The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-09-02
Friday Sept. 2. 1904.
FOREIGN IMMIGRATION

The start seems to have been mace
in securing foreigners as laborers nj
this state. In the eastern section ltai1
fans have been brought from the nortnl
to do railroad and other similar WORK
The Italians who have been put 20
work on the Pamlico. Oriental and
Western road seem to be giving satis-
faction. Another party or 1taiianS|
was brought on a few days ago ~
werk on the sewage system plant IN
Kinston.
In addition to these We see that emf
grants from England and ScotianoI
have arrived at Edenton to labor on
the adjacent farms. There We're only
seven in this party. but they are only
the advance guard, it is thought, to
others who are to come. The Eden
ton Transcript whose proprietors were
instrumental in the coming OF these
says the movement is we'll under way
and that more arrivals are expected.
That paper that all persons
who wish help on their farms, or VINO
have tenant farms for rent should APP
ply to w. F. Swarington or j. II. Fell,
of that paper, giving full particulars on
farms which will be furnished on ap-
plication. 1t seems that these men,
who are the owners of The Transcript.
have formed a bureau of foreign
immigration and have interested them,
selves in securing farm hands. and
other laborers for those who desire
them. They say that a number OF III
tending ~emigrants have written 20
them inquiring about farms to fsnt
with option to purchase.
We are indeed glad to learn of this
movement. We believe if Ice there
can be established a tide Of immigra-
ton of this character toward the
south hat a great many desirable
farm hands and other laborers a be
secured for our section. Negro LABOR
is getting So scarce and there is so
much room for small farms over our
sparcely settled country that there is
no way of building up our farnang
interests in any other way.
The opposition to competing with
negro labor has in the past prevent
ed this class of immigrants coming
south. The scarcer negro labor be-
comes the less of this competition will
there be. There is really no such com
petition between negro labor and
white men who will rent or purchase
farms and cultivate them themselves.
We have got to make this understood
among these foreigners who have a
desire to come south, but who decline
to do so because of the objection to
negro labor with which they think
they will be thrown in contact.
These men of the eastern section.
who are bringing in these first settlers
are doing a great service for the south
and we hope to see them succeed al
their venture. Negro labor becomes
scarcer each year Already farmers
are unable to properly cultivate o.
to gather the crops they plant.
There is now room here for thou
sands Of steady white laborers, who
can make good livings either as ten
ants on farms Oh as wage earners a!
other work. The more of these who
come the more independent will we
be OF the negro labor which is becom
ing more uncertain and worthless year
by year. We do not expect to see the
negro ace migrate in a body to the
north blu there is a steady and ever
increasing exodus from the south t.
the cities and mines of h north. Al
increased immigration of white ten
ants and laborers to the south viii
hasten his negro migration. and rap
idly decrease the competition betwee:
the two classes in all vocations wher,
they may now clash.