The Savannah morning news., 1904-07-15
Immigration To
SOUTH DIRECT
GOVERNOR OVERL 00KED FACT.
FOREIGNERS SETTLED IN WEST
HAVE NO INDUCEMENTS TO MOVE.

j. W. Hahn Talks of Need of Bring
ing Settlers to This SectiOn-POv-
erty in Which Many Families Live
Would Make This Country Seem
Like Fniry Land-Stin Believes
That Man Sent After Them Could
Bring Back Thousands.
THAT suggestion of Gov. Terrell that
immigration of Germans and other
races from the West would be a fine
thing for the South was a good one, 4"
said Mr.. ]. w. Hahn, a merchant at
Barnard and State streets, yesterday,
to a representative of the Morning
News.
There's only one fault with it, and
that is it would be impossible to Of
fer them sufficient inducements to come
South. The wages to those who work
there are $50 per month and board the
year around, while there are many
reasons why those who have bought
land should remain, except that the
weather here in winter is much more
pleasant.
From my years of observation
abroad, the only way to induce immi-
grafton of these people to this section
is to bring them direct. Then they
will get accustomed to the advantages
here before they take up homes in the
West.
Il am still firm in my belief that if
several cities, or the entire state of
Georgia, should send a man to the
,f,-fn fo1 4 ipn1
to draw immigrants that thousands of
most desirable people could be easily
obtained.
Poverty Is Extreme.
81 am a native of Germany and have
spent several years in other countries,
and know what l am talking about.
In some sections of Europe 1 could,
within a small radius. find a thousand
families that do not have meat often
er than once a year, but live princi-
pally on bread and coffee, the latter
without sugar or cream.
IF a man should go to them and
say that he knew of a place where
they could have meat once every day
and not work any harder than they
are working, it would seem like fairy
story. And if man should say that
they might have meat three times a
day, he would be considered a luna
tic.
yet these very same people would
make a most desirable addition to the
population and would be eager for an
opportunity to cultivate land around
Savannah, and would make the coun-
try blossom like a rose.
They are natural gardeners, and
can raise many times what the aver
age American farmer does on the same
bit of ground.
Thousands Would Come.
Gov. TerrelPs suggestion over
looks the fact that when these same
people get out West, they are sold
land on long time and all their ma
| chinery is furnished without even a
cash payment. By their thrift they
pay for the land, and the supplies
| and soon are land owners. OF course,
| they would not pull up and come down
| here.
Il am sure that thousands and thous-
ands of immigrants could be brought
| to Georgia if a man who understands
the people and the advantages to be
offered here, were sent after them.
"Since the Morning News published
my first statement on the subject l
have had many calls from those in
| terested. One man from Beaufort
came to see me. Others here in Sa-
vannah have told me they thought l
was on the right line, and that they
would be willing and glad to contrib
ute for such purpose.
ITO my mind it is absolutely sure
| that with the proper work for even
| one year the results would be simply
astounding to Savannah, and this sec
ton