi-
son, Topeka q Santa Fe railroad, about one
year ago. organized the Department of Immi-
grafton at Topeka, Kas As chief of this de-
partment they chose Commissioner of Immi-
grafton, who, for twelve years past, has been
identified with work of this character, and is
thoroughly acquainted with the Southwest and
its resources. 1t has been and will be the pur-
pose of this Department to inform intending inn
migrants of the most desirable localities in Col
orado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona California
old Mexico and such portions of Kansas as are
not included in the railroad land grant The
agentssof this Department have already pene
trated every State east of the Mississippi and
nearly every country in Europe. and have
brought tofthe notice of thousands of people the
opportunities offered men of energy and ambi-
ton in the Southwest. Hundreds have taken
advantage of their assistance and bettered their
condition by going into this new empire Dur
ing the ensuing year the Department will issue
hundreds of thousands Of pamphlets, folders and
other printed matter with regard to this com
paratively unknown region These pamphlets
may be had by addressing the Department at
Topeka The reading matter will be accompa-
MED by maps of the States and Territories dis
cussed. The publications will be accurate, re-
liable and readable and calculated to be valu-
able and interesting to those who have no
thought of moving, as we'll as to those who,eyf
pect to try their fortunes in the beyond. The
documents will be issued in English. German
Swedish, Danish and Norwegian. While fully
understanding that this work is being done to
advance the interests of all commemorative rail-
roads as well as the settlers-Ye cannot but
commend the Department. of Immigration and
encourage it in its task of finding homes for the
homeless. 1t is to be hoped that the brilliant
success it has achieved during the past year may
continue.