The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-09

come here and bring a dozen of his ne;ghbors with him and help us build up the country.
 It is good idea to colonize them where they can have their churches and schools. yet 1t Is not absolutely neces- sary for the homeseeker, if he settles here among strangers he will soon and out. as we did when we came to Fruit hurst that the Southern farmers are the mos. hosritahle. kind-hearted and accom- modating people in the United States. He will also find that the Southern agricul- turist Is quite ready to adapt any im- proved methods or ideas he may bring with him from his native State.
 The fact is MT. Editor. we Alabamians are rather slow to act when it comes to
 encourage the immigration movement
 We sometimes hold enthusiastic meet ings on the subject of immigration. We orators picture the great resources of Alabama in the most glowing language. Before the meetings adjourn resolutions are adopted. committees appointed, etc, etc. and we advise those instructed what they should do In the good cause. but forget the vital part-the means or capi- tai by which these committees or repre- sentatives shall be able to carry out their plans.
 Why don't we do like those Western States? Perfect an organization armed with enough capital so that we can ad- vertise our great State.
 Or better still. why don't our law mak- CTS appropriate funds for the good cause as other States are doing Only few years ago one of the progressive Wes-
 tern States appropriated s3Oo,000 for the use of encouraging immigration only.
 Six years ago a progressive member of
 the Alabama Assembly tried two or three | times to get an immigration bill passed but failed.
 If am not mistaken an effort was made at the last General Assembly by our ge- ptol tNI kA 1a&4 t-1t1, 1R A riculture. Hon. R. R. Poole. He suggest ed to advertise Alabama's unlimited re- sources by sending car from place to place in the North and East, filled with and inexpensive way of advertisingl but his practical suggestion wao not encour- aged.
 If you have a good article to sell you have to advertise 1t and make it known to the buying public. It Is the persistent
 advertising that sells and brings the homeseeker into the Western States to- day.
 Will 1t pay Alabama to advertise her resources in practical way? There is only one answer to this ques- tion, and that Is the affirmative. l wish to call the attention of the reader to one instance in which I was personally in- terested. In 1895, when the beautiful of Cleburne County was established, the promoters of the fruit and vineyard in dustry here employed several immigra- tion agencies.
 One of these agencies started out by expending sS,000 in newspaper advertising
 alone. setting forth the favorable climatic conditions and offering vineyards and fruit farms for sale. What was the re- suit. Within ten months time over $S65, 0oC worth of real estate property was soil
 hy this agency to settlers and about 800 homeseekers located at the place. Be sides this, these new settlers expended about S400,000 in building new homes and Improving their properties.
 It certainly pays to advertise. What was. and is being done at Fruithurst can be done in any part of Alahama
 It Is said that the annual value of an immigrant from the North or East Is make and spend that amount of money each year on an average, hence is worth that much to the community and the State. Every business or vocation in the vicinity is benefited directly or indirect ly even the railroads are not neglected, for in these days. they have to trans port what he produces and consumes. The homeseeker is certainly worth going after and. 1t will pay Alabama better | than anything else to engage somewhat | in the enterprise of immigration in the | same manner as the Western States are | doing.
 The Southern Railroads are not so lib- ] eral to the immigration movement in the | South as the Western railroads are. It is | true that :hc Southern railroads have 1 their immigration departments, but they
 are limited in their power. The Western railroads will give tho immigrant any ! reasonable request or assistance he may ask If he will only settle along theil
 line and build up the country.
 Alabama has millions of acres of fer. | tile lands where the good timber ha, | been cut and these lands are nov
 growing onlv crush and shrubbery. These
 millions Gf acres are awaiting the indus ] trious tiller of the soil. But Alabama
 will not get the tiller until she goes afta, him. She has to give him gentle him
 what she has to offer, and that she real l ly is doslrous>to have him come and set tie within her borders.
 1 ]. A. Westerlund. Land and Immigration Agent.
 FruithIrst, Ala.