Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-04-10
Discontinued for LACK of Funds. I"
To the Standard:


to our knowledge that Col. Robt.
Gates, of jackson, the wide awake,
efficient Assistant Commissioner of
immigration and Agriculture has
been suspended from office "for lack
of funds" in the department. This
intelligence will be received with re-
gret by every good citizen Of Tennes-
see, who is interested in the develop
ment and progress of our noble State.
Ever since his induction into Office
there has been an awakening through
out the portions of the State covered
by his official operations, on the SUBJ
ject Of immigration, and improved
methods Of agriculture.
Last fall Col. Gates visited many
portions of the North, made addresses
at agricultural fairs and farmers asso-
Citations, called the attention of capt.
talists to our minerals, forests, and
water power; and of farmers and
home seekers to our facilities for di-
uersified productions.
He has carefully studied and COM
piled valuable information as to
resources, which he has published in
all parts of the Union to attract i'm
migration and capital. His letters
descriptive of Tennessee have APP
peared in the prominent newspapers
of the land. His efforts have not
ceased with acquiring knowledge of
Tennessee and her people. He has
visited and carefully studied the eli
mate, the soil, the productions, the
institutions, and the people of other
States and their wants.
1t was Col. Gates that went among
the railroad magnates of the North
and made it possible for people look
ing for homes in our mild climate to
visit this section at rates competing
with those furnished to the Western
emigrant. He organized excursions
of northern people to visit the State
and view its different portions.
The November excursion which
has resulted in the settlement in Ten
nessee of forty families was the pro-
duct Of his energy and enterprise. 1t
was his busy mind that conceived
the holding of the Interstate Agri-
cultural Convention, that recently
met in Jackson, which brought to-
gether practical farmers from many
different States.
We understand that at the time of
his suspension he was engaged in pre-
senting to Tennessee railroads, and
to the Commissioner McWhirter,
arguments to induce the railroad au-
thorities to extend to land prospec-
tors the same liberal rates of fare
granted over the Illinois Central and
the Cincinnati Southern roads, so that
they might be enabled to visit the
middle portions of the State, giving
Middle Tennessee equal advantages
in the immigration as are so literally
accorded by the two great trunk lines
traversing those portions.
Mississippi, Alabama and other
Southern States, backed by strong
railroad corporations reaching far into
the North in all directions, are max
ing strong bids for share of the i'm
migration flowing southwark. The
States are strongly equipped. They
also have fertile fields, vast minera
and timber resources, and are offering
grand opportunities for procuring
homes, and for profitable investment
The movement is propitious for in
creased activity, rather than for any
curtailment of the forces in the de
partment of Immigration and Agri
culture.
The name of Robt. Gates has be
come a household word in Tennes
see because of the live interest," h,
has taken in the welfare of the State
and the vigorous methods he has EN-
ployed in the pursuit of the duties o
his Office. Not only in the South i
his name a familiar one; but in tn
North it is known in the homes. Q
those who desire to come South, ant
who are interested in acquiring relia
BILE information of the inducements O
Tennessee for settlement. To tn
welfare of our State in the cause il
which he has been engaged the co
operation of Col. Gates has become
| necessity, and it is hoped that he vii
very soon be reinstated. %*x