The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-01-14
A Bid For Immigration.

The late Immigration convention In
Texas has iuaugurated very healthy
sentiment In that State, and It looks
forward to greater advance and prog
ress than during any corresponding
period of Its existence. Texas, as We
have already remarked, has hitherto
ignored immigration on tho theory
that settlers would come there without
special invitation, the advantage be-
ing such in cheap and fertile land, as
to attract them. OF late years Texan
has suffered considerably from drouth
aud from the depreciation In the value
of cattle, aud It's people now recoguixe
the fac, that II they want Immigration
they must make some bid for It. The
result Is the Organization OF . State I'm
migration Association which has statt-
ed out under the moot auspiclous cir.
cumstances, with the cid and co-opera-
tion Of the State government and the
railroads. Each county and section 10
relied on TO exhibit tts attractions Ia
the way Of cheap lands, inviting by
it's fertility, diversity and abundance
the better class of farmers, and to ex-
schools aud churches, peace and order,
a generous, hospitality and substan-
tiaI Inducements for settlers III all pro-
fessions and pursuits. But the princi.
pal work OF those who have underta-
ken the promotion of immigration ID
to attract great tide of settlers to the
districts that are comparatively uuset-
tied. 1t is belived that in no country
on earth Is there offered the Immigrant
as liberal terms as Texas offers Ia the
sale OF the school, university and asy.
ium lands. By the assistance Of the
land commissioner, who has procured
the classification of these lands, the ex-
ecutive committee can publish TO the
world description Of every section
and half section. This description,
with the liberal terms offered by the
State, should draw settlers from every
State and country where the facts are
made known.
The railroads are also working 10 the
same end. Hitherto they have done
alone and unasststed, nearly all the
advertising aud canvassing for itnmi
grants, having many million acres O
their own for sale. What the Immi
grafton Association asks of them now
Is to assist the movement by favorable
rates. In order to attract prospcctor
to the State, II Is proposed TO have tw,
excursions each month from the Older
States. The roads have promised Il
give round trip rate good for sixty
days, which is all they did for Califor
mia, aud which proved OF such befie Il
to that State. This offer, made at tn
very beginning Of this immigration
, movement, shows that it has the col
dial support and assistance of the rail
road,
What now remains 10 be done Is L
: effect county and town organization
and collect statistics showing the ad
: vautages of the State. With all thes
advantages combined, cheap lands
favorable railroad rates, there can b
no doubt that the immigration move
ment In Texas Is placed on basl
y that will send many thousand ne'
3 settlers in the State in the next fe
u years.
', Ii is equally evident that Louisiana
u if ii wishes to secure immigration
mus! do something of the Same kint
Texas has as much to offer as Louis
isaua, and II ii has to make speci
: bids for immigration, has to adverti
= for it, and to secure favorable raifrOa
Il rates, Louisiana has no hope Of su
% cess except by following in It's foe
le steps. If we want immigration, =
u must bid for it ard offer 1t some i
80 ducemcnis to come here.