The sun., 1899-09-10
OPEN doom IN MARYLAND.
Not the Terrapin States Fault II the Tide
of Immigration Doesn't Set That Way.

Early in the month OF July, G. W. Van der
Hoog, one Of the officials of the Maryland State
Bureau Of immigration, started for the West TO
make arrangements for several families who
intended TO move 10 Maryland in the fall and 10
deliver three lectures in the suburbs Of Chicago
Kalamazoo and Detroit Mich, on The Prospects
Of the Dutch in Maryland by the Federal census
OF 1900 there were exactly 122 natives Of Holland
in the whole State OF Maryland Of whom seventy
three were residents Of the city Of Baltimore and
IL may seem, therefore as If the opportunities for
immigration into Maryland Of present subjects
OF Queen Wllhelmina were almost unlimited
The policy Of the Maryland State Government as
to llollandcrS however. Is not exceptional, for
there has been maintained in that Stat' for II
number Of years an Immigration Comn,is,i in
Baltimore for the purpose Of supplying al, ncccs-
sary information intending settlers III the State
as to the salubrity, fertility and excellence a
place Of residence Of Maryland. The duties Of
the Superintendent Of this Commission included
official visits al least year 10 Europe 10 solicit
immigration 10 that State, and he remained abroad
at least four months ON each trip, and visited diff
ferent countries in the performance Of his duties
The immigration Board is empowered TO make
contracts with railroads and steamship lines for
the transportation OF immigrants on their arrival
In baltimore, and to provide necessary arrange
ments for their reception in that city these arrange
nents including the transportation Of immigrants
from the West and South.
According to the last Federal census there were
lOO, 900 foreign born inhabitants Of Maryland,
OF whom 10000 were residents of the city of Bau-
more, which has greatly increased in population
since 1890. Ofthese. 5000 were natives Of Ger
many, 20, 600 of Ireland and Scotland. 5000 OF
England and 900 OF Russia. The explanation
Of the efforts made in Maryland TO secure foreign
population is TO be found in the fact that outside
OF the city Of Baltimore and especially in the Coun-
Ties making up what is known as the Eastern
Shore, there is practically little increase in popu-
lation. 1t has remained almost stationary for a
number of years and the farming interests of
Maryland have suffered in consequence. whiIe
the neghborng States of Virginia and West Vir
ginia have been increasing in material prosperity
through the development Of their mining and forest
resources Maryland farmers obliged TO conf
pete with those Of Pennsylvania and Virginia
without any great advantages in the facilities
of transportation the rates Of labor for farm work.
the benefits OF newly cultivated soil any special
iZaton of product Maryland produces corn,
tobacco. hay, wheat and fruits, especially peaches
but has no staple in agriculture which gives IL
any special advantage. The Chesapeake Bay
fisheries, while an important element in the COM
merce of the State, benefit only TO such coun-
ties as arr on the bay. and the canning interests
OF baltimore. while extensive and increasing,
practically local 10 that city, many Of the ma
terials canned and shipped coming from other
States II is under these circumstances that many
Maryland farmers believe that the development
Of their land and Of other land adjacent 10 theirs
be best promoted by the entrance Of immigrants
into the State either from foreign countries or from
other States, and as official matters generally in
Maryland are conducted on a thoroughly method
ical basis, the establishment OF q Commission of
Immigration, with travelling representatives
In Europe and in the West, seems TO furnish
means Of attaining this result Nearly one quar-
ter Of the Of Maryland is water the State re-
sembling in this particular western Holland