The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-27
INVITING JEWISH IMMIGRATION.

INVITING JEWISH IMMIGRATION.
A few days ago we commented upon
an article written by Mayor Myers.
and published in a Jewish paper in
New York, in which it was pointed out
that there was room in the South for
Jews who we're thrifty and anxious to
work and secure homes of their own.
Mayor Myers idea seemed to be that
these Jewish home seekers ought to
buy land in the South and become
farmers.
Mr. Wilensky, a Broughton street
manufacturer, says that he had
published an article in a New York
paper inviting thrifty Jews to come
South. He says that he is in need Of
workmen in his factory His idea seems
to be that there is room in Southern
cities for Jewish workmen, and that
a percentage of the unemployed Jews
in the Northern cities could better
their condition by coming South.
The average Jewish citizen of the
Southern cities doesn't want Jews to
come South who are unable to take
Such immigrants would only be a bur-
den on the communities in which they
stopped. AS between the views of May
or Myers and Mr.. Wilensky we APP
prove those of Mayor Myers-that is,
we think there is more and better OPP
portunities for Jewish home seekers in
the rural districts in the South than in
the cities. There are cheap lands in
abundance and thrifty people can cas-
lily make not only a comfortable living
on them, but a competency in COM
paratively few years.
But the question arises, are there
any Jews among those who are reach
ing New York from Russia or other
parts of Europe who are qualified for
farming? Are there among them those
who could adapt themselves to the life
of a farmer? If not, it would be use
less for them to try farming In the
South or any other section of the coun-
try.
1t is said there are many Jewish far
mers in Russia, but as far as we are
informed there are few, if any, of this
class among those arriving in New
York. 1t will be recalled that a few
years ago many thousands of Russian
Jews reached New York, and there was
difficulty in deciding what disposition
to make of all of them. At last it was
decided to settle some of them on
farms in the pine section of New Jer-
sey. Land was bought there-land so
poor that a crow could not find
enough upon it 10 keep him alive
and many Jewish families were set
pered. It is thought that If the land
had been of the sort that holds fer
tilizers when applied to it, the colony
would have flourished.
But the great drawback to the col
ony is that the children will not stay
on the farms. AS soon as they are old
enough to take care of themselves
they leave the homestead and seek the
cities. In their old age the parents
are left alone on the farms. They find
ii difficult to get assistance in their
farm work, and consequently they do
not find farming attractive.
The question which presents itself
| is this: Would Jews be more success
full in the South as farmers than they
are in New Jersey? They would not,
in all probability, unless they had some
experience in farming, some taste for
agriculture. Therefore if there should
be an organized movement to bring
Jews South care should be taken to
find out beforehand whether there are
among them any who have had ex-
perience as farmers. If not, then no
attempt should be made to settle them
on farms. Those that seek the cities
generally manage to earn a living, but,
as in most of the Southern towns
about every kind of business is over
done, care should be taken by those
directing the movement to see that
there are opportunities for employ
ment before immigrants are invited.