The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-04-21
IMMIGRATION CIRCULAR
How to Procure the Best Class OF
Foreigners for South Carolina.

State giving information as TO no"
they may assist in the work OF his de-
| partment The first is to land owners
desiring to sell tracts for settlement
and the second is to commercial or
ganiz2tions and real estate agents OF
| the towns.
; Mr.. Watson says that he is conh-
dent there will be no difficulty at all
| in securing settlers, in as large num-
| bers as may be desired, if suitable
land in sufficient large tracts can be
| secured. To get this land at reason
| able prices is his first problem. 1t
is for this purpose that he has issued
his first circular. as follows:
Circular, No. l.
To the Land Owners of South Caro-
lima
Immediately upon assuming the du-
ties of commissioner of agriculture,
commerce and immigration, realizing
fully the necessity for speedy action
looking to the highest development OF
the States agricultural interest
through investigations in the east OF
the methods employed by the different
States of the Union in securing the
best types of immigrants now enter.
ing the. United States in greater num-
bers than ever before in the country's
history. l have been fortunate in
pursuing these investigations and in
making arrangements whereby we can
secure excellent labor and settlers
upon very much the same basis as
those States which have been
reaping the harvest resulting
from purchasing settlers. the
intensified methods Of farming
employed by the foreign laborer,
and the consequent building up OF
waste places and increase Of taxable
property and increase Of production
and wealth.
The office now needs to be advised
at once of the location Of available
, lands, and needs further to know i'm
mediately the wants of the farmers
of the State complaining OF the lack of
intelligent farm labor. We need TO
! know also Of the location and value
of Our undeveloped water powers,
clay beds, mineral deposits, and have
the owners list them upon the register
in the Office with prices at which they
will sell. We need to know likewise
of available large tracts suitable for
the location of successful colonies.
The act creating this department
requires the commissioner to act with
out fee, as the agent Of the citizens OF
the State who wish to meet the ex-
cess expenses of bringing desirable
immigrants to their farm or other
lands, and directs him to secure those
who desire to purchase homes, be-
come citizens of the State and build
I'D the agricultural interests. Inc
act further provides: THAT he (the
commissioner shall also collect from
the farmers and land owners Of the
State and list information as to lands,
stating the number Of acres, location,
the terms upon which they may be
bought, leased or shared to desirable
settlers: that land registry shall be
kept, and in connection Herewith,
from time to time, publication shall
be made, descriptive Of such listed
agricultural, mineral, forest and truck.
ing lands and factory sites as may
be offered to the department for sale
or share, which publication shall be
in attractive form, setting forth the
county, township, number Of acres,
names and addresses of owners, and
such other information as may be
helpful in placing inquiring home
seekers in communication with land
owners"
To this end several forms Of blanks
have been prepared, and will be fur
nished all land owners and farmers
upon application to this Office. They
are:
First. For those wishing desirable
farm labor.
Second. For those wishing tenant
settlers.
Third. For those wishing share
settlers.
Fourth. For those wishing to offer
lands to purchasing settlers and large
tracts for colonization purposes, as
we'll as to offer water powers, kaolin
beds, mines, etc.
For the information of the land own
ers it is stated that the prevailing
custom in securing farm laborers and
even purchasers from among those who
come across the Atlantic to these
shores, no matter what amount they
bring with them, is for those who want
them to prepay their passage, and in
cidental expenses of transfer at New
York, the steamship lines furnishing
tickets, before departure, through to
destination. This is considered an
earnest of the good faith OF the peo-
rle among whom the settler is to live,
and saves much trouble at the port OF
entry. OF course the refund Of the
amount thus advanced is secured. At
the present exceptionally low rates
Ill Atlantic 1inpC