Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-03-11
ARlIlT THE EMIGRANTS.

Asmuch interest has been taken in the eX-
tensive movement West by the colored peo-
pie from this vicinity, we publish the follow
ing clipping from the Sacramento, (Califor-
nia) Bee, which, taken in connection with
other information recently collected, enables
US to state some facts not hitherto generally
known:
'This morning the overland train from
the East brought two emigrant cars loaded
with colored people from Charlotte, n. c.,
en- route to L. j. Baldwin's ranch, in Los
Angeles county, to replace Chinese in the
way of picking grapes and oranges and
doing other labor. The company compris-
es ten families of all ages, men and women
and boys and girls. They are we'll clothed,
fed and warmed and evidently happy"
An Observer reporter met agent Slough
on the street yesterday, and was informed
that he had party of 80 to ship to Yazoo
City, Mississippi last night. This party is
to 20 on the lands Of Mr.. j. w. Champlin,
the contracts having been made before
they started.
1t is expected that $50 more will be sent
from this place within the next few days,
and the end is not reached yet. MIR.
Slough has orders for four hundred and
fifty laborers all to be located in Northern
Mississippi and Arkansas, and the induce
ments offered to colored people to 60 West
are of such character as to be eagerly ac-
cepted by the average colored man. We
are informed that the terms, on which
contracts are made are these. Lands, seeds,
horses, implements, everything needed on
farm, are furnished by the landowners,
while the laborer is required to clothe and
board himself, and receive one half Of the
crop he raises. When it is taken into con-
sideration that this help is wanted in one
of the most fertile sections Of the United
States, and that all that is necessary to reach
that station is the consent of the laborer,
it is no wonder that large numbers are 60
ing. If the pledges given to the emigrants
are carried out by the proprietors, the
fact cannot be disguised that the industrious
laborer will materially better his condition
by going. 1t takes very little calculation
to convince any one of that fact. The
statement that these people are carried
away from North Carolina by schemers for
the purpose of making money for the rail-
roads carrying them is not to be believed.
The order book carried by the agent is
proof positive that there is demand for
labor in the West. 1t is fact too that no
white help is taken, Notwithstanding many
applications are made by white people to
90. There is another fact in connection
with the matter of worthy consideration:
gathered they include many of the best COL
ored people in the community. tits useless
to say the emigrant agent is responsible
for the movement. He is merely facilitat-
ing matters. 1t will continue so long. as
the inducements now Offered are kept be-
fore the negroes, and if the emigrant agent
leaves some one else will do his work.
Besides it would be q poor speculation for
railroad companies to send thousands of
dollars here to pay passage for set of peo-
pie who are not able to pay their own way,
and then drop them down in a wilderness
to care for themselves. Such treatment
would soon reach their old homes, and so
far about the only thing heard in this di-
rection has been some general charges made
apparently with little foundation.-Char-
lOtte Observer, Sunday.