The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-02
rhe Augusta Resolutions.

ne AUX uSL6 LNpSOA "a N4OASa
The resolutions adopted by the South
ern Interstate and Industrial Congress at
Augusta are sensible and practical. If
the policy outlined in them were carried
INTO effect, great good would result to the
south. The resolutions show the south
ern people are profoundly interested in
the work of developing the resources Of
their section, that they firmly believe
they occupy the best part Of the country,
and that they are prepared to give a
hearty welcome to immigrants and those
whe are seeking opportunities to invest
capital proftably There is no fault to be
found with the resolutions.
But viii steps be taken to carry into
effect the policy embodied in them, or
win nothing be done to further the work
mapped out' That is the important ques-
ton. 1t is easy enough to hold a meeting
and adopt resolutions, but it is an entirely
different matter to give practical eff
feet to them. There have been other
congresses in the south like this one at
augusta, and they have made great prom
ises of what they would do, but as a
matter of fact they did practically 10th
ing. Soon after they adjourned it was
forgotten by the general public they ever
existed.
The reason nothing of practical
nature comes from these congresses is
that there is no money for the necessary
expenses of the work to be done. The
men who compose the various committees
appointed and organizations formed are
not going to do the work and also fur
nish the money for expenses. That is
quite evident. Hence nothing is done.
The all important question is, how is
money to be raised to send immigration
agents to Europe and provide advertising
cars to traverse the western and New
England states2 Until that question is
answered any little practical benefit will
result from the Augusta or any
other immigration congress. These
congresses help, of course, to
advertise the southern states, and draw
attention to their advantages. But the
newspapers are doing that all the time.
Indeed, they give to the congresses what
ever value they have. If 1t was not for
the newspapers the congresses would not
be heard of outside of the cities in which
they Assem- Die.
What was expected from this Augusta
congress was something besides resolu-
tions. If it had pointed out how several
hundred thousand dollars could be
raised in each southern state for adver-
Using and immigration purposes it would
have taken a long step in advance of any
previous congress of a similar character.
1t seems to US that the Florida Central
and Peninsular railroad is doing more TO
build up the country contiguous to its
lines than the Augusta congress is likely
to do for the south or any southern state.
1t has sent a capable man through the
territory tributary to it to find out Just
what advantages that territory has for
immigrants, He has made his investiga-
tions, and during this summer
he will go to Europe with the view of in
ducing immigrants Of the better class to
form colonies and settle on lands that he
will point out TO them. He will not mis-
lead them and therefore they will not be
disappointed if they find they will have
to be thrifty and ind ustrious TO become
prosperous. They Will be in colonies, and
hence, win likely be much better satisfied
than if the different families were widely
separated. The work the Florida Central
and Peninsular is doing is practical. 1t
is the kind the committees appointed by
the Augusta congress will have to do if
they hope for success. But before they
can do any work at all they must have
money, Where is the money to come
froml