The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-02
THE GREAT MOVEMENT
To Attract immigration to the
Southern States.
THE ALABAMA COMMISSIONER
Talks Entertaininsly to the Intclli-
genccr about the PIan-The Great
Oak that From an Acorn Grew.
ALettcr from Hot Springs.

Emigration Convention, c which met here,
despatched its business and adjourned
well satisfied that it had given good be-
ginning to a good movement. 1t is safe
to say that no gathering in the South
since the war has been Of more repre-
sentative character, and l do not believe
that any body of men has met since the
close of "the late unpleasantness," "
which had in view step of greater inn
portance to the eleven Southern States
East Of the Mississippi. The call, issued
by Major John D. Kelley, Jr., now OF
New York City, native Yirginian, and
Southern man in all that relates to he
interest ithe great Southern section, took
the matter in hand and arranged for the
details Of the meeting, and this was very
fortunate for the meeting and the move
ment. The idea was born in the brain
of Bishop Becker, the Roman Catholic
Bishop OF Savannah, deep thinker, n
quick-witted man, having comprehen-
siye knowledge OF affairs, and steam
engine energy. Bishop Becker started
with the idea OF beneftting his own
church by some
ORGANIZED MOVEMENT
looking to Southern immigration. From
this acorn grew the splendid oak which
seem to have driven its roots deep in the
soil of eleven States and now casts its
grateful shadow over the whole South
land. You already know by telegraph
that the convention formed itself into
the Southern Immigration Association;
that it is to have in New York City
Central Bureau, for the present under
the direction OF Maj. Kelley, in every
sense an excellent man for the work,
but the rush OF other affairs will prob
ably prevent his remaining permanently
at the head OF the movement, which he
has done so much to make successful up
to this time. But with the eleven States
interested as States, their commercial
bodies, their counties, their cities and
their towns, and about twenty Southern
railroads, each being represented in the
Board or Bureau by the payment OF the
reasonable entrance fee, there will be
found proper man for the permanent
conduct OF the work. The general idea
for plan OF campaign contemplates for
the whole section and for the benefit OF
eleven States about the same method Of
procedure as we have adopted In our
own State and it may interest the folks
at home to know that what passed in
this convention by the name OF 'The
West Virginia Plan," was well known
to the gentlemen who came here and
formed sort OF basis for the outline OF
plan which was finally adopted. 1t
seems to be understood that the steps
taken so far are only general and have
not gone beyond mere outline, leaving
the details to be put in when the active
paying membership OF the Association
shall be more clearly determined and
with the funds in hand or within sight
shall have indicated just what kind OF q
structure it may bepossible to erect and
what tools it may be necessary to use.
am very glad that did not permit
the pressure OF business at home to keep
me from this meeting, for the contact
with gentlemen from other States has
been OF very great service, and ! think
has been fruitful in such suggestions as
will be OF use to our own movement. SO
far MS our own State work is concerned,
think much more OF this personal con-
tact than Of the great convention itself,
remarkable body as that was and well as
it did its work.
col. KoLB INTERVIEWED.
For example: had long and very
instructive talk with Col. Eolb, Com
missioner Of immigration for Alabama,
who had Just returned from the great
Northwest, whittier he went, as he told
me, with many misgivings as to the re-
ception that awaited one on his mission.
He feared that one who went TO draw
people out OF those States would be but
coldly received in that high latitude. TO
his great surprise and qualification, he
was not only kindly, but cordially re-
ceived. The newspapers told OF his
business and wanted to hear all that he
could tell them about his own
State, the Southern States in general,
and the inducements offered to settlers,
He told me that he supposed that
through the medium OF the convenient
interview his State had received adver-
tising OF the best character in not less
than million copies OF newspapers,
great and small. He had taken with
him 10000 copies of printed material,
and these he distributed, but the volun-
tary offerings were far in excess OF these,
and furnished him with such credentials
on his journey rs it had not entered into
his mind to think he could command.
The good SO intelligently planted fell in
fertile ground and It is already bearing
fruit. Col. Kolb assured Inc that he
had already arranged for several car
loads OF immigrants of the best class,
some natives and some foreigners for
several years settled in the Northwest,
and this he regards rs only the advance
guard OF q numerous army bent upon
the peaceful invasion Of the State OF
Alabama. He found not only that the
blizzard and the cyclone
HAD STRICKEN TERROR
into the people Of the Northwest, but
that the drouth Of the past three seasons
had done even a more destructive work;
putting one consideration with another,
he found that it was only necessary to
assure this people that the South wants
them, will receive them well, has fertile
lands to offer them ut low prices, and
that they can earn livelihood and
something more on these lands.
have given only an outline idea OF
my talk with this interesting gentleman.
There is much more OF it which | have
treasured up for the benefit OF our own
Board. There is a good deal more in
connection with the meeting here in the
big tent and the side shows, about which
must tell you, but Just now four soli-
tary horsemen may be seen waiting for
me to Join them In ''critter-back" ride
over a mountain which looks TO me as
though it might be assembled in a per-
pendicular elevator, but hardly mastered
by man on horseback. Still this is the
land of chiyalry, and l am going to Join
this waiting cavalcade. II get back
safely, you shall have some more from
mo as soon as l recover sufficiently to
get down to work. c.R.H.
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