Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-30
SETTLING THE STATE.
Steps b eing Taken by the Southern p
..e

steps IL eng Iaken Dy She southern Ia
cific Company.
San Francisco Alta, September 2Sth.
Very large sums of money are annually
spent by the Southern Pacific Company for
the purpose of attracting immigration,
with the end in view, of course, to increase
their own business and at the same time
benefit all classes of trade. The Southern
Pacific Company Colonization Agency" is
the latest venture of the railroad in the
matter of advertising the State. Its main
office is located in this city, and will be in
charge of Bernhard Marks and s. w. Fer
gusson. The agency will furnish. free OF
charge, all the information at its command
regarding Government lands, and will en-
deavor to settle them up. Every part OF
the State will be considered, and settlers
suited to each section will be sought
Bernhard Marks, the general agent of the
agency, will go East at once and proceed to
learn in the most practical manner the
best methods to reach the thousands oi
people who have been interested in the
Pacific Coast and are yet undecided as to
where they will locate.
In speaking of the purposes of the
agency Mr.. Ferguson said yesterday: "We
all know that Oregon and Washington
Territory have been trading on our popular
climate and at the same time profitiDg by
the cry of cheap lands in those districts as
compared with the so-called high priced
land of our State. The idea is prevalent in
the East that no good land can be had in
California without paying therefor fabu-
lous price, when in fact California land
considered from any standpoint of fair com.
parison is infinitely cheaper than land in
o. egon or Washington, and cheaper than in
the older settled portions OF the great Mis-
sissippi valley or the Middle and Eastern
States. They are cheaper than in any
place else in the United States, considered
independently of climate, cheaper than
any place else in the United States for
growing wheat, barley, rye, root crope,
vegetables, and for all kinds of general
farming, and finally, cheaper than any
place else in the United States, acre for
acre, considered alone on producing capac-
ity. When considered from the real stand
point OF true value, including climate, pro-
ducing capacity, availability and the very
many other djuncts which cannot be
truthfully claimed by any other country in
the world, California lands are cheaper by
hundred-fold than are the lands of any
other State or Territory in the Union. As
cheap land is the greatest attraction in the
world TO the average Immigrant, and as we
have the cheapest lands, we should talk OF
them more, write of them more. Keep
that one idea constantly before our friends
in the East and the effect will be great"
In no instance will colonists, immigrants
or intending settlers be charged ANYTHING
for the services rendered by anyone con-
nected with the agency. On the other
hand, everything connected with the in
stitution will be furnished and paid for by
the railroad company. All that can be
done will be done free, and in addition it
Is hoped to save the settlers thousands of
dollars in the way of REDUCTIONS in the
price of land wherever they locate. Large
tracs being settled by this means and
without the intervention of middle men, a
very large saving can be made in favor OF
the settler and at once eliminate the spec
ulative element.
When asked if he did not anticipate op-
position from real estate firms in this city.
Mr.. Ferguson said: mo, we do not ex-
pect opposition from real estate men. On
the other hand, we expect their best wishes,
and in some instances hearty cooperation.
The real estate men of San Francisco are
quick to see what will be to their benefit,
and in this case cannot help seeing at once
that if we succeed in heading large mum.
Der of people in this direction they are
bound to be benefited in a greater or less
degree.
THE agency will at once send men to
Denmark, Sweden aud Norway, also to
London and Liverpool and only the best
| classes from our own and the foreign coun.
tries will be booked. We want men oi
some capital, a great deal of energy and
common sense, and, in short, parties who
have in them the making of first-class
| small-scale farmers. If we can bring few
thousand such settlers to this country who
| will become home.makers, and thereby
| add to our material wealth and producing
| capacity, we will be satisfied"
This agency is not charged with the sale
| Of railroad land, and is especially advised
| not to make any effort to sell the lands o.
| the Messrs. Crocker and Huffman o.
Merced.