Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-04-11
WESTERN IMMIGRATION,

PLANS MATURING TO INTRODUCE WESTERN
FARMERS INTO THE VALLEY CoUNTIRs-A
UNITED MOVEMENT BY THOSE WHO HAVE
LANDS TO SELL WILL SECURE GOOD PUR-
cHAsERs-THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE.
at the meeting held in this city on the nrsl
day of March Court, to inaugurate mose'
ment in favor of inducing the farmers OF Inc
western States, and others in search OF loca-
lions for industrial enterprises, to examine
the opportunities of this section of the Vailey'
committee was appointed to mature organl-
cation and plans to carry out these objects.
THE Work CONTINUED.
This Committee met according to appoint
ment In Staunton on the 7th instant. Rev.
samuel Driver, of Augusta, Chairman, present,
with a full attendance from Rockingham anu
Augusta, and one member from Rockbrldge'-
Letters were received from other members OF
the Committee in Botetourt, Roanoke anu
Rochbridge, expressin their cordial approval
and coop Grafton in the objects to be attalneo
by the formation of Land and Imm1gra'ioA
Company. and their active support OF Ine
emit was assured.
Whilst the prime work assigned to the Com.
mittee was that of preparing charter anu
regulations for the government and the plans
pany would assume the task of bringing the
people of the West proposing to change their
locations, and those of the Valley who were
willing to sell lands face to face, enquiries,
suggestions, and views extending over wide
range of thought were made of all which the
Committee desired TO have the benefit.
THE OBJECTS FURTHER EXPLAINED.
Mr.. Driver, when calling the Committee to
go
plain the nature of the work in hand. This he
did in clear, well-arranged. and methodical
views showing why the farmers of the West
were seeking new locations and the fine OPP
portunities they would have to make accepta-
BILE selections in the Valley counties, if those
in this section of the State, who had lands to
spare, would unite in this movement. To
make any effort effective. it must have good
organization. The character of our lands, the
excellence of the climate, and our advantages,
would have to be made known to those people
by well-arranged plans, which will carry the
Information to them, through representatives
thoroughly informed of the merits of the
country they were representing. The infor-
nation should be placed before the Western
people without charge to them, and the pro.
posed Land and immigration Company was
not to be known as an agency to sell lands,
but through its accredited represen tatives to
communicate facts with descriptive lists of
the property offered after which the party
proposing to purchase could visit. make his
own examination, and, directly with the
owner, make their own terms. The descrip-
tive lists should also state the price, and in
that the seller should be cautious and express
the amount he is willing to sell at, and not
fancy estimate from which he would recede
after opening negotiations.
1t would be necessary, in the preliminary
work, to raise a certain sum of money-say
five hundred dollars. which was the minimum
amount of stock required in the grant of a
charter. This would have to be taken and
made good to the Company through
a limited charge upon the persons offering
land for sale which would cover the cost of
the advertising by means of the de-
scriptive lists referred to and paying the ex-
pense of the representatives sent to the West.
In this latter expense, he thought the rail-
roads would share mart