Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-04-17
immigration.

The State Board of Agriculture held a re-
cent session in Richmond.
The principal topic discussed was immi-
grafton. Judge Grattan, the State Com
missioner of immigration, was present and
participated in the proceedings. He made
a report of his recent trip into the states of
Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota, in which he
stated that many good families in Mime
sofa and northern Iowa are thinking of
moving to Virginia, and several will be
here next fall to examine the lands that are
for sale; that the religious sect known as
the Thinkers will be here next June to at
tend their national convention to be held 10
the Valley of Virginia, and numbers of
them will take that opportunity to look at
lands with view to purchasing.
The question of foreign immigration was
discussed. A summary of the views of
several members as TO the policy to be pur.
sued is as follows:-
1t was suggested that it would be advisa
BILE for Judge Grattan to make his next
visit to Castle Garden to see what can be
Gone towards tuning the immigration of
Scandinavians and other foreign people this
way.
Mr.. II. L. Lyman, of Albemarle, thought
the proper thing to do would be to adver-
tise Virginia in the native lands of these
people, as the best class of foreigners de-
termine, before leaving their country, to
which portion of this land they will go.
Mr.. o. A. Brown, of Accomac, thought
Europe was the best place to get settlers,
| that the duties of the immigration agent
| might be enlarged and he be empowered to
get laborers for Virginia as well as land
buyers.
Major R v. Gaines, of Charlotte, while
discussing this question, said that he had
gotten foreign white labor on his farm and
they soon left, on account of certain class
of people being TOO numerous. The s'tua-
| ton is not go bad in his county as in Others
adjoining. The issue has been made, and
we must meet it. Is the country to be oc
cupled by the African or Caucasian race.
This question we must determine among
ourselves and not look to outside help, for
if we do we will be disappointed.
The board adopted resolution directing
the immigration agent to go to New York
and examine into the different classes of
immigrants and see what can be done in
this direction.
This proposition was introduced by Sen
ator Koiner, President of the Board, who
offered the following
Resolved. That the commissioner of i'm
migration be, and he is hereby instructed
under direction of the commissioner of agri
culture, to visit New York and make a
| thorough investigation of The matter of i'm
migration, and 10 make the best arrange
ments practicable to secure suitable i'm
migrants for the various sections of the
state and arrange for communication be-
tween the agencies and people in the coun-
| ties desring that class of i'm migration and
the authorities in charge of immigration.
| Mr.. Koiuer said that the intent of this res.
olution was to have the commissioner visit
the headquarters of immigration, ex-
plore the field flnd out all the resources at
our command, and find out the very people
to locate in the different sections suitable
thereto as suggested by the resolution OF
Mr.. Sutherlin, and make report of the
same to the legislature.
| Major Sutherlin's resolution, which was
adopted, is as follows:
| Resolred, That each member of the
board b. requested to furnish the commits
sloner of az, tenure with the class and de-
scription Of Immigrants that are most de-
be content and make useful citizens.