Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-15

4 Bureau OF Information Needed,
Georgia is not nearly 50 we'll advertised
as Florida, but there are few states, never
| theiess, about which so much is heard be-
You'd their borders as there is about Geor-
eia. Her newspapers, daily and weekly,
do a great deal to keep her before the pub
lie. There appears 70 be more strange
happenings ia Georgia than in any other
state, and these, by the aid of the local
press. find their way into about all the
newspapers of the country. And then
thore are the Rev. Sam Jones, who al
ready has a reputation that is not limited
by State lines, and Lulu Hurst and Mat
tie Ptice, the electric wonders, and Blind
Tom. who is known all over the world.
These wonders, together with the prohi-
bitionists aud the patent medicine men,
have given Georgia vast amount Of free
advertising without really intending to
do So In looking after their particular
interests, however, they couldn't help
giving the State boost. The consequence
is that there are a great many inquiries
about Georgia lands, and If there were
the least encouragement, there is every
reason to think that the immigration to
the State would soon grow to very respec-
table proportions. The immigrants would
be composed of an intelligent and well-to-
do class Of people.
What is needed, and needed badly, is
sort of bureau of information to furnish
such facts and statistics about the lands
in different parts OF the State as people
who are thinking about seeking new
homes want. There are no facilities for
obtaining such information, and the only
way 1t can be got is by visiting the differ
ent counties. 1t is apparent that to do
anything of that kind would require TOO
much time, and would cost too much
money.
There ought to be some means adopted
to bring those who have lands into COM
munication with each other. There is
any quantity OF land throughout the
State which can be had all the way from
25c. to $25 per acre, and that which can
be had for 25c. is by no means worthless.
Indeed, some of it is very excellent land,
and a great deal of it is covered with
timber that is certain to be very valuable
in few years. There are many plan
tations which can be had at
prices that are surprisingly low. Some OF
them, containing from 500 TO 5000 acres,
can be purchased at prices ranging from
81 to 50 per acre. A few weeks ago a
tract Of 5000 acres, the greater part OF
oh 10 1vr fsr,,h ~ 10,
sold for $500 to close up business. There
is fine plantation Of 800 acres, 800 Of
which is cleared, having a healthy and
pleasant location in a county adjoining
this (Chatham), which can be had for
81 900. 1t is on a salt water river, where
fish and oysters can be obtained in
abundance without difficulty. There are
a great many such places as this, and
they would find ready sale if they were
brought to the attention of the public IN
proper way. The number of people in the
New England States and the bleak North
west who are anxious to get homes in
section Of country where the climate is
mild and healthful is by no means small,
and if they knew what Georgia has to
offer them it would not be long before
some of them would be located within her
borders.
Why should not the State Agricultural
Department have a bureau of information
attached to it? Such bureau would do
the State far more good than is being
done by the department at present. Ad-
hitting that its labors with regard to the
crops and fertilizers is appreciated, it is
not doing as much for the State as it
would be If it were locating thrifty farm
ers upon the vacant lands.
One man could do all that is necessary
TO be done. What is wanted is a list of
all the lands in the State that are for sale.
with descriptions of them together with
the prices. With the list the officer in
charge of the bureau could answer all
questions OF those seeking farms or lands
in the State. He wouldn't undertake to
make sales, but only to put the land holder
and the land seeker in communication
Being an officer OF the State those who
have lands to sell and those who are
seeking lands would not be afraid to trust
him. This is a matter that ought to
engage the attention Of the next Legisla-
tura