Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-13
Foreign immigration Advocated.

In another column will be found an in
teresting letter from MIR. j. I. Trezevant,
OF Memphis, Tenn, to two well-known
gentlemen Of this city, in which the
benefits to be derived from foreign immi-
grafton are clearly and strongly pre-
scented. Mr.. Irrelevant shows beyond
any possibility OF doubt that the growth
of the great West in wealth and popula-
lation is largely due to foreign immi-
grants. and that such immigrants would
do far more for the South than there is
any reason for hoping that the negroes
VIII do. Indeed, be boldly takes the
ground that the negroes as laborers are
gradually becoming worthless, and argues
that If the Southern States are 10 become
anything like as great as the Northern
States are they must encourage immIgra-
ton, and put their dependence in waite
labor.
About the only argument advanced
against foreign immigration by those who
are opposed to it is that they don't want
the country to I'LL up any faster than it
will by the natural increase Of the. native
population. They don't want their chill
dren TO be cramped for room, or, in other
words, as Gov. Ireland, Of Texas, ex-
presses it, they don't want their children
to be elbowed into the sea. They do not
stop to think how large a section of couu-f
try the South is, and they do not consider
that if all tire immigrants that are likely
to come to this country within the next
century should find homes in the South,
there would still be room for the surplus
population Of Europe for another century
or more.
Doubtless the opponents Of foreign i'm
migration, or of immigration of any kind,
are entirely satisfied with their way Of
living, their prospects In life and their
surroundings, but this satisfaction would
soon disappear if they could spend year
or two In communities which are filed
with energetic, thrifty and prosperous
white people.
There is hardly county in this State
that has tenth OF the population that it
is capable OF sustaining. The result is
that in almost every county there are vast
tracts OF uncultivated lands, few school
houses and churches, unframed swamps.
roads that for some portions Of the year
are almost impossible. farm houses that
are neither comfortable nor attractive in
appearance and out-buildings that are d.
lapidated. Good roads and good
schools are found only In COM
mun1ties that are able to sus-
tain such things. They cost money,
but the burden of providing them is light
when 1t is borne by many. Railroads
would be built through almost every
county in Georgia if the population and
the products of the tributary territory
were sufficient to sustain them. With
railroads the markets would be easily
and cheaply reached, and thousands Of
people who are now able to get only the
kind of living from their
farms would soon be on the road to pros
perity.
How much better it would be for Sa-
vannah and Chatham county If every
acre Of ullable land in the county were
under cultivation! There would then be
a population that would double the city's
retail trade. There would be valuable
farms and attractive farm houses in every
direction. The swamps would be drained
and the roads would be puE into such a
condition that it would be pleasure to
drive upon them. These things will be
done some day, but they would be done
very soon if foreign immigrants, in con-
mum bers, could be induced to
settle in the county.