The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-11-07
IMMIGRATION
REPORT ON THIS SUBJECT
Made 10 State Board Of Asricuiilce BY Chairman
j. Il. {. Beverly, II Essex.

]. u. {. Beverly, II Essex.
The following is the report ilrll ON
immigration made t. the STATE Bond oi
Agriculture AT recent mre,i ~ in Rich
mond 10y Mr. j. II G. Beverley. oiChIncc,
Essex county. the member of that body
from the First district and chnirmhn ON
the subject named.
To the Honorable Board OF Agriculture
aud Immigration.
tirntlemeI-Aifer careful study ol
thTeuhcrt aud inquiry into The ,ondi-
tiOuS existing ln liu-t ~riluus oi \ii-
ginia. yOur committee un Immigration
brgs to submit the following report.
That wc nr. cOnNincrd that tii securing
of desirable immigrants for Virginia
would be- of immcnse yalu" 10 thr agii-
cultural interests OF the Satc. There
arr. according 90 thr report ui your com
mis-ionee Oi agriculture about tru mil
hon Idle u,r.. of l1ud 900 Nugiuiu, not
only i- This true. hut thousands ul acrs
that are under cultivation an. not pro
du-irg iuli crop. hrcausr of inadequate
cultivation dnr O., insufficient inurr.
oar present rural population Is iuade-
puate 10 transform fhr~'. ilh- acr.- into
productive ones The greater part Of
thcse acres that ap idle wonld readily
become productive. al "a profit. with in-
telligent effort They nrc ldle. iir-t he-
cau~e many Land owners hold a geatrr
acreage than under existing conditions
can be- prohtab.y handled hy one man;
second because efficient labor can not be-
had 10 work even small .arms properly.
Thesc conditions could b. relieved by
securing desirable immigrants Of two
classes. viz. Those with means 10 buy
land and thus decrease the large hold
imgs and those who would come among
III as wage carnrr-.
The former clu~~ could h. had through
proper effort from the West aud North
west oi our own country. the latter class
under careful selection from the countries
oi the old world. 80 tide of immigra
tiou will flow tO our State without an
effort 10 secure IL. Competition for de-
sirable immigrants is active in many SET
tions of the United States aud 100 tanada.
No efficient work can be- done in this
matter neutrality-suspicious. olmOney.
hence your committee would recommend.
1.t. That the Board of Agriculture
and Immigration ASK the Legislature. at
it, next session 90 make au apprOpra-
ton of SlO.O 900 tu be- used Tor Imnigra-
ton purposes said appropriation 10 be-
placed with the Board OF Agriculture and
immigration. which shall boz charged
with mdiciOus expenditure OF same,
rendering 20 the governor "a detailed ac-
count Of such expenditure.
ID. That rules and regulations be for
mulated by the Board OF Agriculture and
immigration 10 guide the commissioner
in efficiently conducting immigration
work
3d. We would recommend that the
commissioner shall collect from farmers
and landowners of the State iniOrma-
tion as 90 lands for sale and rent, giving
location. price. number OF acres aud that
he shall list same in his office. That n
land registry shall be kept, and publca-
tion of same from time To- time be- made
for distribution among prospective home
seekers. That specific bulletins be issued
on live stock and other Industries pecu-
Garly adopted 10 our State. That au
attractive hand book be- compiled, EN-
bracing the attractive features Of the
State. such n climate. soil, location.
cheapness OF land &c That there publ
cations be- literally distributed in sec
fiOns. from which settlers may be OBJ
tained. We would further recommend
that small advertisements be made IN the
ready print papers OF Chicago. Cleve-
land. De~ MOines and other Western
cities. giving a concisely as possible the
advantages OF Virginia 10 hOmeseekers
4th. In order to supply much needed
farm labor, or wage workers, your
committee would recommend that this
board Use every effort in having the Us.
Congress furnish legislation to provide Tor
the establishment at Ellis Island OF
State immigration agencies, so a. toglve
our people needing labOrers better ac-
cess 10 this source Of supply, and further
we would recommend that the State
Board Of Agriculture and immigration.
establish agencies abroad in those cOuu-
tries from which the most desirable I'M
migrants are to be- obtained That
these foreign agents he supplied with
suCll literature IL Mbuih " hHtlui III
securing the immigration Of deirabepeo-
ole to Virginia. and that such literature
be printed in the language OF the coun
try where it is to be used.
9th. In order to facilitate the placing
OF immigrants. that there shall be kept
on file in the office OF the commissioner
application for labOrers, stating nation
aiity and character Of labor wanted,
wages offered, supplies, &C., furnished
and such other information AZ will ena-
ble the Commissioner Of Agriculture and
Immigration to act as an Intermediary
between the employer aud employee.
Respectfully submitted,
j. II. c. Beverley,
Chairman Of Committee immigration OF
State Board OF Agriculture and Imm-