Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-12
I. IMMIGRATION.

The Board Of Agriculture organized what they
style tho Departments OF immigration. They
appointed a Commissioner of immigration, VITO,
above stated, was the City Judge Of stanton;
appropriated 10 his use as salary Sl,OD per an
nun and his travelling expenses. His duties,
expressed in his own words, taken from his oni-
cial report. are: "Ihe purpose of my appOint-
ment was mainly that might travel through tho
North aud Northwest and make known by tho
best methods could devise the advantages OF
Virginia rs place OF settlement for reputable
immigrantan
The Commissioner visited several portions Of
the NorthUes. ard also the city OF New YORK,
and suggests n visit 20 Europe. The expenses
thus incurred last year amounted 10 sS32 Inc
expenses this year would be much greater, IN
the Judgment OF the committee. II tho projected
Eui opean tour carried out, aud your COM
mittee were gratified TO understand from Judge
Grattan that tho same had been abandoned.
The immigration scheme was further carried
out by establishing In each county a local real
estate sgont, who was exempted from he pay
ment OF any lconsc-tax, but who was not re-
stricted IN their real estate dealings 20 sales 10
immigrants. Farmers or other citizens 10 get the
benefit Of tho services OF the immigration Bu-
reau must register their lands nth the local real
estate agent In order TO register his lands no
must first pay fec OF 81: second, sign con-
tract with seid agent agreeing 10 pay MN a COM
mission varying from per cent. on sales of
sx,0O1 and under 10 ~ per cent on $1,000 and
over It was further exacted that che property
should remain in tho hands OF this agent for a
year without power In the owner 10 Withdraw the
same and any sale, whether made or not by the
agent should DO subject 10 commission In that
time.
Such a scheme works hardship on the State.
whose revenue Is interferei with, on other real
estate agents who pay q heavy tax. aud whose
business is competed with, and upon other farm
ers or citizens VINO nro unwilling 20 subscribe 10
such terms. but whose property Is taxed 10 bear
the appropriation necessary 70 cover The OK
penses and SALARY Of tho Commissioner OF In
migration ami OF the Agricultural Department.
Tho operation OF The immigration Bureau has
been attended, as far "a your committee could
discOver, with littls or no success. The Commits
sioner has sold With all this expenditure OF pub
lie money, Ave farms-whether 10 Immigrants
| or citiZeus ala not appear. Ihc Conmlssionef
| OF I'm migration estimates that l,OOJ fsmiliea
| With 5000 apiece h8yo immigrsted TO virginia
under the operation OF the Agricultural Depart
meut, but his estimates are based upon tire
| yacuesi conjocturss. His figures ~ 10 annual
x oonditurcs Of his department furnish some
| idea ot his method Of calculation. Thus 70 quote
| him:
"The whole cost Of immigration for the year
was 81 DO paid ms a. salarySo}2, my travelling
eXpenses and $3.50 paid for the publication OF
the pamphlet Nirginis as sho ls.' Now, what
is the annual charge TO tho state on account OF
| this expendltlref fon- per cent OF E,>s2 the
sum expended, Is S7A2S. This is the annual
charge to which the state IL subjected by reason
OF the Immigration movement"
Such was Judge Grattans claim before tho
committee aud was publisher by him In the
| Richmond StGts. II an annual salary OF $1,000
per annum and annual expenses, Which last
| year according 10 Judge Grattan. amounted TO
sss. and any year may amount TO more. can DO
| figured down 10 i7a.2S per year, we SEQ no rea-
| gon why the sale Of ilvo farms TO immigrants or
! citizons may not be figured into 1000 families
| with $1,000 apiece. The committee 40 not COM
| NIT themselves 70 Judge Grsttans arithmetic,
and think his work has been prontless and ex-
| DeuSiye.