Smyrna times., 1903-04-08
LABOR SITUATION AMONG
FARMERS TO Be RELIEVED
IMMIGRATION COMMISSION CREATED BY
RECENT LEGISLATURE HOLD MEETING.
Effort Will be Made to Induce Foreign Labor
TO Delaware to Assist Farmers who Are
Unable to Procure Satisfactory Help.

LllOIt VIII Oe Wdue 10 lnuuCe FOIelgu LdDOI
TO Delaware to Assist Farmers who Are
Unable to Procure Satisfactory Help.
The State Board of Agriculture, in.
vested with the powers of the Immi-
grafton Commission, recently enacted
by the Delaware Legislature, met at
Dover last week and discussed further
plans for the promotion of immigra-
tiOn in this State. A. J. Kooch, of
Wilmington, who is interested in i'm
migration work, aud also connected
with several German newspapers, was
before the board, upon invitation. AT
ter listening to his suggestions, along
certain lines, the board authorized Mr..
KOOch to advertise in certain German
newspapers setting forth the advan-
tages the State of Delaware offers to
intelligent and industrious people as
place for making homes and for secur-
ing work at good wages. AS an cyl
dence of further advantage, a large
number of maps of the State of Della
ware are to. be printed by the State
Board, containing advertisements of
the advantage of locating in Delaware.
These maps will be printed in con
venient form SO they can be readily
handled and distributed among the
foreign element.
The board also considered the San
Jose Scale and other fruit diseases,
recommending certain remedies for
the determination of the same. All
the members of the board were present,
including Gov. Hum, who is a mem
Der ex-officio.
A. J. KOOch Appointed Special Agent.
Mr.. KOoch was commissioned a
special agent of the Board of Agricul-
ture to assist with the new work in
hand. Mr.. Kooch will begin work at
once. He is enthusiastic over the
prospects and believes Delaware will
be highly benefited by the project
The Legislature appropriated 81, 500
for the use of the board in connection
with the immigration movement, and,
while this is not a large sum, great
deal can be done with it in the shape
of advertising the advantages of the
State.
The object of the Immigration Com
mission, Mr.. Kooch says, is to present
to the world, especially to people in
foreign countries, information con-
cerning Delaware that is not generally
known outside of the limits of the
State. 1t is the purpose to inform
residents of these foreign countries
and industrious immigrants that Della
wae offers special advantages for
people who want to buy small farms
or to work on farms. In addition to
advertising in foreign newspapers the
board will, through the agency of Mr..
Kooch, communicate with the immigra-
tion bureaus in Philadelphia, New York
and Baltimore, giving them such in
formation as is to be sent out. 1t will
be announced to these people that
foreigners of small means who desire
to engage in farming can find unusual
opportunities in Delaware, where they
can purchase farms at small cost and
have excellent facilities. 1t will also
be pointed out that Delaware soil is
excellent for nearly every kind of
farming, and that it will not be nee
essary to go west to find these advan
tages. Delaware has good railroad
and steamboat facilities, which is not
to be had in some Of the western
sections.
Maps Of the Stats 10 be Distributed.
Mr.. Kooch says Secretary of State
Layton has offered to draw up full
description of each county, which is
to be attached to maps. At least a
thousand of these will be printed and
distributed where they will do the
most good. They will be sent to
Europe and also to the immigration
bureaus in the United States. This
description will show what sections
are best adapted for general farming,
for dairSing, fruit raising, grain rails
ing, &c, and will give many details
which will enlighten people who have
never been in the State and know little
or nothing about it,
Mr.. KoOch has been informed that
there are a number of large tracts of
land in different parts of the State
which have not been improved because
nobody has paid much attention to
them. Near Harrington there is a
such tract which, it is said, will be
disposed of in 5O-acre parcels at the
rate of about $500 each, and in some
sections good land can be obtained at
lower figure.
Relative to the matter Of securing
industrious farm help, the board will