Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-12
AS TO IMMIGRATION.
THE FITZGERALD" ARTICLE OF w,AI
INHERITANCE TO CITY AND STATE.
virginia Outstripped in the Race Tor fro'
eress-Fsess and Figures SPEAK r's'"'''
our Advantages and Efforts
President o.

Judge George L. Christian FreS'ue"' "
the Chamber OF Commerce:
Dear sir.-The communication iro'h %
p Fitzgerald, published In the ouh'"s
D,snatch. is one Of great importance ana
,a,aI ,r,erest 10 the city Of Richmond ana
the State OF Virginia
The rapid strides Of all the otner sou''',
ern States In growth OF population anu
material development so far outs'r'pp''s
Virginia in every particular Is very ols-
co,ra ring This can be accounted Tor IN
mart by the neglect OF the Legislature ~
make such appropriations as are heceS-
sary, and to put forth such EFFORTS as aie
made by the other States, together WIN
the indifference of the people generaliy W
any except their personal interests as
we'll as a total absence OF any concer'eu
or general action throughout the e'a'e
on the part OF the railroads. or the peo-
nile. or the State, on the subject OF immi-
grafton.
No other State has the advantages OF
climate, location. nearness TO the great
markets, healthfulness. mineral resources
and cheap lands as Virginia. Neverthe-
less. a large immigration goes through the
State to Georgia, South Carolina, Nor'h
Carolina. and the Wristbands a Thousand
miles further away are being bought up
and cultivated, while those OF Virginia are
passed BY.
NOT AS RICH.
II Is true that Virginia has not as rich
lands as those OF some of the other south
ern States. but all Of the rich lands there
have been settled up, and now command
high prices.
thousands OF rich farms that brought
a small price originally are worth from
$50 10 1900 an acre, and the demand is
now for cheap farms. Farmers in Illinois
and Indiana are selling off their high
priced farms, and are booking In every
direction for places in other States at
greatly reduced figures.
The great multitude want cheap farms
in healthy locations. and in very many
cases could and would reclaim the worm
out lands here. Thousands of them are
changing their locations every year. and
once acquainted with the very low prices
of Virginia farms and the advantages CT
fered here, would PROFESSIONALLY emisrate
hither.
OUTSTRIPPED.
During the last twenty years, from
1870 to 1890. Virginia has been Outstripped
in the race for progress every other
time. Giving approximate figures, Nir-
gina had a population in 1870 of a mil
lion and a quarter In twenty years its
population has only increased 10000. Ala
bama has increased 10000 Georgia 60
coo. North Carolina $4,000. Arkansas &C.,
900. South Carolina $4,000. Texas n million
and a half, Tennessee nearly as much !;
even Louisiana and Mississippi gained
nearly half million each. To-day prob
ably every one of them is increasing in
population more rapidly than Virginia
There Is no end 10 the mineral re-
sources OF Virginia, it's climate Is I'M
equalled. its soil is adapted to the rails
ing of all fruits and grains; its proxim-
lily TO the immense populations OF the
great cities and great States, its free
dom from the low. unhealthy, swamp
lands. so Astounding in many of the
southeastern States; its minimum CT for
eign born population, tonly per cent?;
these and many more facts give 1t ire
mendous advantages which II Is absolute
ly failing to profit by.
THE REASONS WHY.
The difference arises from the fact
that other southern States are working.
and in many cases sparng no effort
and expense to induce immigration. Their
railroads offer cheap transportation. Their
Legislatures have made liberal appro-
priations. Their land commissioners are
advertising literally throughout the North
and West: their papers are advertising
their respective States on all occasions;
agents are employed TO work up the i'm
migration business in the larger cities,
and as a result millions of acres Of
land have been sold In a few years, and
Of % Alrlxv ana
hundred thousand settlers are brought
in each year.
At recent immigration convention $50
called in a certain city. a representa-
tive from somewhere remarked that really
no immigration was desired; that there
would not be more land than was needed
by their grandchildren and later descend
ants some time; but from Mr.. Fitzgerald $
letter ii begins to look as If the negro
would own very many Of the lands, and
not the aforesaid representatives de-
scendants.
WHAT Is BEING DONE.
Some work is being done. The Rich
mond and Danville Railroad Company has
recently issued an immigration circular.
and is sending IL out and Offering reduced
transportation to land-viewers I'm Virginia.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Com
pany is at work, and have agencies in
different places, and will give reduced
transportation.
The immigration bill published In Mr..
Fitzeeralds letter will accomplish a great
amount of good, If II is carried into effect
in an energetic manner; but as the bill
SAYS, it will require united and persever-
ing effort.
The inquiry for Virginia farms is spring
ing UP. There never has been as pro-
pitious a time as the present In many
respects, despite the hard times. These
aforesaid adamantine times will soon pass
away TO a great extent, and a grand OPP
portunity will be presented Of doing good
and successful immigraton-work, II a
strong pull and pull all together is made.
80 mote 1t be-"
Wa Go JAMES RI RARTON