Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-02-24
AN ENGLISHMAN ON IMMIGRATION
hts Views on the Methods That Must
he Employed to Bring fmmi-
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 OIL the question of
introducing into the state of South
Carolina u 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 50 acres of ground. I am told that
the south has enough even now or
common laborers, 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 peasantry of France have smalI
farms which they till with artistic
skin and reap excellent hnrvests for
people, save their money and at times
OF great financial depression have saw
cd the government from impending
bankruptcy. These French peasants
live in rural villages and go daily to
their little farms, which may be dis
tant from one to three miles from the
domestic roof. Under prevailing cir
cumstances 1t would hardly be prac-
ticable to introduce such n system in
this country. 1t would be better to
farm for each farmer Of say so to 100
acres with the dwelling in which the
family Il to abide on the farm.
But how will the better class Of
European immigrants be attracted to
the south? II must not be forgotten
Tint 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
hv T,,rr richi Ina fn nd
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
lands. Now; the south has no free
homesteadS, but every one who enters
the state and secures q farm must pay
for 1t. The western people reckon
every healthy. laboring man who
makes permanent home in a COM
munity to be worth to the place Il
100 able-bodied, industrious and enter
prising men should settle in farming
community, they add to the perman-
ent wealth of the locality 5000. 000
should say such an estimate is very
conservatives for there may be among
the 100 half a dozen men who alone
would add more than twice that sum
to the taxable wealth OF that COM
munity.
But how shall the immigrants be
or more acres for sale cannot afford to
equip and maintain an immigra ton
real estate office for the purpose of
finding purchasers for his lands. a
town, county, immigration association
and the State, acting in conjunction
with railroad companies, may adver-
tiSe the agricultural, commercial and
manufacturing advantages through
newspapers, circulars, folders, etc, and
distribute them through the mails all
and in time viii bring some people.
But that is not all which is needed.
| remember once spending week on a
cotton plantation short distance out
from YaZoo City, Miss. The planter
was native Alabamian. lie had Il
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 n distant orchard for
fruit and to garden for vegeta bles
for the table. I said to my friend,
why is this? Why do YOU not on
yonder rising ground plant your orch
ara and cultivate your garden vcRe-
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, Il only make cotton. II you
want to klndlc a fire with the suns
rays, use the sun-glass to concentrate
All the rays of the sun at one spot and
it Will ScOrCh it,
I would apply this process of ana
logical reasoning to secure people to
become permanent residents of the
State Of South Carolina. I think il
initiating a plan Of work and then
suffer it TO languish for want of sup
port. An agricultural commissioners
with secretary TO begin the business
is only first step. The department
must be amply supported. This work
~ fTnt ~ rtssatN tNtE ~
they must set 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
an that come out Of a ship. You want
them selected. OF course your com
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
may be, even 100000 in this work will
he ii profitable investment. When you
get 5000 or 10000 of these people into
your state and they are content. they
VIII advertise the advantages Cf the
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 tho immigrants. if they be OF
lhe right kind. even with Il very small
payment down and In small yearly
payments and at n low rate of interest
1t VIII take pretty much all the ready
money the immigrant has to get n
start with implements and stock for
MS little farm and 10 buy needful
supplies until he can grow and market
"a crop. Hence he will need the advice
sympathy, and often forbcarancc of
those with whom he deals. With a fair
chance he will be able in few years
to pay for all. But the intclIigcncc
the kindness, and generosity OF south