Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1905-10-05
IMMIGRATION TO THE
SOUTH.
View O.Ie1ns Tines Democrat.

Capt. J. T. Merry. who was on
July 10 appointed general inmi-
grafton agent Of the Illinois Cen
srai system, has been for years
engaged in tho settlement and
exploitation of southern terrific
~. lie Is one os the best posted
men living on the immigration
conditions Of the south and the
outlook for the future. In reply
% u request from TIE Tines
Democrat. Capt. Merry has sent
the following statement regard
ing the general immigration situ-
atom in Louisiana and Mississippi
{ Notwithstanding the unfa-
vorable agricultural conditions
throughout the state Of LOUISE
ana and Mississippi, owing to the
early, continued and incessant
rains. yet il has been, from an
immigration standpoint, by far
the best season for many years.
People from the north no longer
hesitate 10 invest or t. locate in
the south. They understand that
the climate Of Louisiana and Mis-
sissipri Is milder than that Of
Illinois land Iowa, and the long
accepted theory that a white man
could not work il the field under
the rays Of ! Southern sun has
been tested and contradi ted by
80 many northern men that far
mers from Wisconsin and Indi-
ara now purshase farms and To-
cate upon them in the two south
ern states above mentioned with
the sane assurance Of pleasant
climatic conditions as il located
IN any OF the more northern states.
1T is impossible for this de-
partment 70 keep 4 correct ac-
tcoUlt Of the number Of northern
families which cross the Ohio riv-
CT and permanently locate in the
south. nor IS il possible to give
AZ Intelligent approximate Of the
number or acres Of land purchas-
ed n tie south by northern in
yestors and hOmeseekers. We
believe. however. that 1000. coo
acres wOulI be Z conservative e=-
innate Of TIE lands that have been
transferred II the states OF Lou
isia1a and Mississippi to northern
buyers since JaEUa Y I. 1906. a
Ok which ara located on or cont .
. guoas q The Illinois Central al d
Yazoo Il Mississippi Valley rail-
roads What surprises many
Who are not familiar with land
conditions IN the south Is that
. the lands sold during the year
1902 have been at prices ranging
from s. 10 50 Per acre advance
over the prices Of 1904"
in the matter Of foreign i'm
} migration, our Italian population
! on the plantations and truck
farms OF Louisiana and Missis.
sippi has nearly doubled. anC
their success as farmers astonish
es every one. The writer recent
I ~ visited Italian colonies located
at Du1kirk, Fredonia, Buffalo
and Conastoea, New York, anc
> In every instance 1t was the uni.
versal opinion that no nationali-
~ Is more Industrious or more
{ successful in tiIling the soil thar
Italians, and the testimony OF the
business mea OF the state OF New
York as TO the Italian Is fuIIy
? eorroborated by business men OF
: Louisiana ard Mississippi who
: know something OF the settle
ments at kenner and Independ-
enee, La, and at GreenviIIe
: Rosedale and Shelby, Miss.
The Hungariaus are also Ieru.
ing OF the opportunities by the
, state OF Louisiana for securing
! homes. Not less than 100 families
of Hungarians have been located
: IN Tangipahoa parish the past
, year, and notwithstanding the
unfavorabla conditions have done
: IaIriy well, and are paving Tor
their Little homes and are con.
> tented and happy people.
The management q the H.
nos Central and Yazoo & Missis-
, s-ppi Valley railroads has shown
rs confidence and faith in the
future Of the South by esta dish :
ing an immigration department
which devotes all its energies ard
agencies to the Development 81
! the South. Their literature
hitherto published oaIy in Eng
h5h, Is now printed in English
German, Hungarian and Italian.
and IS being nailed EVERYWHERE
IN response TO inquiries that are
daily received, not only from
every State IN the CEi1n. but
from nearly every country in the
world. The South is now forging
ahead commercially, industrialIV
and agrIeuituFally IS never be-
fore, and the price of cotton and
the unprecedented demand for
Southern agricultural products.
together with other Inducements
warrants the statement that the
year 1905 viii be the banner wear
Tor immigration 70 the States Of
Mississippi and Louisiana"
10 pill y as pleasant aud positive n