The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-09
Letters to The Editor.
s s s $ s;s as E $ $; ss & s $ Why Alabama Don't Get Her Share
 of the Homeseekers.
Editor The Advertiser:

VI tAC x1VAAC5SCACAos
 Editor The Advertiser: >~.t
 I noticed with great deal of interest an article in The Advertiser few days ago on the subject of immigration and Homeseekers, which was as follows:
 Tn recent issue of The Philadelphia Saturday Evening Post We find this:
 The telegraphic dispatches announced recently that 1000 homeseekers, travelling on colonists' tickets, passed through Min neapolis in one day. They were bound for the Dakotas. Montana Wyoming, Wash ington and Oregon. The passenger de- partments of the Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroads recently estimated the number of people who come into Cali fornia this season on colonists' tickets at S. 900. an increase of 20 per cent over the number last year. Traffic managers of Western and Southwestern Railroad lines have evidence to convince them that dur ing the season. last past over million Americans went home seeking westward from the Eastern and Middle States. EV- cry State and Territory west of the Mis- souri River has received some portion of this horde. And there is every reason to believe that the tide of homeseeking is not ebbing. and that 1t will continue to inundate the West for at least decade rising year by year in its strength. Commenting on same the editorial in The Advertiser says.
 These emigrants, as The Post else where states, are not paupers or adVen- turers. They have sold their homes In the East and go West with plenty of money to purchase new homes and fit themselves to become self-sustainlng and indepen- dent citizens. They are industrious and willing to work. and are in every way fully competent to take care of them- selves They are in short. a class of people who help to build up community or a State.
 NOW, the question is frequently and
 pertineptly asked: Why do not these | of them come South? We have here better eli mate than they have in the Western States"
 Having had over twelve years expe- rience in the land and immigration busi- ness both in the Western and Southern States, will with your permission, try to give some facts. which, In my opinion,
 seem to be the main causes why Alabama don't get her share Of these industrious homeseekers.
 As The Advertiser says. the healthy climatic condition. the absence or cy- clores. blizzards, snow and cold winters are all in favor of Alabama. ,.,-
 Her soil Is fertile and can with proper care and tilling produce all the crops of the West and as many times more other articles of food. .ta. .r
 So far as the endless varieties of fruit and vegetables are concerned. no State in ths IInion can produce a finer quality than Alabama.
 The writer says: "In short we have in Alabama go many advantages over the Northwest that it is Iin hard to sontb ondSrstaho
 It seems to me that this question why we don't get our share of these indus trious people to settle In Alabama can be answered in few words' nanleIH We don't Invite them to come nere We don't advertise Alabamas great resources to them~ If we will exert ourselves one half as much as any one or tnese Wes- tern States do. we would receive the z hOnnaaaekerS Every Northern State east of the Mis- sissppi River is overcrowded' the surplus must and will find location somewhere The Western States know these facts as well as we do. They avail themselves or the golden opportunity (before the years of drought and hot winds destroy the'n) and spare no time or money In Hoodlng the Eastern States with thelr ltefature setting forth favorably. both the possible | and the probable advantages they pos | sess Is it surprising then, to see the tide going West instead of South. It Is such advertising that result Tn. as anove | stated: Seven thousand homeseeker' | traveling on coionist tickets mot pau per" but men with plenty of money to | purchase new homes and ht themselves | to become self-sustaining and indepen | dent citizens,
 I do not quite agree with the write. | that the immigration into Alabama is re- | tarded on account of the presence of the negro. The Northern farmer when hy comes here will hire negro labor to nl i his soil as readily as the southern farm- | CT. The main question tn the homeseek- | CT is Gan I better my condition. II | vour climate better. Can make livin' easier in the South than the North. UT
 fact. can I make money and become ln' | denendent in your State.
 show Nr Horieseeker that he can carr ! the almighty dcliar easier and more ol
 them here in the South than he can IT l the West NigRer or no nigGer. he will