The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1904-02-24
III EHGLISHMlH ON IMMIGRATION
His Views on the Methods That MuSt
BE Employed To Bring llnni-
"a arrnuta 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 a. class OF European immi-
srants-farmers, who in some respects
are less ambitious than American
farnlers-a class Of people VINO VIII De pc
content with small farms, say ~, ~
III. G6fi agrees OF ground am told that
the south has enough even no" OF
common laborers, and that the need
10, simply those who will enter the
state and buy up the large tracts OF
lands and convert them INTO small
farTns.
Tie peasantry Of France have small
farms which they till with artistlc
skin and reap excellent harvests aor
their industry. They are a thrifty
people, save their money ana at LILIES a',
1f Great financial depression have saw
ID THE government from Impending
bankruptcy. These French peasants
i've in rural villages and go daily 10
their little farms, which may be dis-
faIt from one to three miles from the
aomestic root. Under prevailing cir
enrnstances it would hardly be prac-
finable to Introduce such system IN
this country. 1t would be better 70
follow out the American method, a
farm for each farmer Of say so to i09
acres with the dwelling IN which the
family It to abide on the farm.
Rut how Will the better class OF
European immigrants be attracted to
the south? It must not be forgotten
that the farmers and immigrants from
) Europe have been attracted in vast
numbers to the great northwest, where
millions Of acres are yet unoccupied;
that western Canada is attracting set
tiers by furnishing free farms ana
homes for all who will come. BY rail-
road companies and local communities
thousands Of dollars are being, ex-
pended to get these settlers on those
Z lands. Now the south has no free
homesteads, but every one who enters
the State and secures q farm must pay
for It. The western people reckon
every healthy, laboring man who
4 makes q permanent home In q COM
fnunity to be worth to the place
sum not less than $4,000. That is, II
100 able bodied, Industrious and enter
psising, men should settle in farming
! community, they add to the perman-
3 ent wealth Of the locality 100000. 1
: should say such an estimate is very
conservative l!lSlc llItiS NC hAtotS
the 100 half a dozen men who alone
would add more than twice that sum
to the taxable wealth Of that COM
Inunlty.
But how shall the immigrants be
obtained? One man having thousand
or more acres for sale cannot AFFORD TO
: equip and maintain an immigration
real estate office for the purpose Of
finding purchasers for his lands. a
town, county, immigration association
r. end the State, acting in conjunction
With railroad companies, may adver-
tlse the agricultural, commercial and
manufacturing advantages through
newspapers circulars, folders, ETC.. and
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 all which is needed.
Z remember once spending week on
cotton plantation q short distance out
u from Yazoo 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 distant orchard for
fruit and to garden for vegetables
/, for the table. said to my friend
''Why Is this? Why do you not on
yonder rising ground plant your orch
ard and cultivate your garden Vege-
tables; have your meadows for hay
and your own corn fields? BY pro-
ducing these necessary supplies at
home you will save money" He re-
: piled, II only make cotton. II you
want to kindle a fire with the suns
rays, use the sun-glass to concentrate
all the rays Of the sun at one spot and
Etitiwill scorch 1t"
I would apply this process Of ana
logical reasoning to secure people to
become permanent residents of the
State of South Carolina. 7 think 1t
would be unwise to waste money in
Initiating a plan Of work and then
suffer 1t to languish for want of sup
port. An agricultural commissioner
with a secretary to begin the business
Is only a 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 a ship. You want
them selected. Of course your COM
s missioner will have his principal office
in the capital of the State. but he
must have an Office in the city of
New York. No matter what the cost
1udS Ue, CNSil SloV'OVV AL SiAAS "otN " 49,
be profitable investment. When you
get 5000 or 10000 Of these people into
your state and they are content. they
will advertise the advantages OF the
s. State all over Europe without cost.
But the expense at 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
a part.
AS the Alabamian said. focus the
suns rays Owners of, large tracts
of land. some improved and some not
improved, want to sell so as to be
getting an income. They are getting
nothing now. They better sell these
lands to the immigrants. if they be Of
the right kind, even with very small
payment down and in small yearly
payments and at low rate Of interest.
1t will take pretty much all the ready
money the immigrant has to get a
start with implements and stock for
his little farm and to buy needful
supplies until he can grow And market
4 crop. Hence he will need the advice,
sympathy, and often forbearance Of
those with whom he deals. With 4 fair
chance he will be able in a few years
to pay for all. But the intelligence,
the kindness. and generosity Of south