St. Paul daily globe., 1895-12-01
BEGINNING RIGHT.
MINNESOTA STATE INMIGRA-
TION ASSOCIATION DULY
ORGANIZED.
SCHURMEIER AT THE HEAD.
HE STARTS THE GOOD WORK
WITH A GENEROUS DONA-
TION OF $500.
HEADQUARTERS TO BE OPENED,
With p. B. GrOat in Active Charge
as Secretary and Treas
urer.

That the immigration convention
which was recently held in st. Paul
is to bear fruit for the Northwest
far beyond the expectations of its
most Sanguine promoters was made
apparent yesterday by the enthusi-
asm with which the executive COM
mittee for the state of Minnesota
preparing for the active work of in
ducing immigration from the East
to the North Star state.
The Minnesota immigration asso-
citation which came into existence as
the result of yesterdays meeting
starts out with a well filed treasury
and with Theodore L. Schurmeier as
president and P. B. Groat as secre-
tary and treasurer. Mr.. Groat will
have charge of the headquarters to
be opened in st. Paul, and from that
point will direct the workings of the
branch organizations which it is eX-
pected will be formed in every coun-
the society is indebted to it's presi-
dent, Mr.. Schurmeier, who, upon his
election yesterday, generously do
mated check for $500 to set the
mahinery in motion. This will be
used in the publication of circulars
and maps of the state to be distrib-
uted in the East, and in aiding in
the organizat ton of county societies.
The executive committee of the asso-
cation met in st. Paul yesterday on
the call of Theo L. Schurmeier, in ac
cordance with the resolution passed
by the state delegation at the recent
immigration convention. All the men,
bers were present, as follows:
First district, John Frank, of LIE
Roy, by proxy.
Second district, w. R. Edwards, of
Tracy.
Third district, Tams Bixby, of Red
Wing.
Fourth district, Theo L. Schurmeier,
of ST. Paul
Sixth district, DR.. c. A. Kelsey, of
Brook Park.
Seventh district, Edward Balantine,
of Campbell.
On calling the committee to order
Mr.. Schurmeier said:
Gentlemen of the Executive Commit
tee: Having had the honor to be
chosen chairman of the Minnesota
State Immigration association, 1 feel
the responsibilities that have been
placed upon me in carrying out the in
tentionS of the association, and al
though the office involves much labor
and care, l accepted the position with
the full determination of giving it my
best attention.
Approaching the great Importance
to our state of immediate action in
organizing for effective work in the
line of encouraging immigration to
Minnesota, l have taken the earliest
opportunity of calling together the
executive committee of the association
for the purpose of arranging ways and
means and adopting practical meas
ures to further the objects in view.
The large attendance and the great
enthusiasm and unanimity which char
acteriZed the deliberations of the
Northwestern immigration convention,
over which 1 had the honor to preside,
give the strongest assurance that the
work in hand will be pushed with en-
ergy by appropriate organiza tions in
each of the states represented to ad-
vertise the advantages which they offer
for new settlement
Minnesota, being the initial state in
the great immigration movement in
augurated by the recent convention,
will naturally be looked to by all of the
other states represented in that i'm
portant assemblage to set an example
for prompt acton in organizing a SyS-
tenn of practical and thorough work to
induce immigration.
While we are all interested generally
in the growth and prosperity of the
entire Northwest, we have a direct in
tereSt in notifying the world at large
of the many advantages which Mime
sofa offers for the success of settlers.
By conSiderate action on our part,
supplemented by the cooperative eff
forts of county organizations, we can
100000 to our present population OF
1,5O0, 600 to help develop the rich diversi-
fled resources of our state. If the cit
izens of the state generally will join
in the work of making known to home
seekers the natural advantages which
Minnesota offers for independent
homes in it's large areas of unoccupied
lands, with highly fertile soil, its
healthy climate and undeveloped tim
Der and mineral resources, we can
soon reach our mark of 10000 new set
tiers, and by united, continuous efforts
can within reasonable period of time
double the present number of inhabi-
tantS of the state.
In placing candidate in nomina ton
for secretary and treasurer MIR. Schur-
meier begged leave to offer the follow
ing suggestion:
Since the adjournment of the conven-
ton l have been actively engaged in
deviSing plans for carrying out the pur-
poses of the association and the gen.
eral wishes of the citizens of Mime
Scta for additional settlement in the
state. While l am willing to give this
important movement all of the atten-
ton that / can, consistent with other
duties, and stand ready to contribute
material aid, l feel that we must have
capable man to devote his whole time
to the work of organizing systematic
plan of operation and to visit differ
ent parts of the state to secure the CO.
operation of districts, counties, cities
and towns. l felt that we needed an
experienced man and one who would
use the means furnished for this
work judiciously. 1 have given the
subject careful thought and have con-
ferred with parties well informed as to
the experience and abilities required to
bring the best results. | have also con-
ferred with influential parties, who
have signified their willingness to con-
tribute material aid for carrying on the
work if assured that the means fur
nished will be used in practical ways
to accomplish the most good. After
considering the matter carefully and
knowing the Importance OF experienced
assistance and that active work should
commence at once and advance as rap
idly as circumstances will admit / will
present for your consideration the
name of P. B. Groat to act as secre-
tary and treasurer In presenting his
name for your consideration 1 feel con-
fident that the work required to pro-
mote immigration to our state could
not be placed in better hands. He en-
ioys the confidence of influential citi-
zens and is widely known and under
stands from long years of experience
the best methods to adopt to bring to
the attention of intending settlers the
advantages and resources of our state
Carrying out the above suggestion
P. B. Groat was unanimously elected
secretary and treasurer, and it was re-
solved that the organization shall be
known as the Minnesota State Immi-
grafton association.