The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-10-27
LABOR FOR THE FARMS AND In
MIGRATION.

tons OF North Carolina. and it was fit
ing that It should be discussed by the
state Agricultural Society IN Raleigh thiz
week. The discussion was opened by NJ.
James a. Bryan, of New Bern. who i
thus reported in yesterdays New and
observer:
Mr.. Bryan said he considered that this
Society could look into the question Q.
labor. III his section OF the State, a
Craven and neighboring counties, it Wa
practically impossible TO secure labor
That seemed TO him the primal matter u
importance TO the farmers OF the state,
at least in his part of the State. In his
country they could not get a man to pillow
oil account OF the high prices paid fer
Ia hor by the lumber mill men. And they
were even putting up their prices on the
timber people. These timber men Were
literally SHINING the country. The peo
pie who had sold their timber in that
country were actually poorer today than
they were before they sold 1t. These tim
Der men would stimat a piece OF timber
land at four million feet and get eight,
and in some cases eleven millions. That
timber wealth was literally going out ,of
the country, and most OF it was going
North. That the eastern part of the State
was actually retrograting.
He spoke of splendid, rich plantations
abandoned, and the country going back,
Just because labor could not be secured
He thought this was the most appropriate
body to take some action to stimulate the
work OF the State III getting immigration.
l. We go on as we are going now, 1t viii
Lot be many years before we wall need
more white men in the State to take con
troll of affairs. II this matter could not
be taken up by the State officials, then
the matter should be brought to the at
~tention OF the next legislature"
After a general interchange of views, it
was resolved to appoint a committee tC
consider this question which concerns the
whole State vitality. being of peculiar IL
terest to the farmers. The Society doas
we'll to consider plans Of cooperation
with the State. the railroads and the
owners Of large tracts of land. This
State could at once and without injury,
but with benefit to every citizen Of
North Carolina. support a population
twice as large as now resides within the
borders of the State. and efforts ought 20
Be made to secure desirable Immigrants.
Senator Simmons. in conjunction with
Eastern North Carolina, has been giving
some attention to securing a colony OF
Italians from Southern Italy. They are
said to be Industrious and thrifty and it is
believed they would suit the agricultural
needs of Eastern North Carolina.
With reference to the important ques
tion of securing more immigrants for
North Carolina, the following extract
from a letter received from Mr.. j. ".
White, General Industrial Agent OF tie
Seaboard Air Line, is directly in line:
We are receiving thousands of in
quiries, each month, from parties nov
located IN the North and Northwest,
seeking information regarding ou- :erri
tory. They have read how the South
since 1880 has increased its population
about 30 per cent, and the value OF IL
manufactured and mineral products have
been developed from s474, OC0, 000 to abo4t
81, $50, coo, 900 or a gain of 25S per cent.
These Inquiries, as a whole. are froul
d good, substantial class of people, with
from 81 ,000 to $50, 0GO0 individually, and
from $40, GOO to $780, 900 in colonies, to IN
vest in lands suitable for general farm
ing, stock-ralslng, dairylng, fruit and
truck growing. They have been told OF
the marvellous profits realized from az
rltultural pursuits IN the South: of land
producing two. three even four crops
per annum; they know our farmers car
~ on out of door work twelve months
III the year; that they own over one
half the money deposited in our banks;
~ tIa4 f-,-Z ~ +h@~o- a,1 o4o -a1
for investment purposes, and none Of
them are debt ridden; our schools and
: churches compare favorably with their
own; that our transportation facilities
are unexcelled; that our tax rates arc
low and our climate conducive to health
These conditions appeal to and attract
the home-seeker, many thousands, con
sIdering a move South, have written 1oI
$ rates and lists Of property available tol
purchase. These people state they art
heart-slck and weary of constant toll
v battling against an unfavorable, crue
l. climate, with devastating %droughts. o.
else SHOWS. ~sleets, rains, freezes and blz-
yards. They want to dwell among US
g The eye of the manufactures is also OF
the South, and we are daily receiving
communications regarding eligible loca.
tons
Since the above was in type. the Ne1
Bern Journal of yesterday has come I
hand and has a story showing that POI
tuguese labor is being introduced int
Craven county. The story in the Journa
st is as follows:
le "A. B. Dawson, who went to New Bee
ford, Mass, last week to secure Portl
guese laborers for persons here returne
III with them yesterday on the steame
5 Ocracoke. There were LOG in the numbe,
4 Il or Is of them being women.
ed 1T will be remembered that these PORT
guese are the same who were brougE
e. here last spring from the wreck of tn
~ harkentlne Vera Cruz VII, near Ocracok'
and later taken to New Bedford. fC
which place they We're bound when ii
wreck occurred.
At AT the time Mr.. Dawson took a nun
ld Der of Portuguese to work on his farm
VI. He found them such valuable help ths
L he went North to get others to work 6
h his farm q few weeks ago He tbinl