The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-12
SENATOR BCTLER'S PLAN.
Fill the State with Northern Farmers not
LaborerS.

Fill the State with Northern Farmers not
Laborers.
Senator Butler takes 4 lively interest
in immigration and expects to attend
the Hot Springs Convention on April
Is. The following letter to the depart
ment of agriculture is full of sound and
practical suggestions :
WAsHINGToH, D. c., Feb. - 1883.
Mr.. L. 4. Ransom, Columbia, $. G..
My Dear Sir: Your letter of the 10th
inst is just received. You ask me "to
answer briefly the following QueS-
tions:'
"Do you favor the adoption OF amy
scheme of immigration by the State
of South Carolina ~
'If so, what steps do you advise
should be taken to attract capital and
immigration to the State >"
TO the first | answer YES. The
"schemc,' as | understand 1t, has al
ready been adopted in the organiza-
ton of the department OF agriculture.
The details can be carried out by an
adequate appropriation OF money.
In reply to YOUR Sccord inquiry l
will say that it is only necessary for
the department Of Agriculture to con-
tinue in the future what 1t has SO ell
GENTLY and energetically done in the
past, make known in every particular
manner to the outside world the re-
sources and advantages OF South Caro-
lima, her attractions as home for thrift
tv, industrious people, and the oppor-
tunities she offers for safe and col$er-
vative investments.
The railroad companies doing busl-
ness in the State can :ud very ma
terially in inducing immigration, II
they would pay some attention to the
local settlement and development OF the
country along their respective lines.
Some Years ago suggested plan to
the then managers or some OF the pflll,-
cipal of them, Of the Richmond and
Danville system, by which every agent
at every station could have been made
an immigration agent. | prepared Il
series of questions Of which the fol-
lowing are examples:
"What is the latitude and longitude
of the stations or depotS of which you
are the railroad agent ?'
"W'hat is the annual mean trmp"ra-
ture and rainfall"'
an what county and State is your
station and OF what railroad conn
pany?" -.
"What is the nearest market town ~
''What is the time and distance by
rail from your station to New York,
Cincinnati, New Orleans and Charles
TOM"
"What is the character Of the land
within radius Of five miles from your
station ~
"What are the chief agricultural pro-
ducts within that distance >"
"What is the price Of cattle, sheep,
horses, DC, and the leading articles OF
foOdw
care there any lands for sale" If
so, what is the average cash and time
pricew
"N'hat is the price Of building ma
terials, lumber, bricks, lime, nails,
shingles, doors, sashes, and blinds: :
&c.n
"What is the price Of labor, common
and skilled:'
"Is the country rolling or lcvcl?"
as the country well watered and
drained >"
as the health of the country good.
What is the nature of the sickness OF
your neighborhood >"
"What are the school and church
facilities &c"
"What rock quarries, minerals, water
power, and manufacturing establish
mentS are in your neighborhood"' ~
I suggested that these questions or
Others of similar character be printed
with blanks for answers, and placed in
the hands of railroad agent at every
station for answers, and reprinted with
the answers, and agreed if this should
be done to 90 myself into New England
and other Northern States and make
a canvass during recesses of the Senate
among the farmers and people general
ly and distribute the information thus
obtained.
1t occurred to HE that the agents
might do this without much trouble
and with tritling expense to the rail
roads, and with such accurate and full
information showing the great attrac-
tions in the State for homes and profit
able investments. American farmers
and mechanics and manufacturers with
capital might be induced to become
landowners and make permanent set
Elements among us.
| think it can he done now, If the
railroads will lend helping hand, aS
have suggested, and make cheap rates
for the immigrants.
This class of people (AmericanSl |
very much prefer to foreigners gathered
indiscriminately from immigrants ar
riving from the Old World or from the
large cities of the country without
capital.
We have labor enough in the South.
What we want is intelligent citizens to
employ and direct and utilize it, and
these we can better secure among the
farmers of the North, who can sell
their high-priced lands and invest to a
greater advantage with us.
This plan in my jugdment is practical
bic and is the surcst way to encourage
the introduction Of capital in our State
and the healthy increase of a desirable
population.
Cooperation between the department
of agriculture and the railroads, with
the hearty support the people, would
solve the problem in the interest OF the
future prosperity Of the State. What Go
you think about it?
Very truly yours,
NJ. G.. BUTLER.