Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-30
IMMIGRATION.

AN EXCELLENT ADDRESS DISCUSSING IMMl
GRAFTON To VIRGINIA BY COLONEL THdMA
WHITEHEAD, COMMISSIONERS OF AGRICUI
TURE, BEFORE THE PEOPLE OF AUGUSTA
MONDAY, THE 2STH INSTANT.
According to the plan of the state Board {
Agriculture. which also is in charge OF tn
State Bureau of immigration. the Commits
sioner OF Agriculture Colonel Thomas White
head, and the Commissioner OF immigration
Judge Charles Grattan, have been appointe
to address the people of Virginia at as man,
points as may be practicable on the subject G
Immigration. Accordingly, Colonel White
head appeared before an audience OF the PEG
pie of Augusta on Monday, the 2Sth instant
which " as Court-day. He was introduced b.
Judge Grattan. Colonel Whitehead frs
sketched the necessity of the Board of Agricul
| ture, and the manner of its formation. II wa
| created by the Legislature in responce to thu
request OF the farmers of the State, speaking
through the organization known as the Farm
ers' Assembly of Virginia. He proceeded tc
show the difference in Operations of the pres.
ent to the first Board of immigration appoint.
ed by law, and the beneficial effects resulting
from the Bureau as it Is now worked.
The analysis of fertilizers had proved highly
beneficial in protecting the farmers. and the
tax of $40 upon foreign manufacturers selling
the same in Virginia had produced q revenue
last year OF So 400, refunding to the State sum
within less than $4,000 Of the entire appropria'
| ton made for The Board of Agriculture &c
carry on all its work.
Colonel Whitehead said that he entered
upon his duties as Commissioner of Agricul.
| ture January lst, 1888. and in attention to the
immigration department April Ist of the same
year. During the three months when he was
doing the best he Gould without means or as
sistance. except as he could procure it from
the fund for agriculture. especially, he lad re-
ceived and disposed Of 1900 letters, all in
reference TO new settlers coming to Virginia.
Since that time, in the counties of Dinwiddie
Prince Edward &C., there had been 60 families
settled, the heads buying farms of about 81. COZ
value and in a /. since tho Board snd Judge
Grattan had been at work. there were more
than $50 families settled in the State directly
traceable to the operations OF the State agen-
cies of Immigration. In this respect his next
report would show precisely who, when, and
where as to every settler coming into the
State.
The personnel of the Board of Agriculture
and the Committees on immigration and the
care exercised in all their progress, were
dwelt upon. Here he pointed out the great
that would be brought into the state under
the direction of the Board and those that
were emptied into the country by syndicates
who brought over from foreign countries
socialists. anarchists, dynamiters. &C. Through
the Board and the mission of Judge Grattan
no person, not able to buy farm or establish
himself in an industrial pursuit, world be
brought here.
II is not necessary TO follow Oolone, white
head through his lengthy ana interesting sd-
dress. 1t touched Dpon every point that the
subject possesses lnIsresi Sex The people OF
his county. and was splcsd with an eloquent
appeal TO our young men 10 remain in Viz
z MIA aud at their old homes which were worth
more than any locality they could find in
other states.
He illustrated the great advantages Abe
marie, Chesterfield, Charlotte. and other coun-
ties, had reaped rom The information given liz
maps and statistics which they displayed at
the late Exposition. He said one Of his duties
in these public addresses was to endeavor to
induce the Board of Supervisors in each
county to prepare similar Information which
would cost but a trffle, ard he and judge
Grattan and an agent Of the Board to be ap-
pointed in every county. would systematically
distribute them to enQu'rers for information
He named several instances in which desira
BILE safes of property had already resulted in
several counties that had thus represented
their opportunities at the Exposition. There
are now fifteen million acres Of arabic land in
Virginia idle, and we wanted good people to
come and work 1t, and If all would come that
we could accommodate. the revenue from per-
sonal property alone would be one million
dollars.
1t was racy, interesting address. Astounding
in argument, illustrations. and facts forcibly
presented. and often in humorous and graphic
style. There was o good assemblage of the
people to hear Colonel Whitehead, who were
evidently pleased with him and his address.
and Will have now more matter about immi-
grafton to think over than many might sup
pose there was in it.