The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-02-11
immigration to North Carolina.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRONICLE. !


FEBRUARY g. 1SS6-The CHRONICLE
shows in recent issue, that our State
Immigration Agent, Mr. Patrick, aided by
the State Agricultural Department. in its
costly exhibitions and eXpOsltionS and
labors, at Boston and New Orleans, has
brought into the State, within the last
three years, 113 immigrants. 1t is stated
that it has cost the State the sum Of 81, 322
to bring the immigrants here, or S64 -
for each head of a family, and that these
people have made investments in the State
amounting to over $500, 600. Now he
writer is not discussing the question, which
our tax payers have the right to ask,
whether these immigration results, or
the amount expended in bringing these
people here, indicate good or a bad State
policy. These are coming questions in
State politics. and State policy Nor does
the writer dwell upon the query whether
this immigration agency should remain at
the capital, or be in some northern city,
further than to express the conviction that
one agent should operate in one or more
of these Cities and establish his head quar-
ters accordingly.
But there is a question III relation TO
this State immigration enterprise, vital to
the taxpayers and land holders of the
East, which the writer respectfully asks
thorities and it is appropriate. And the
enquiry is Why have 50 few of these 113
immigrants founo homes in the Eastern
counties? An examination Of the names
and homes of those now here, of that
number, as published in the CHRONICLE,
shows that Union county has one, Anson
four, Richmond two, Beaufort two, Bla-
den one Robson one, Craven two, and
Moore about hfteen. They have made in
vestments Of Sc, 900 for lands, mostly State
lands, in RObeS0n; s., 900 at kellys Cove
on the Cape Fear river; sol, GOO for SIX
thousand acres near New Berne; $50, 900
in mining soapstOne III Moore; So, 900 IN
timber land in Richmond; 81, 600 in Beau
fort. These investments, in these cOun-
ties run up to Sill 900 and a little over.
| The remaining investments IN lands, Nc,
as given run up to about Sl3o,ooo. 1t
seems that these investments, besides
9th II amounts paid out for other lands,
| mines, &C. and not expended in the cOun-
| ties above named, were made almost en-
| tirely. leaving out the counties OF mon,
t Anson, Richmond, Robeson, Moore, Bla
den, Craven and Beaufort in the middle
and western counties of our State. OF the
/ immigrants about thirty have settled in
! the counties named, the rest having homes
| in the middle and western counties, where
| they are at work as farmers, renters, mer-
chants. producers, &c The figures given
are not claimed to be exact, but approx
mate. But the distribution of immi-
grants and their capital, brought TO our
State, according to the showing made,
does Justify the enquiry WHY II Is that the
most of the Eastern portion Of the state
has received no immigrants or capital I'M
| der the operation OF our immigration
agency? The counties embraced in that
| i.,tn 10 tot %
/ Treasury very large amount Of the taxes
Of the State. The taxpayers, and citizens
generally, living therein, desire to reap
their share of the advantages of that
agency, and favor immigration to the
State Their lands are as rich and pro
ductive as those anywhere to De found,
and the climate unsurpassed. The cOun-
ties of the Cape Fear, and along the entire
line of the Wilmington and Weldon Rail
road, and east of that road, to the ocean,
are surpassed nowhere in fertility of land,
IN adaptation to agriculture and horhcul-
ture, to commerce, manufacture. and other
industrial avocations. Drainage and other
sanitary improvements and lessons in
health, have made this part of the State
| as healthy as any other portion, except
now and then a sma section not yet re
claimed and made healthy. Let not those
who direct our Immigration agency, or in
fiuence public opinion, be deluded with
the errors that, in the progress Of improve
ment, the East is not now as healthy as
the West, OF the middle tier of counties.
This bug bear that the East is sickly may
have been held up to the immigrant. In,
deed wide spread misconceptiOn exists
upon this subject, and has been long cir
culated to the depreciation of the lands
and the injury of the people of the east
Let our Immigration Agent, and the off
GERS and managers of our Agricultural
Department, unite with our leading citi
zens of the East in correcting this miscon
ception and mistake. Fair play and +;
fair showing Is all the East desires o.
. claims, as to soil, climate health or othe
conditions and advantages
AN EASTERN LAND OWNER.