Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-09
Good Roads and immigration.

hiVHs ttt1HAtA w fosN NH NHN 49,
by the meeting of the Southern lmmi-
grafton Society at New Orleans, it treats
the public to a remarkable medley of
sense and Of truth and misrep-
resentation. The GiObe-Democrat is, OF
course, partisan or nothing. The cloven-
foot of Radicalism sticks out in every
thing that appears in its editorial col
umns. II could not treat Of paleon-
tology without claiming to have dis
covered a fossilized southern shot
gun. II could not discuss anthropolo-
gy without endeayoring to show that
the negro had been the victim Of bull
doing from the earliest age Of man.
Consequently no one will be surprised
that in the present instance it INDUCES
in it's usual rot about southern lawless-
ness, lynching parties, klu-klux, and po-
liticsl prescription, and gives the alleged
existence Of these in the South as one
of the principal reasons why immigrants
seek the more uninviting climate of the
West and the Northwest. 1t SpewS
out its political venom and its libels
regardless of the fact that the num-
Der Of crimes in some of the west
ern States (0hio, for instance,) in
1884 was greater than that in
any half-dozen southern States com
bined, and that, comparatively speak
ing, the West and the Northwest en-
JOY a monopoly Of the lynching bust
ness. Yet it nevertheless presents
some points that contain a great deal
that is well worthy Of our conSidera-
ton, though it does come from such a
yindictiye source as the Globe Democrat.
In its chafr are some grains of wheat,
which. if picked out and sown, would
yield well for the South. After stating
that Kansas and Missouri illustrate in a
small way another reason why the
immigrant does not seek the South, and
that there are "many places along the
border where. when a traveller is pass
ing along the road, he can detect the
fact that he has left Missouri behind by
noticing the improvements in the county
roads and bridges, =" ii adds
"Such matters as these are little re-
garded in the South, and the mention
of them would be considered frivolous,
but immigrants do not think so, nor
can they be blamed for going where
good roads are already laid, sound
fences are the rule, and houses that
leak are the exception
Again:
when the advance agents Of immi-
grants 60 through district Of country
on the search for proper locations for
settlement the general looks of the
houses, the fields, the fencing, the roads,
the bitches. the bridges, and the other
points indicative of country character,
are carefully noted down and made mat
ter Of study by those desiring to change
their habitations, for the change from
the Old to the New world is serious
affair, and those who undertake it have
no intention Of deceiying themselves if
they can help it,
And again:
1.-THE best possible method Of at
tracing immigration to the South would
begin with reconstruction Of the roads
and bridges, continue with the building
of better houses and corn-crbs and
stables, with the erection of more
school-houses and lecture-hallS.'
If we except the intimation that the
South is not doing all that could he ex-
pected of her in the matter Of ailording
educational facilities, there is vast
deal of truth-signifcant truth--in the
above extracts. In respect Of the road
question. the remarks Of the Globe
Democrat apply especially to Virginia.
The Dispatch has again and again urged
thenecesSity of improving ourroads, and
we take this occasion to call the matter
TO the attention Of the members Of the
Farmers Convention which will assem-
bic in this city on the 18th Of this month.
Let it be put forcibly before that body
that evidences of thrift attract the
thrifty, and that in nothing is thrift on
the part Of farming community more
effectively shown than in the good con-
dition Of roads, fences, bitches, and
out-buildipgs. The farmer who has sur
plus land to sell cannot more surely
enhance its value than by identifying
his own immediate surroundings.