Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-03
ORGANIZE IN THE COUNTIES.
Colonel Whitehead Gives Timely Ad'
vice About Immigration.
RICHMOND, VA. January 30. 1896

RICHMOND, VA. January 30. 1895.
| To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
VIII you permit me to use the Dis
patch to call the attention of those who
are anxious TO sell their land TO the act
| of the last Legislature providing for the
| organization of county immigration socie-
| ties? While the bill did not fill the wants
| of the State fully. IL was move in the
right direction, and approved by all the
| immigration conventions held. This de-
| partment has seen and known the value
| OF an intelligent wen-equipped agent
| visiting the Northwest The present
time is more propitious than any
| period heretofore. Thousands OF fami-
| lies are not only determined to leave
| the Northwest, but they are leaving, and
| In nearly every Southern State they are
| exploring and examining locations, and
| THOUSANDS more are coming and inquir-
| ing. The letters this department gets
| (and there are many are as a drop In
the bucket to those that go everywhere
/ East South. and Soathwtsst Many who
| have accumulated something are retiring
| to Europe Now this department has
| neither law nor means to grapple with
| this great move. Mr.. Kroner, president
| of the State Board of Agriculture in 1890.
called attention to this state OF affairs
| TO induce the people of the Northwest 10
| leave and TO show them the advantage
! of Virginia for a home Now the vast
| multitude OF the disappointed in the
| Northwest are leaving and looking for
place, and Ii was believed that every
| county with surplus land would avail
| itself OF the plan Of the General AS
| sembly, organize. and be ready to receive,
| conduct and sell to these immigrants.
| immigrant associations nor, are they
| prepared. so far as I am advised. TO
| go actively to work. 1t is simply impos-
| sible that this department can do
what ought TO be and can be done.
| County associations were expected TO
| correspond with all inquirers, make rail-
road arrangements for immigrants, re-
| ceive and take charge Of them In these
counties. show them the lands, and Sc
cure them homes at fair prices This
takes men. time. and some means, and
| is not the duty of this department or it's
board. The considerable work they have
done and are doing is pro bono'p 'publco.
/ quote from a letter of the 25th OF
January from a gentleman In Aberdeen.
South Dakota. He says: I'VE have had
five crop failures. but we have asked no
donations. while other States with one
or two failures call for ald-this shows
what a class we have got But we
want to get where failures are not the
rule" Again: THE cost OF getting 10
Southeast Virginia is so much more than
1t is to either Texas, Alabama, or the
other Southwestern States that they
get the most Of the immigration, while
most would prefer Virginia il 1t wasn't
for the extra expense" He then asks
II there Is no way to make arrange
ments for as cheap fare as to the South
west, as he believes 100 families would
be ready to start next season. I have
seen papers from Nebraska with the
lowest rates sometimes one cent per mile,
advertised for Southwestern explorers,
and men are here from Nebraska who
complained bitterly OF the cost this way,
repeating what my correspondent had
said.
Now, II does seem to me, considering
the number of letters / have received
from counties In nearly every section OF
the State asking for the address OF in
quirers. and asking that / refer TO them In
answering letters, and many other things.
that I'm every county there are
many anxious to sell their lands. Now,
why not put on some energy, take a
little time. organize under act given hY
the Legislature put on your lands, secure
an agent. send him to the Northwest
fully authorized. and let him bring these
people or an accredited agent and settle
them. as I feel sure you could In your
counties. and relieve your people and
henceforth these dissatisfied (and Justly
SOY farmers. This department and the
board and its commissioner will gladly
offer the county immigration associations
all the aid possible In such well-prepared
literature as they have on hand, and such
Information as the department Is daily
receiving. This opportunity for select i'm
migration 1--WE have examples OF its char
acter now here) should not be allowed 10
pass unimproved.
THOMAS WHITEHEAD,
Commissioner OF Agriculture.