Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-29
MANY SEEKING
HOMES IN
SOUTH
RAILROAD TRAFFIC FIGURES GO
TO SHOW INCREASED PoPU-
LARITY OF THIS SECTION
WITH EMIGRANTS.


BALTIMORE, Sept. 27.-An important
influence in determining the trend OF mi
grafton in this country. especially since
thousands OF foreigners have hOcked an
nuaIIy 70 the United States. has been
the activity or railroad lines running east
and west. Following the pioneer and es-
tablIshed lines OF trade between the coast
and the back woods. such roads were the
earliest 20 be completed. and the general
rule or immigration that parallels OF lat
ftuae are followed was reinforced there
by. During the past ten or fifteen years
a number OF independent lines. some OF
them quite weak. have been united into
strong systems. giving prompt and COM
Portable means OF travel between the
north and the south
The first effects, the diversion OF out
ward bound trade from the middle west
and northwest TO south Atlantic and gulf
ports. have been followed by an increas-
ing tendency OF farmers TO move to-
ward the south. with its virgin opportu-
mites and its promise OF large profits on
comparatively small investments. This
movement has been accelerated by per
sistent work by several OF the leading
railroad systems OF the south. and the
results are becoming strikingly manifest
Since the days OF sixty and seventy years
ago. when the new lands OF Alabama,
settlers. there has been no stronger inter
est IN southern lands than there Is to-
dax.
The movement is so important that the
Southern Farm Magazine in its October
issue publishes several special articles
from represen satives OF railroads who
have for years been active IN immigration
work for the south. Their statements are
not only valuable as records OF what has
been accomplished. but they are full OF
suggestion about the future.
Mr.. NJ v. Richards. OF Washington. d.
C. land and Industrial agent OF the Sou,h-
ern railway. writes
ssro the general public the best proof OF
the growing influx OF settlers into the
territory tributary TO the Southern rail-
way lines Is found IN the gradual advance
OF real estate values. the opening up OF
the wild lands 20 the extent OF millions
OF acres, and the enormous increase OF
southern travel locally. Prosperous colo
MES have been established, while grain.
fruit and stock areas have been created
and improved and extended in number
less directions along our lines. Within the
past year SIS new industries have been To-
Gated along the Southern railway system.
rs industries have been enlarged, and l55
Industrial enterprises are now under con-
structou, which with other important de-
velOpments. aggregate a total disburse-
ment OF SlI7, .ooo all this adjacent. TO
and upon the Southern railway lines only.
The effect upon immigration has been
marked. Thousands have come south
ward IN consequence OF this industrial
activity. assured OF employment; and as
We are fl close touch with every portion
Of our territory we are constantly in a
position TO know whether these people are
content and prosperous We have no in
formation TO the contrary, and believe
that as they become accustomed TO the
new conditions and familiar with climatic
and soil requirements and effects. their
own domestic life and welfare are bet
tered and their prospects brighter than
ever before. The present outlook IS en-
ph2ucally encouraging. and the present
decade viii, we feel assured round I'D
with a totally SURPRISING that OF the
palmiest year OF immigration westward"
Col ]. 3. KilIebFsw. OF Nashville, Tenn.
Industrial and immigration agent OF the
Nashville. Chattanooga and ST. Louis
railway. writes:
The immigrants now settling on the
line OF the Nashville. Chattanooga and ST.
Louis railway are OF high character, in
dustrtous habits and great intellfgence
During the past eighteen months not less
than 20 families and single men have
bought farms In the territory tributary to
the road and settled on them. There are
many that have not been reported to my
ONCE. Many OF these have paid from
s5.oo0 to $4,000 in cash for farms. and
nearly All OF them are not only pleased
with the soils. markets and climate. but
they are making efforts to have former
neighbors and kinspeople to Join them. 1
estimate that during the past ten years
something over zoo heads OF families
and single men have purchased farms in
the region traversed BY the road which
represent They have bought on an
average something like 100 acres each.
making $1,000 acres that are now occupied
by northern farmers.
The tendency OF thought throughout
the northwest IS leading TO better un-
Outstanding and higher appreciation Of
the agricultural capabilities and advan-
tages Of the south The thousands Of new
immigrants now buying lands at high
prices In the northwest are causing the
earlier settlers TO seek new fields, and
these are provided with ample funds and
are acquiring better information OF the
south through the distribution OF litera-
ture BY the southern railroads The pros
poets, therefore. for an increase in i'm
migration are very good"
Mr.. ". L Glessner. OF Macon. Ca, COM
missioner OF immigration OF the Georgia.
Southern and Florida railway, after al
luding 10 the pine forests yielding TO fer
tile farms. orchards and vineyards and
20 saw mills replaced by cotton mills, cot
ton oil mills, knitting factories, etc,
writes:
II Mull4 DC Unfair 70 allOW YOU 70 INFER
that this increase OF population and pros
perity has been brought about entirely
by the immigration OF northern farmers
for they do not represent even a majority
OF IL. although they represent a large pro-
portion. most OF them coming from the
northwestern states. We have had COM
paratively no dissatisfaction and few re-
movals, for as a rule they are prosperous
and contented. and where one northern
farmer settles others from his old neigh
borhood follow him For this reason the
prospects for additional immigration
from The north and west are very favora-
bic. as every satisfied northern farmer
IN the south Is an active and influential
immigration agent.
In south Georgia and Florida we
are expecting a new class OF immigrants
from the northwest stock farmers for
we have demonstrated that cattle, sheep
and hogs can be raised. fattened and
marketed cheaper in this section than in
the northwest. and already several large
tracts OF land have been taken up BY