The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-18
BUILDING UP THE SOUTH.
THE SUBJECT OF IMMIGRATION IN
rELIIGENTLY DISCUSSED.
Overburdened Landowners Advised to
Lower Their Prices When Desirable
Purchasers Appear. and Co-operate
With O Sale Bureau.

The AprEAL's continued and recent eff
forts in the direction OF immigration to the
south is shaping matters for something
more tangible than talk. Wide awake
business men have begun to agitate in
earnest and in way that implies ultimate
contamination OF the universal desire. An
APPEAL reporter yesterday listened TO an
entertaining expression Of views on the
subject by Mr.. N. b. johnson, bookkeeper
for Bowdre Bros. Mr.. johnson has given
the questions arising from the immigration
subject considerable and studious thought.
Said he:
Gan article in TnR APrEAL editorial col
umns, as we'll as communication in the
issue OF yesterday, on the subject Of lnmi-
grafton, brings the subject pointedly, be-
fore the public. Manifestly this seems
the time OF all times in which the south
has chance to attract immigration, not
only from Europc-that is, to turn the
tide which has all along run so persist
emily in the direction OF the northwest
but even to cause those who may already
have settled in that region, both native
born and foreign, to sell out and come
south. There cannot be better thing
done, at the start, than for the railroad
authorities to establish low rate Of fare
for those wishing to come in this direc-
ton seeking homes. Indeed, that seems
a prime necessity, and the roads can well
afford to make the reduction, seeing the ulti-
mate benefit they will derive from an in
creased population of thrifty sort, but the
railroads NAV bring these people here free
OF charge, and the hotels may entertain
them for nothing while here, and our peo-
Pile may all be as polite and conciliatory
toward them as possible, but unless some
better system is adopted for the regulation
Of the prices and sale Of lands, they will
all return to their northern homes, and
while willing to acknowledge the superior
ity OF our section over theirs in many
things, they will not find offered them
what is the prime and all-prevailing in
ducement, and the one without which all
others are Of no avail-that is, cheap
| homes"
"But how and where are these TO be
secured?' t tt'h
"For the past ten years there has been
| the greatest discomfort among land owners
in all the southern country and the
greatest desire to sell out and get mt
something else. Whenever their neces-
sites bring them to the point oi an actual
sale at the hands OF officers Of the law to
satisfy the claim OF their long induigent
creditors, their lands often sell for nothing
more than they annually rent for but let
q half dozen prospectors' arrive in the
neighbofhood, with money in their hands
TO pay for anything they may want, and
what Is the attitude OF the community
Why, to hold their property at such figures
as to drive away the most anxious pur-
chaser, and that, too, while they are
oftencr than otherwise the owners OF four
times ~ much land Ms they can protitablyl
cultivate. Unless this thing is taken hold
Of in as mastery manner this thing will
continue, and the only remedy is gen.
eral movement Of the land owners.
under the direction OF an intelligent
head land II would seem that
these railroad magna,es ought to have such
man within their acquaintance who
would possess the confidence of the COM
munity, and let every man Of them put
half their land into the hands Of the BUREAU
thus formed for sale, aud ut figures which
will induce purchasers, such only M the
land win bring when sold now, and not at
ty-fiye yeans ago, or such ~ they have been
hoping TO sell al, hut real bottom cash
prices, and at these figures LET II remain for
live years, and then the bureau would
have some chance Of making sales when
the railroads. bring down the proposed im-
migrants. DO this, and in few years, II
my ideas an worth anything, ask the com
panitive merits Of this section with the
northwest, our land owners will find that
the half retained by them will be worth
morc than the cntir original could posi-
bly, have been sold for.
''Do you then consider such a plan ieasi-
blef VIII the landowners consent TO 20
into itr''
That, Of course, cannot tell. The fact
that the price Of the land was without va
ration, or huctuation-Sl.2 being the
governments uniiomprice 20 all bona fide
scttlers-is what has settled up the great
northwest, and unless some such sheme
or plan, under wise direction, obtains with
MS, we viii wait long time before there il
! any material increase in the population
from immigration. We rejoice greatly al
! every accession 90 the wealth Of the south
. in building railroads, furnaces and manu-
! featuring enterprises Of every Kind, bud
: the crowning want OF our section IL an I'M
! crease OF surplus capital In the hands q
our farming community, 10 lift 10 mem
/ bers above the necessity OF mortgages
! and the high price entailed thereby,
: and II the sale Of one-fourth OF
/ onc-half, or even three iourths
, Of the land will put them In possession Of
! this, besides putting along side Of then
, thrifty neighbour, who, alter purchasing
this land, will Immediately begin 10 i'm
! prove IT, then. indeed, win emancipation
day have come for the white people NJ Il
did for the blacks twenty-five years ago.
, "Now any assemblago Of railroad presi
dents, or OF any other men, which would
; marguerite and carry on some such scheme
NJ this would accomplish the restoa
: ton OF the property antedating the scccs
sion conventions OF 1851. But we havca al
, ready had quantities OF talk on this sub
} ject, and the time has now come 10 net
: Indeed, now seems 10 have arrived an op
. portunity for our people 10 work out theil
own salvation, and Il remains 10 be seer
/ whether We are equal 10 the occasion p
making, what NAV seem for the present
? sacrifice, but which must eventually u
j the means Of our financial and maieria
/