Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1897-08-26

Shall We Have immigration ?


Mr.. EDIT0R.--DeUF Oar some
effort has been made in the last few
years to induce residents Of other
States, more especially Hollanders,
to bug lands and settle here. Your
readers have no doubt heard and
read something. of this movement
and it has occurred to me that they
might like to have reliable infor-
nation as to its history, present
status and future prospects.
In 1896 the Legislature Of Mary
land passed an act to establish .
Bureau Of Immigration appropria-
ting IS, 900 per annum for its main
tenance. This appropriation must
strike one as quite inadequate, es-
pecially when it 10 considered that
O., 200 10 consumed in salaries and
probably $500 or 5000 in Office rent.
Pursuant to the Act the Governor
appointed Mr.. l.. 7. Dryden, Com
missioner of Immigration and he
in turn made Mr.. G. w. Van Der
Hoogt, Secretary. A large amount
OF advertising has been done. chief
ly in Holland papers, and the Sec
rotary has visited some of the West
.ern and Northwestern States and
done some missionary work chiefly
among Holland people.
Some parts of Maryland being
low and level, are supposed to be
especially we'll adapted to the wants
of Hollanders. Aside from this
there is no especial reason why this
work should be chiefly carried on
among the Holland people, except
that the Secretary is himself Hol-
lander and presumably finds him
self better adapted to work among
people Of his own language and
nationality. Among them he has
pursued the work with admirable
skill, energy and assiduity. As Q
result OF the advertising done, there
has been received, ! understand, q
large number of inquiries and re-
quests for further information.
In response q great deal Of in
formation, all of q very general
character has been sent out. As
to practical results but little has
been accomplished. That 10 to say
but few non.residents have az yet
bought land and settled in Mary
land through the work Of the Blu
reau. Probably not more than you
could count on the fingers Of your
two hands. Possibly the fingers Of
one hand would suffice. / do not
say this in criticism Of the Bureau.
1t is not to be expected that sub
stantial results of this kind should
follow so soon. No matter how
we'll the residents of other States
or countries may be convinced ef
the superior advantages of Mary
land, they cannot be expected to
pull up stakes and come here i'm
mediately. Those who have the
utmost weight and the most sub
stance will be the longest in COM
ing here. Those who come first
will be those who have the least to
leave behind and the least to bring
with them.
This rule applies, with few ex-
captions, to those who have come
here up to this time. To sum up
ther, the present status Of the mat
ter is this: A great deal of atten-
ton has been attracted to the State,
great many inquiries have been
made, great deal Of general in
formation has been sent ont, few
people have come here and very few
Of them have bought little land.
Ii the movement is carried on to
success and others come, those here
will probably remain. 1.-THE move
ment is not carried on to success
and others do not come, those here
will probably drift away and the
whole movement will have been q
fiat failure and our latter state, so
far as immigration is concerned,
will be worse than the first.
Now | ceme to consideration of
the most important part Of my SUBJ
ject, that 10 TO say, the things that
are necessary to insure suc,ess in
our efforts to attract desirable im.
migration. i will begin By saying
that great deal depends on the
land owners. They. must disabuse
their minds OF the idea that the
Bureau can do it all. The Buream
IS designed TO attract attention TO
The State Of Narylaad. II is no
part Of les province to-sell land.