The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-18
AGAINST EMIGRATION.
FloyS Sne!son Tells the Colored Feo-
pie to Stay at Home.

FloyS Sne!son Tells the Colored Feo-
pie TO stay at Home.
WAYCROss, GA, Sept. 17.-One Of the
most intelligent. influential and respected
calored citizens in the state is Floyd Smell
nentiy in politics, has been a preacher of the
gospel, and is now superintendent of the
colored free schools of Waycross. In 1877
he was sent to Africa as general agent for
the American Missionary Association. Upon
this latter subject he was asked u day or
two ago as to MS opinion OF that country.
He said: ''On Sept. 2i, 1877, we sailed from
New York, and reached Breet0wn, Sierra
Leone, on Oct. 10. We remained about
one wear, and visited Mendi, Sousi. CALI
mas and Liberia.
''W lille there we were engaged in saw-mill
work and farming. We employed large
number of natives at very low wages to do
the hard work Coronco, bye and bissi are
the principal woods used. The income from
this industry is very small, there beng no
means Of export ng the lumber. Cotton Is
grown successfully, the stalk continuing to
grow higher and higher every year until 1T
gets cut of reach, when it IS cut down and
planted over again. Orange and coffee
farms can alsO be managed successfully.
Potatoes and pinders grow well. Corn can
not be successfully cultivated. The country
is rich 10 mineral resources, but there are
no means of developing it."
Would you advise the colored people to
go to Afrlcaw
II would not, as labor is in abundance
and can be had for almost nothing"
what are the wages of a common Ia
borerm
"The average price per month $50. Out
of this laborers have to bear all their ex-
penses. The natives live on this amount
because they use the native products, which
cost very little, while the American labor
er has to nse American productions which
cost a great deal more"
What is the cost of groceries and pro-
visions-that is, those imported from this
country
white bacon sells at shilling, or "a
cents per pound, the year round; ham from
So to 50 cents; butter from 60 to 70 cents,
and lard for % cents per pound, and -four
at SIS per barrel and other American pro-
auctions at corresponding prices"
What is the nature of the work COM
mon laborer has to performN
THE nature of the work is such that they
could not stand it. The principal work Is
propelhng boats and carting the palm pro-
duction. This work is continued night and
daY by the natives"
"How about storms and sicknessM
Through the greater part of the year
storms prevail without any cessation. Dur
ing the acclimatizing season most of the
newcomers have to pass through very
severe sufferings from the African fever,
from which very few, comparatively speak,
ing, ever escape death, unless they are able
to secure special medical attention"
What do the physicians charge for
special attention.
Five dollars per visit cash down, without
any exception
What did it cost you to go to African
1.-THE passage alone from New York by
sailing boat direct is 500; by steamer from
$3.50 to $500. There are many other incon-
venences there with which our people are
no way acquainted that are calculated to
render their lives anything but pleasant"
what do you think of this rush now
being made by colored people to Oklahoma"
81 would not advise my people to go to
Oklahoma or any other place unless they
have the means to establish themselves in
some occupation after they get there, and
in case they don't like it to return with.
Between the years 1872 and 1876, there were
great inducements offered to the colored
people to go TO Alabama, Mississippi, Ar
kansas, Louisiana and Texas by emigration
agents, and there was a great exodus
to those states at fearful sacrifice of their
homes aud other properties. Everybody Is
familiar with the result. Many were taken
out there and starved, while others were
taken to malarial regions to work out their
passage money, where it was not possible
for them to live A few escaped and re-
turned to tell the story. Among them we're
few near relatives Of my own.
mo, sir you can say that | am not in
favor of the colored people emigrating I'M
less they know what is before them"