The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-03-27
Immigration Matter.

l6, all the members OF the committee
being present.
Secretcry of State James H. Price,
who is also immigration com
missioner for the state, promises his
hearty cooperation with the associa-
tion in the work which it has undertak-
en-. The attention of the committee
was called to the fact that the secretary
of state is about to issue pamphlet,
containing write-up of each county,
as we'll as a general description of the
state, its resources and industries. 1t
is believed by members of the commit
| tee who have examined the work that
each county is fairly and ably treated,
but it has been suggested that the
counties of the state should show suffi-
cient interest in the subject to ascer-
tain for themselves whether or not
their conditions and advantages have
been truthfully and fully portrayed,
and with this in view get into COM
munication with the secretary of state,
Olympia, in order that any accuracies
or mis-statements shall be corrected
before the work goes to press, which
will be on or about April l.
With regard to the offer of the rail-
roads to furnish free transportation to
st. Paul and return, on recommended
tion of the state association, for two
persons from each county, for the pur-
pose of inducing local immigration, it
was decided that such transportation
should not be requested by the execu-
tive officers i'll any case except the ap-
plicant be officially endorsed by the
auxiliary immigration association of
the county which he represents, and is
also fully equipped with printed and
other matter containing reliable tnfor-
nation as to the inducements and op-
portunities offered to new settlers );
further, that such transportation be
not requested in the case of an unor-
ganized county.
A communication was read from
Rev. T. J. Massey, of Whatcom, one of
the two ministerial delegates from the
Puget Sound conference to the general
conference of the Methodist Episcopal
church, which convenes in Cleveland,
O., May l, 1866, volunteering to deliv-
er not less than ten lectures in the
towns and cities of Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois, during the month of June
next, on "the State of Washington,
and distribute the printed matter of
the association. Mr.. Massey's qualii-
cations for this work are we'll known,
and his proposition was unanimously
and gratefully accepted by the COM
mittee.
Many letters we're read tending to
show that the migratory spirit of the
people of the middle west and other
eastern localities is aroused that the
people are moving, and that all that
is necessary to attract large influx
of desirable immigrants to this state is
active work on the part of this asso-
citation and its various auxiliary
county organizations.
The members of the committee es-
pecially urge the Importance of local
organizations and thorough canvass
and presentation of the opportunities
offered in each county and every cleo
tion precinct for new settlers and in
dustries.
The question of over-production and
consequent low prices of agricultural
products was discussed, and it was
ably argued that the remedy lies not
in producing less, but in producing
more, that outside markets may be
created. The most improbable mar
ket exists where production exceeds
home consumption and does not afford
a sufficient surplus to attract and COM
mand the attention and competition
of buyers in other markets. If it we're
not for over-production of lumber,
shingles, coal, wheat, fruit, cattle,
sheep, wool and other products, every
candid man must admit that our finan-
cial condition in the state of Wash
ington would be infinitely worse than
it is today.
In this connection it was urged:
l. That each county in the state
should Immediately perfect its local
organization.
2. That thereafter the work of pre-
pairing printed matter should be un-
dertaken. This matter should give a
brief general description of the coun-
ty; its geographical and Typographical
features; its connections with the out
side world by means of transportation
lines; its native resources and to what
extent developed; markets for export
ed products; capability OF extension,
and prevailing prices for a period oi
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