The Forrest City times., 1891-05-01
SHALL WE BE REPRESENTED?

On the first of June next there is to be opened in the city of Raleigh, N. G., permanent Southern Museum or
 Exhibit of the natural products of the South; also the products of the work shop and factory. This is done under the auspices of the Southern Inter- State Immigration Bureau. This Bu- reau is not fully understood by our readers, and therefore we give brief history of it's origin.
 The different state departments, seeing what odds they had to work against Ill competition with the great northwestern states, the agents of which used false statements to keep desirable settlers and manufacturers from locating in the South, thought it wise for all the Southern states to pool their interests, as it were. A convention was called to assemble in the city of Montgomery, Ala, on the l2th of December, 1888. The govern ors of the several Southern states ap- pointed delegates to represent their states, and more than six hundred from all the states, including Mary land on the north and New Mexico on the west, assembled and mutually agreed upon plan of action, which Was to form d joint bureau to be known as the Southern Interstate lmmigra- ton Bureau; and that that Bureau should be composed of one man from each Southern state, with a general manager, to have full power to carry out the desire of the people of the South. On the l7th of December, lSSO, second convention was called In like manner to review the work that was inaugurated at Montgomery. The convention was held in the city of Ashevllle, N. C.. and the verdict of the convention was unanimous in say ing the South had started on the right road, and that the combination was d grand plan for the development of the South. At the Montgomery conven- tion Gen, r. E. Chiffon. of Austin, Texas, who was commissioner of lands and immigration for that state, was chosen general manager, and he was reelected at the Asheville convention. The wish of the majority of the dele gates was to remove the headquarters from Texas to d point near the north cru border of the Southern states and open representative exhibit of the products of the South. It was thought best to choose either Baltimore. Wash lngton, Richmond or Raleigh, and that the selection of either one of them
 be made according to the greatest aid extended in the way of money and buildings, Raleighs offer was con- sidered the best by the general man. agement, they offering money con sideration sufficient to pay the remov- ing expenses of the Bureau, and the use of very large and connections buildings for the use of the state dis plays.
 Thousands of people from the north ern states and Europe will visit this exposition, expecting to see exhibits from every part of the South, and it behooves our people to stir themselves at once and see that creditable ex- l hibit is sent from this section. Spe- eial information may be obtained by addressing Gen. F. E. Chiffon, Ra- leigh, N. c. Exhibits may be sent at any time, as the exhibit will be per manent one, but tue sooner they are forwarded the better it will be for our county. We should not delay in ob- taining all the benefit we can from the great work being done for us.