The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-11-06
HOW TO ATTRACT SGTTL FRS

The Agents of Railroads Need
Co-Opcration From the pco-
pie.
The Southern Form Muyu=inc says
that Governor McSwccney, of South
Carolina, is in correspondence with a
New York firm relative to the settle
ment in South Carolina Of farmers
from Finland. Two representatives
Of the farmers visited South Carolina
last summer, and they now seek iu-
formation about The cultivation of
suyar-canc, cotton, tobacco, sweet
potatoes, Irish potatoes, the cereals
and different kinds of grasses, about
timber and uLnor matters bearing upOn
ayrle ullure in the State. Clemson Col
lcgc has published many bulletins bear
ing upon tho information desired, and
it is hoped that the movement from
Finland may tako form. But this in
cident illustrates the value of posses
sion on the part of the Southern States
OF machinery for quickly assembling and
presenting in attractive form Just such
facts as those desired by the prospec-
tive Finnish settlers. South Carolina
has not such MI equipment, though
the necessity for it is recognized there.
For instance, the Charleston Nc,US
m,d Courier, referring to the article in
last months Southern FIerm Mogu"inc
reviewing broadly the work for immi-
grafton to the South and its results,
said:
What has been done, or is being
done, and by whom, to turn this way
a part of the tide of new population
and resulting prosperity that appears
to be flowing INTO other States in the
same section in such volume? We are
unable 10 answer the question, and we
fear that the answer would not be a
gratifying one if anyone could give it.
There is no report from any source OF
Immigration from the North or
Northwest or anywhere else into any
part of the State, and we have no
knowledge of any Influence being en-
ploycd in the effort TO induce such a
movement, unless tho land agents of
| the railroads which traverse the State
are SO engaged. Certainly no officer
or agent or agency reprcs onting the
State is devoted to the work. There
is none that ls prepared TO give ever.
the most simple information re.arlin.
industrial and Investment conditions
in any part of its territory when 8, ugh
by strangers. An occasional dispatcl,
from Columbia reports that prosprc-
tor or homesceker in sOme other par,
of the country has written to the gov.
ernor asking for facts concerning such
matters, and when such an inquiry is
received by him it Is always published
for the attention of the public general.
ly. There is nobody in particular tc
whom to refer it. 1t is severybody's
business with results which arc mani.
fest"
The NeWs and Courier is correct in
it's belief that the agents of railroads
are active in efforts TO bring immi.
grants into tho State, but those efforts
would be so much moro successful il
they were sustained by local energies
and by cooperation Of the State. These
Firms are of a class which would
benefit the State in making thcil
homes there, and once that were done
it would undoubtedly induce larger
migration of an equally desirable Gle
ment from other European nations
Let South Carolina, through it's officials
and through its individual citizens
strengthen the hands of the railroad
agents in immigration W Work. Within
q few years there will bic no occasion
for the. criticism which the Ncws l,,t
,Co"rter has justly made. (