Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-01
The Southern Immigration Move


1
A few DAYS ago we called attention to
| the convention of the Southern Immigra-
/ ton Association, which is to meet in
| Nashville on the 18th Of this month and
to continue three days. We also pointed
| out the reasons why the people Of this
/ city and state should take an interest
in this convention. Georgia needs immi-
grants. and would get them in large num-
| bers if properly-directed efforts were
made TO obtain them. The truth is that
Georgia's advantages are almost unknown
in Europe and in the Northern
| States. There is great ignorance
/ respecting her soil, climate, productions
| people and the price Of her lands. Inc
| State makes no effort to secure imml-
| grants. and what is done must be done
| bv private enterprise. 1t is to the inter-
| est of the cities and railroads of the state
| that the waste lands should be occupied
and made productive. There are hun
I dreds of thousands of acres in Georgia
| that can be purchased at from % cents 10
/ 81 or 50 an acre. A great deal OF this
/ land was AT one time in cultivation, but
Is now abandoned, not because 1t
is not productive, but because there is no
body to occupy and cultivate it. Savan-
nah ought to lead in any movement in
favor of immigration. Her position as the
port of the State gives her advantages
that the inland cities do not have. Under
the influence of well directed efforts i'm
migrants from the Northern States and
| Europe would land upon her wharves and
| get their directions from her agents for
/ interior points. Savannah ought to have
| accommodations for immigrants sort
of Castle Garden-wheTe they could
be provided with a temporary re-
/ fIge and furnished with such
/ Information as they needed. This point
has already been discussed by the press Of
this and other States, and there seems to
be general acquIescence in the suggestion
that Savannah is the proper place on the
| South Atlantic coast for an emigrant depot.
| What is needed now is some one to lead a
| movement to make Savannah such depot.
The Central Railroad ought to be, and
probably is. ready to lead the movement.
In fact, it has already taken step in that
| direction. \ few weeks ago, at meeting
of the directors, a committee, composed
of President RaOul, Capt. j. NJ. Guerard
and J. Rauers, Esq, was appointed
to take into consideration the advisability
of inaugurating a system by which i'm
migrants could be drawn into the South
through this port. The committee has
not vet reported, but it ought to be able
to mature plan that would meet the APP
| prevail and command the support of the
railroad company. The Central Railroad
certainly has enough at stake to interest
it in a we'll matured immigration scheme.
Its lines run to nearly every part of the
State, and its leased lines stretch into Ala
bama and South Carolina. By means of
Its connections every part Of the South is
quickly and easily reached. 1t has lines
of steamships to two Of the largest North
Atlantic cit es, and an organization
that will admit of the establishment of
lines to foreign ports. If this rich COM
panv will take hold of this immigration
matter in earnest success is certain. Eu-
| rOpean immigrants could be brought to
this port at very low rates. Steamers are
coming in ballast from European ports
for cargOes of cotton in the winter season
and naval stores in the summer season.
The agents Of the lines to which
these steamers belong are anxious to CO.
ODerate in any movement that may be in
augurated to bring immigrants here. If
the tide of immigration were once turned
in this direction it would not be long be-
fore it would swell to magnificent pro-
portions. Savannah would become the
Headquarters for bureaus for the sale of
lands all over the South. The unOccu-
pied lands along the lines of the railroads
would soon be taken up and made pro-
duetive. The lands far away from
the railroads would be sought after
and settled. 1t is to be hoped
that the committee Of the Central Rail-
road viii report at once in favor of
prompt, earnest and energetic action, and
that the report viii meet with the APP
prevail of the company. 1t would be a
wise move on the part Of our citizens to
call meeting and appoint delegates to
the Nashville convention. The time seems
to have come for Savannah to take the
lead in the undertaking to secure immi-
grants for the South. 1t remains to be
seen if she is equal to the opportunity
which presents itself.