The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-07-03
DEER CREEK FARMERS CLUB.
Discussing Immigration M an u ctO es
Needed I'm Hartford.

The Deer Creek Farmers Club met at the resi-
dence of Mr.. VIM. Webster, near Churchyile
Saturday, June 27th. There We're present best
des active members, Messrs. Alex Scott, of
Philadelphia; F. Zabriskie, of Detroit; Kew C.
D. Wilson Richard Webster, VIM. S. Webster, ]
Fnney, S. N. Lee and Geo j. Finney, of Harfor d
county.
The President, Benz. Silver, Jr., appointed VIM.
committee to inspect Mr.. Webster's farm and
stock. They reported, expressing themselves
pleased with everything they saw. Mr.. Webster
being remarkable for the size of the stalks his
poultry, consisting principally of game chickens
are excellent his crops look well and altogether
his farm is in good condition, giving evidence of
good farming. Particular mention was made of
some fine Langshan chickens, from the poultry
Pa. '''' WV liz
The question selected by Mr.. Webster for dis
cussion was as follows:
would it not greatly advance the interests of
our county and State to offer inducements to
foreign immigrants and citizens of sister States
Mr.. VIM. Webster said the question should be
considere. without prejudice. There Is, no
doubt, fear in the minds Of some that the pre-
sence of a large number of foreign immigrants
might in some degree break up our long-estab-
ished and cherished habits and social customs
but we should look at it in practical. business
like way. Mr.. Webster called tho attention of
the club to the tract of land called 1.-THE Forest"
situated near Churchville. 1t contains about
exception of seven farms, it was wood-cut-
ting, belonging to the Hartford Furnace Com
pany. After the wood had been nearly all cut
Off the manager of the company. Mr.. Richard
Green instead of keeping the land for second
growth of timber, offered it to settlers at from SIS
for it. 1t was covered with forest and stone,
and did not pay over 800 In taxes. The settlers
were Germans and Irish; chiefly the former
They built houses, fenced the land, cleared 1t up,
planted crops and went on, year by year. until
they are to-day as prosperous as any people in
nor
year in taxes. There are about forty farmers,
who are the most orderly community we have
for in twenty five years they have had but one
it would be good policy to divide our farms and
sell small parcels to immigrants of this class
The lands in Lancaster and Chester counties
Pa, are no better than ours nor are their facli-
ties much greater, yet they sell for more, and the
reason is they are divided into smaller PARCELS
man can afford to pay a larger price per acre
for small farm than for large one. Mr.. Web
ster thought the Legislature should send an
agent to Europe to point out the advantages of
Maryland and induce thrifty, industrious immi-
grants to come here.
R. Harris Archer thought it would be good
thing IL some inducements could be offered to
industrious immigrants to settle in Maryland
j. Edwin Webster said he followed Mr.. Web
ster's argument until he said there were no law
suits in the Forest; then he dropped 1t, being
lawyer himself.
E. p. Moores said Hartford is we'll supplied with
this country hut 1t would be well If we could in
duce those with little money to come here and
settle. An agent might induce too many of the
class we don't want to come
II. Spalding said he had found that foreigners In
some things make as good laborers as native
born.
John Moores thought Hartford abundantly SUD.
piled with labor of all kinds. We have large
bodies of cheap land, but we cannot compete
induce some live manufacturers to start bust
ness In Hartford county 1t would bring peo-
ford with her $1,000 population buys annnalIv at
least $l50,00O worth of shoes. These might as
well be made here as In Lynn. The leather is
made in Maryland and Massachusetts men come
here to buy 1t. You can't get a pillow made In
Hartford county. We send to Michigan for our
wagons while our own ,wheelwrights are starv-
ing. All our farm implements are made some
where else and yet we have the best and cheap
est wood on earth. AS for sending an agent to
good for nothing fellow. We should induce
manufacturers to come here and aid them when
VIM. Munnikhuysen also thought we should
offer inducements to manufacturers to com
here. Almost any kind of a mandatory would
bring s the same kind of people of which Mr..
VIM. F. Hays thought that the money farmers
pay for agricultural implements ought TO be kept
James Lee said he had no difficulty In getting
reliable help but no doubt immigrants of the
right kind would increase the value Of our
lands.
e NJ. Allen said he did not know why we
wanted immigration as labor is cheap and less
is required since we have so many labor saving
ments we could offer as lands are higher here
than In other parts of the country.
Geo. j, Finney said 1t depended very much on
the kind of immigrants we have, whether II
would be OF much advantage to us as people or
a county to invite then to come
=. NJ. Lee thought the wealth of q country is
often In proportion to the number of its inhabi-
tants. He was satisfied Hartford has not one
half the population II might support but how to
get 1t is the question. A great many of our land
holders and the county would be benefited by
allowing some OF their more broken lands to go
into other hands.
Geo. e. Silver said that to enhance the value
of our lands we must bring In capital and show
to those who have money that here they can find
Il good investment for II. We have valuable slate
lands not opened and mines opened and not fully
developed. If capital came to deveope our re-
sources labor would follow. The Susquehanna
paper mill property. which a few years ago paid
scarcely dollar IN taxation, now pays 81 200 and
gives employment to many laborers. who spend
their money here, from $4,000 to $4,000 being
disbursed annually In wages. ~ we want to set
tie our waste places we must induce the aborng
class to come here and give them helping hand
Farm labor Is abundant but the question of
house help is more difficult of solution. That
however, will regulate itself In time, and in q few