The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-01-14
SETTLERS ARE COMING.
IMMIGRATION IS 4 CONDITION AND
nor Il THEOHT.
The Northwest Looks 10 the Old Dominion
~ u Place of shelter from The >orth-
crn BiIzzsrds-Mapy Letters.


| dftior and TO longer an abstract theory
| In Virginia uncultivated and unassisted
| by the means which the wide-awakc
States put forth TO attract settlers, i'm
migration Is pushing itself, unsought, upon
the old Commonwealth.
Looking from the standpoint OF long
accepted sources of immigration the
present condition Is surprising. inasmuch
( that IL shows that Virginia may look 10
the northwest States of the Union, and
not 10 Europe for an increased popula-
ton. Without any special appropriation
TO publish or even 60 buy postage for
| circulation through the mail. the Com
| missioner Of Agriculture last summer
| got out handbook Of Virginia, cfedita-
| bic 10 any state, and distributed II with
such Judgment as Is bringing the most
| practical results, and the demand Tor
| II shows the awakening of "A remarkable
| interest In the Old Dominion by the
| strangers abroad. In conversation with
| the commissioner. ] was told mat since
| the publication Of the book ana us as
tribution at Chicago, a large NUMBER OF
| letters inuulring for lands. have been
| received and several parties are now in
the State prospecting. who we're attracted
by the facts stated therein. Said he:
"Some have bought and some have rented,
and others are looking around. The out
look appears better for good class Of
immigrants, and that is about ali l can
say"
The commissioner permitted me to
make extracts from a number Of letters
that have been received al his Office,
which show that his claims are In no way
exaggerated. They in a measure indicate
the disadvantages Of the localities in
which the writers live. and possess
peculiar interest TO any one interested in
seeing Virginia inhabited by larger
and more thrifty population.
Thy >eed >n.iier Belts.
For instance a nurseryman writing from
Stockton, Wis, under date of October
3D. advertises on his letter-heads de-
| cduous and evergreen seedlings by the
million for the claims, shelter belts a
speciality" No wonder he desires 10 nee
a land where they have to plant a belt
Of trees TO escape the wind. The writer
says
81 am thinking very strongly Of emigrat-
fng 10 Virginia in the early future. / have
your report for 1892 and in your preface
you refer to a handbook which you con-
templated getting out for Fair use. Have
you got it out, and will you send me a
copy? VIII you also kindly explain 10 me
how your State Indebtedness stands. j see
that it is an enormous debt, and must
make high taxes If paid
90 would seem that .irginia's debt is
celebrated abroad and that its later his
tory has not yet reached the outlying dis
trict
aa Iowa fruit grower says:'T am going
to move from Iowa to Virginia this COM
ing winter, but have not decided in what
part of the State i shall locate. If you
can send me any literature or can give me
any information pertaining 10 different
sections of Virginia / viii consider II a
favor, especially those sections best
adapted to fruit raising"
Ma, NAua 90 Come
An Owosso Nlich) farmer in Novem-
Der wrote "Will you please send me
handbook of Virginia pertaining TO farm
ing fruit, climate, minerals, mountains,
tuuDer, etc. several families IN this
locality intend moving south. and wish
10 know something of your State. BY
sending me the desired information, you
will oblige many wishing TO come south
to live"
An fdvaucn Courier.
The writer OF the following letter from
Rushvile, Neb., received in NOvem-
ber has already settled in Virginia and
is probably the advance courier OF a
large number Of similar desires. 1t is
worth reading. He says:
Some two weeks ago | got home from
a trip through your section of Virginia,
and ! am very fayorably impressed with
your country, its advantages, climate, re-
sources. etc.
II have also read the letter addressed to
you in the October number of "rhe
Southern States" went there in the inter
est of quite a number Of persons who |
want to 90 south, from this neighborho0d !
ard other parts Of this State. l have
made my report aud they are more than
pleased, and / believe that quite a colony |
can be induced to go there. These people |
are live. wide-awake sober Industrious
class, and a valuable acquisition to any |
country.
II am trying TO get my business In shape |
to go there and make home, and l want |
to say TO you, now is the time to strike, |
as a great many are dissatisfied here. |
The dry weather has cut their crops short. J
and prices are very low. L want 10 visit |
your country again soon, and expect |
to take with me a delegation of some |
five or six. / have written the officials |
of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad for !
low fare from Omaha, Chicago, or ST.
Louis, Omaha would be much preferred |
as our farmers look quite a while at |
dollar now
They treated me very nicely on my
trip there, and j have no doubt they Will |
look at the matter from business |
standpoint, knowing that the location Of |
these people in that country means an |
increase of trade TO them. / wish you
would call on Messrs. Potts and Hotch-
kiss, of your city, and use your influence
TO get us "a low rate for our delegates,
and also on eTnigrant outfits per car.
Il have spent considerable time to give
these people a fair and correct idea of |
my impressions OF your country and |
/ feel positive that can a few families |
be induced to settle. that at least from |
twenty TO thirty good families will
eventually settle there as result. Could
a few of the people be able to trade in
some good western land on farms there,
there would be no trouble TO start the
ball rolling
There has been, and now IS, a great
effJit being made among some of our peo-
pie to get them to emigrate TO western
Canada, and as an inducement the Can [
adiar Pacific railroad is giving them
passes from Winnipeg. and in no case
is the charge more than one cent per
mile. with very low rate for emigrant
outfits Please use your influence with
these people and have them report to me
at once. With a united effort on the
part of your people your country can
be made TO blossom Ike the rose, and !
in five years time your s.. and S.. land