The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-02-26
an ENGLIsHMAN on IMMIGRATION
His Views on the Methods That 1Iust
he Employed to Bring Iinmi-
grants to South Carolina.


grants to South Carolina.
To the Editor OF The State:
have been much interested in read
ing reports in the newspapers express
\ing public opinion on the question of
introducing into the State OF South
Carolina n class of European immi-
grants-farmers, who in some respects
are less ambitious than American
farmers-a class of people who will be
content with small farms. say 20. 80
or SO acres of ground. ] am told that
the south has enough even now Of
common ln6orerS. and that the need
is simply those who Will enter the
State and buy up the large tracts of
lands and convert them into small
farms.
The peasnntry of France have small
farms which they till with artistic
skill and reap excellent harvests for
their industry. They arc thrifty
people, save their money and at times
of great financial depression have saw
ed the government from impending
bankruptcy. These French peasants
live in rural villages and so daily to
their little farms, which may be dis
tant from one to three miles from the
domestic roof Under prevailing cir
cumstnnces 1T would hardly be prac-
ttcable to introduce such n system in
this country. 1t would be better to
AohoW oul the IAlHeTlCuIl IIlelHOu, II
farm for each farmer of say so to 100
acres with the dwelling IN which the
family 1t TO abide on the farm.
But how win the better class of
European immigrants be attracted to
tho south? 1t must not be forgotten
that the farmers and immigrants from
Europe have been attracted in vast
numbers to the great northwest. where
millions or acres are yet unoccuDied;
that western Canada Is attracting set
freq n "a nd
homes for oil who Will come. BY rail-
road companies and local communities
thousands Of dollars are being eX-
ponded 10 get these settlers on those
lands. Now, the south has no free
homesteads, but every one who enters
the State aud secures farm must pay
for 1t. The western people reckon
every healthy, loboring man who
nuntty to be worth to the place n
sum not less than $4,000. That is If
100 able-b bodied. Industrious and enter
prlsing men should settle in farming
community, they add 10 the perman-
ent wealth of the locality 100000.
should say such an estimate is very
conservative for there may be among
the 100 half dozen men who alone
would add more than twice that sum
70 the taxable wealth OF that COM
But how shall the Immigrants be
obtained? One man having thousand
or more acres for sale cannot afford to
equip and maintain an immigratio
real estate Office for the purpose OF
finding purchasers for his lands \
town, county, immigration associlt!On
and the State, acting In conjunction
with railroad companies. may advcr-
tise the agricultural, commercial and
manufacturing advantages through
newspapers, circulars. folders, ctc., ana
distribute them through the mails all
over the land. They will do some good
and in time will bring some people.
But that is not ali which is needed
i remember once spending week on Il
cotton plantation short distance out
from GaZoo city, Miss. The planter
was native Alabamian. He had a
beautiful place of many thousands OF
acres and one OF the finest in the State.
One morning hiS good lady said they
must send to Il distant orchard for
fruit and to garden FOR vegcta bles
for the table. I said to my friend
why is this? Why do you not on
yonder rising ground plant Your orch
ard and cultivate your garden vegc-
tables; nave your meadows for hay
and your own corn fields? BY pro-
ducins these necessary supplies at
home you Will save money" He re-
want to kindle Il fire with the SUMS
rays, use the sun-glass to concentrate
all the rays OF the sun at one spot and
IL Will scorch it,
would apply this process of ana
logical reasoning to secure people to
State of South Carolina ! think it
would be unwise to waste money i'm
initiating plan of work and then
suffer il TO languish for want of sup
port. An agricultural commissioner
with secretary 10 begin the business
Is only first step. The department.
must be amply supported. This work
is not only to get immigrants, but
they must get them. They must go
where these people are to be found
and must select just such families as
Will be most suitable. You don't want
all that come out Of Il ship. You want
them selected. OF course your COM
missioner will have his principal office
must nave an Office in the city of
New York. No matter what the cost
may lie, even 100000 i'm this work will
be profitable Investment When Won
get 1900 or 10000 Of these people into
your state and they are content they
Will advertise the advantages of the
state all over Europe without cost
but the expense ut the start must be
borne by the state. The newspapers
OF the state, publishing gratuitously
COMMUNICATIONS like this and Others
descriptive OF the country, are doing
their part most literally Every To-
cality and every individual should do
part
As The Alabamian said, focus the
sun rays. owners Of large tracts
OF land, some improved and some ror
improved, want to sell so as 20 he
getting IN income. They arc getting
nothing now. They better sell these
lands TO The Immigrants. il they be Of
the right kind even with a very small
payment down and in small yearly
payments and at q low rate of interest
1t VIII take pretty much all the ready
money the Immigrant has to get 81
start With implements and stock for
MS little farm and to buy nccdfu
supplies until no can grow ana market
a crop. Hence he will need the advice
sympathy. and often fOrbcarance OF
those WIFI whom Ne AnnlS WIN q fnir