The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1889-02-02

The State immigration and Develop
ment Society Meets at Charleston.
Prominent Citizens Present.
Addresses by C. B. Hart
and Governor
Wilson.

Board of Vice Presidents was held
Secretary Butcher presented his re-
port. The financial showing was a
most favorable one. One thousand
nine hundred and sixty seven dollars
and thirty five cents have been col
lected since the Society was formed,
and 1876 cents were expended,
leaving balance on hand Of $609.69.
In addition to this there are sub
stantial pledges for more than ST.
300 in the hands Of the Secretary.
The d raft of bill to be presented
to the Legislature was passed upon
and approved. 1t provides that the
Governor shall appoint a Board Of
Immigration and Development, con-
sisting Of one member from each OF
the Senatorial districts, and one
member at large. The duty of this
board will be to collect information
as to the resources of the State and
publish it in proper form. The
board will be empowered to appoint
secretary and such other assist
ants as may be necessary. An APP
preparation Of $4,000 for each of the
years 1889 and 1890 is asked for.
The society held a public meeting
in the evening, and many of the mos,
prominent citizens in the State were
present. Address we're made by c.
b. Hart, Governor Wilson and others
A resolution was unanimously car.
ried expressing the sense of the as.
sembly in favor of liberal appropria-
tions to further the work ofState do.
velopment.
President Hart laid stress on the
fact that there is abundant material
in this country, especially in the
Northwest capable of being worked
up into good West Virginia citizens
and there Is nc need of special effort
in foreign lands
with well directed, business like
and prompt effort" said Mr.. Hart
''there are good reasons why West
Virginia shall secure much more thar
her share of this movement of popu
lation, by which so many States are
striving to profit. From the middle
States to, and along the Atlantic
Seaboard to the Cotton Belt and
even beyond the Southern limit come
inquiries for locations in West Vir
ginia. Your Board is glad to be able
to state that great number Of these
inquiries comes from persons who
desire small tracts of land for farm
ing and pastoral purposes. Ofthest
many want so acres of unclcare(
land, so that by industry and energy
they may convert the wild place into
farms and plant civilization annie
the now almost unbroken solitude
These persons desire cheap lands
some for cash, and some on Ions
time at the legal rate ofinterest. il
has been the effort of your Board tc
bring into business relations with
this last named class Of persons thu
large land holders of this State.
Speaking of Alabama and her i'm
migration movement, he said:
To-day although Alabama has
not ceased to invite the capitalists
and settlers, having her agents to
represent her advantages, population
and capital are pouring in upon her
and her revenues increase 80 rapidly
that one reduction of taxation fol
lows another to keep down the over
flow Rich as Alabama is in natur
al resource, it may be assured with
confidence that her advantages are
not equal to w. VAS, and that
with the same effort to get gooC
start Alabama's progress in the las
ten years can be eXcelled by West
Virginia in the next decade"
1--WE get now to the matter which
touches the life of our movement ant
raises the question whether it shall
live at all. 1t was never expected
that this movement could be carried
on indefinitely by popular subscrip
ton. The idea was to test the pub
lie feeling and if the people gave al
encouraging response, to make sucl
a beginning az would Justify thu
Legislature in doing that which
should have been undertaken in ser
ious earnest long ago, and which
would now be as far off as ever if tn,
people themselves had not moved il
the premises. Your Board has caus
ed to be prepared what it deems .
proper bill, which now with gooC
conscience it hopes to have pressed
upon the consideration of the Legis
lature. Other States in the Union
and particularly among the Southern
States, they are making strong eff
fort to draw to them capital and pop
ulation, for which purpose they sent
broadcast all over the country publ
cations setting forth their advantage
and employ such other agencies a
may seem to them best to accomplish
the end in view.
"The Southern States are so keen
ly on the scent that, as your Boart
is advised by their State authorities
every one of them is urging upon it,
Legislature a liberal proportion for
vigorous prosecution of the campaign
of development. West Virginia can
not afford to lag behind in this hon
orable race for advancement nor is i
believed that her Legislature viii
permit her to miss her splendid OPP
portunities. From the intelligenc,
of that body, your Board expects
such liberal treatment as may fur
nish the official board to be created
the necessary funds to carry on tn,
work promptly and vigorously. II
the successor, whom it is hoped tina
the Legislature will at this session
create, your Board, as the servants
of this association of the people
commits the further prosecution o
the work. "The Governors strong
recommendations to the recent Leg
islature in his recent message, it il
believed, brought this whole question
prominently and fayorbly befor
West Virginia's lawmakers.
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