Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-07-18
Real Workers Wanted.

cent date, mas tine NppSnueu very
interesting and breezy interview
with Hon. @. w. Koiner, Commits
sioner of Agriculture and lmmigra-
tion Virginia:
Who's going out Virginia wayl
Several millions of acres of
good farm land are lying idle in
that State for want OF farmers and
laborers. 1t is good land that will
veild well. and it is to be had at
low price.
This is the message which Mr..
George w. Koiner, Commissioner
of Agriculture and Immigration
for the State of Virginia, is publish
inc in England at present. He is
staying in Manchester for a little
while. and has talked to an Even
ing Chronicle" representative of
the objects OF his visit.
His first words were compliment
tary To the British.
we have in Virginia, he said,
n great many Englishmen, Scotch
men. and Irishmen. We like them
so we'll that we want more. Vir-
ginia. you know, is nearer in It's
modes Of life to England than any
other State. A lot of your blood
is in us. We have most of our
names from you, and our cities
bear English names. In home life,
customs, hospitality, we are like
you. A stranger coming amongst
MS from this country is welcomed
and made at home at once.
Il am here to point out that there
are fine opportunities for men with
brains and energy to make a grand
thing on the land in Virginia.
Several millions Of acres are doing
nothing. If We can get men to
break that land up as YOU do here,
/ till it thoroughly-not scratch it
over the top as the niggers do
why, then, in a few years that land
will be worth ten times as much to
the farmer as henecds now pay for
it.
What can land be bought forl
| Ten dollars an acre. Mark you,
this very land was worth 40 or 80
dollars an acre before the war, and
land that has been cultivated is now
selling at 100 10 $50 dollars"
Then Mr.. Koiner went on to tell
of the magnificent climate of Nir-
ginia, and its fine transport facili-
ties. So good are the growing con-
ditions that four corps, he says,
are often raised in the same year.
Every kind of crop grown in the
United States, except tropical, is
raised" in Virginia - tobacco,
wheat. and hay being most promi-
nent. Fruit in the way of cherries,
strawberries, apples and berries of
all kinds grow in profusion.
And all the farmer grows, says
the Commissioner, can be sold ow-
ing to the favorable situation of
that State IN being so near to the
great markets of New York, Wash
ington, Baltimore, &c.
Why not get American labor.
1t cannot he done. The niggers
have left us, and we don't want
them back. And American labor
crs are in demand in other States.
So we are here. Do we give agree
mcnts to Englishmen if they agree
To go overl No. That would be
against our Labor Contract Law.
But any man going to our State
to wor k on the land can be sure of
being given employment. All he
needs TO do is to call at the offices
of my department and he will be
put onto the right quarter for work
at once. No doubt about his get
ting it. The State is greedy for
real workers. OF course, we want
purchasers, toe"
Mr.. Koincr is commissioned bv
the State 30 go all over Europe,
making Investigations in regard to
agricultural matters, and he carries
also Il letter of recommendation
| from tho United States Secretary.
lie points out that this is the first
time his State has ever spent a
penny in regard to encouraging
immigration. The big cry raised by
thr American newspaper about
Virginia SoE.r little time ago, t.
the effect that tie State was going
to import 10000 London unem-
ploped, was all newspaper sensa-
ton, he says 'NThe men we want
are not that stamp. They must
haye brains and energy"