Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-09-07
An unparalleled Opportunity for
the South.

the South.
disasters that are entirely without com
pensatlng features are rare. Every calamity
that befalls mankind carries with it some
element Of advantage. thus the present
business depression and distress in the West
present to the South an opportunity for self
advancement such as has never been present.
ed before. We read daily of the thousands
OF unemployed, the loses Of business men, the
distress and dissatisfaction of the farmers,
the idleness Of the mechanics in the West.
Our hrst thought IS one Of sympathy; our
second should be of the relief that these thous-
ands could lind in the South. In this situa-
lion lies the great opportunity for the South,
to help the unfortunate and at the same time
benefit, beyond measure, every interest in the
South. There has been an infinite amount
OF talk, argument and theory about getting
desirable immigrants for the South. There
is now an opportunity to accomplish this re-
suit in simple and certain manner.
We are not advancing theory, but stating
facts that can be substantated when we say
that little expenditure OF money and well
directed effort at this time will start move
ment Southwark from the afflicted portions
Of the West which will give TO the South
thousands of settlers of the classes most de-
sired. There are thousands Of farmers in
Iowa, Illinois. Kansas, Nebraska and other
Western States who are dissatisfied with their
lot, with the climate, with crops and pros
poets. They are ready to go anywhere if
prospects OF better conditions be offered.
They own their farms or have sufficient
money interest in them 10 give them small
amount of capital upon the disposition OF
their property in the West, and they can so
TO the South with money energy and skill.
They arc ready and willing to take any steps
that promise to better the conditions, and any
section of the country that can secure these
| people will have a most valuable addition to
| its population and industry.
| Here, then, is the tremendous opportunity
of the South, chance for practical work that
will be more productive Of results than a
perpetual Convention of Southern Governors
in Richmond. If the people of the South are
earnest in their desire to increase the popu-
lation Of their section by immigration of the
most desirable character, here is chance to
fulfill their wishes. The stimulating of for.
| eign emigration southwark is a big under.
taking, requiring time, money work and the
cooperation ofseveral important forces, but
the West offers an opportunity for securing
immediate results by the expenditure OF q
minimum Of energy and cash.
As regards the practical features Of the
situation, we have only this suggestion tC
make: Tell the people Of the West what the
South offers them-cheap lands that vii
raise a wide range Of crops, delightful eli
mate that is unsurpassed by any section OF
this continent and a ready market for all tina
is produced. Tell the Western people thes,
facts in specific terms, not mere gencraliteS
but definite information about what is nov
being done in the South by the Northern anc
Western people who have migrated thither
There have been books and books about tn,
resources of the South, and statistics beyont
measure, but what the people Of the Yves
now want to know, is what fruit lands are TO
sale in the South, at whatprice and what the,
will yield in dollars and cents under avcrag,
conditions. They want to know what oppor
tunity there is for planting rice and every
thing about it that is needful for beginne
to know. They want to know where in tn
South cattle and hogs and horses and sheer
can be raised to best advantage, what tn,
pasturage costs and the value of the stool
when ready for market They want to know
how much corn and oats and hay can b.
grown on an acre under average condition
and the average market value Of these crop
and the value of the lands on which they ar
grown; in short, the people Of the West VIII,
are now dissatisfied with their lot, want &C
curate, specific and detailed information
about Southern opportunities, down to tn
exact price and location of lands now 70
sale.
Put these facts into the hands of Western
fapmers and mechanics by advertisement il
Western papers, by carefully prepared pam
phlets, by personal missionary work in tn
West if possible, by correspondence witt
every one in the West whose name and ad
dress can be ascertained. Fill the paper
and magazines of the South with such fact
as we have suggested and scatter them b.
millions in the West. Get the cooperation
of the railroads in this work and secure re
duced rates for prospective settlers. Pay tn
expenses of trainload Of Western peopl
for an excursion through the South and tn
cost will be repaid hundred-fold. Do al
OF this and as much more as the united in
genuity of the best Southern minds can sug
gest, for this is an opportunity not to be neg
lected or wasted. 1t is the opportunity of
century and if used wisely and fully it vii
benefit the South to degree beyond imagi
nation. But it is necessary to act now, no
next month or in the winter.
The solution Of the immigration problem
is in the hands Of the people of the South
If they realize the situation and act at ono
they can accomplish stupendous results"