The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1888-09-29
The Commissioner of Immi
grafton.
Of the State Of Louisiana,
To the President Of the Police Jury

Dear Sir desire to address through
you the police jury Of your parish, aud
respectfully request you to lay this COM
municatiOn before them, soliciting as
prompt action as possible, and with most
respectful urgency beg favorable COLI
sideration Of it.
apply to you to devise some means or
plan by which to procure and foster i'm
migration to your parish. This I think
the most momentOus material interest Of
the day. The South generally is bestirr-
ing itself in this regard. In our own
State few parishes in southwest LOuisi-
ana. by diligent and wise efforts in
liberal expenditure of money, and by
newspaper articles and pamphlets, have
enhanced the value Of their lands to a
price that many Of our citizens, not
cognizant of the facts, would not credit.
But this immense prosperity connOt be
accomplished by inertness and indiffer-
ence. Ii took time, mony, great intelli-
gence and management to accomplish
it. l beg that no parish in this State
will indulge in the policy of simply
waiting and hoping for immigration
without making wise and energetic ef
forts for it. 1t will not come. as the
rain does, without our Intervention and
exertiOn. l am especially anxious to
incite the parishes to effort. because |
fOresee a likelihood Of complaint and
criticism of myself in the future, when
immigration shall have come to those
parishes which have properly moved to
secure it, and have greatly enhanced
values; while other parishes which have
been derelict will be still in the old rut
of lOw-priced land and the one-crop sys-
TEN. If parish which has secured i'm
migration be then selling its lands at
two or three times the price at which
another parish, which is near by. is
holding its lands, the people in this lat
ter parish will he very FESTIVE and COM
planning, will be very much surprised.
and many will want TO criticise me.
Now, Idesire in all frankness to meet
this matter on the threshold, to fairly
warn my tellow-citizAns. and to say
that if they do not bestir themselves |
wash my hands of all responsibility.
As soon as | can have the chance | pro-
pose to issue pamphlet, TO be dis
seminated North and West and to the |
country at large. | desire the best in |
formation eau get as the products, re- !
sources and other attractions Of our par |
ishes. want this information for my
pamphlet. 1t is impossible for me to |
visit each parish and arm those matters
par icu!arly. Besides, desire that each !
parish may have its own say about itself. |
This protects me against suspicion of IA
vOritism or prejudice. Ny suggestion.
therefore, is that you have some COM
petent party, who will not overstate your
merits and resources, to write up your
parish, and have the description printed
in small pamphlet. Let a number of
copies Of this pamphlet be sent here to
my office for gratuitOus distribution.
BY this means yOu have double chance
to secure immigration. YOu have the
general pamphlet am to issue, which
contains valuable information you have
me. and your own pamphlet,
which Is especially devoted TO your par
ish. You can procure some journalist Of
experience and reputation TO write this
or some other party, as your
Judgment may decide. If you are at a
loss to determine. and any suggestions
Of mine will aid you. they are at your
service. l only suggest that care be
taken not to make the description such
as will not sustain investigation. There
ls popularity supposed to be always a
disposition to exaggerate such things.
and there is almost always a heavy dis
count OF the description. II. therefore.
he merits of your parish be rather I'M
lerstated then diversified, the locker will
'e agreeably surprised. and all the more
lot to be impressed and to buy. II you
will but believe that by due encourage '
nent Of my efforts you can make your
ands average five dollars more per acre, 1
on will certainly see that you are well 8,