Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-10-15
Virginia Officials Are Correspond.
Ing With English Authorities.
DESIRE ONLY BUT BEST ALIENS
Fertile Lands That Would Support An
Army of Workmen--Perman Set
tiers Wanted Who Have Worked
Crops That are Raised in the State
of Virginia.

WASHINGTON, Oct. l4.-One of
the most important things considered
today by the Virginia authorities is
the plan to promote immigration of
farm laborersl from England. Scot
land. Ireland Germany and Sweden
into the State. This question is not
essentially new, inasmuch rs it origi
mated some months ago with George
w. Koiner, State commissioner of
agriculture. but the jamestown Expo
sitton and the good showing Virginia
Is making has added momentum to
the project of increasing the Virginia
laboring forces.
1t has just come to light that the
state authorities have been cores
ponding with the lord mayor of Lon
don in connection with these ideas.
and the latter has shown decided in
terest in this plan, which might mean
the redemption of many thousands of
idle laborers. The remedy offered by
the State would mean the permanent
employment of this vast army of
workers. The pros and cons of the
subject We're considered also by the
British consular officers. who are en-.
Enthusiastically working with the state
officials.
What 1t Means to Virginia.
1T would be difficult 10 estimate
what this movement really means to
Virginia, and its agricultural future 4"
remarked Virginia official recently.
1T seems bat just that after Virginia
has been praised by the most promi-
nent visitors to the Exposition i'll
should enter into n race of self-devel-
opment. Other states are going to do
IT, so why not ours? Without ques-
tion 1t means the development of
millions of acres of splendid farm
land, which today is lying unculti-
waited and practically useless as pro
ducing soil.
There are at least 100000 acres
of idle lard, taxed in most cases on a
basis of value from SIS to SO an acre,
and It has been demonstrated very re.
Gently that under proper cultivation
this same land increases in value to
$50 or SEQ an acre. In other words.
if our efforts to bring outside labor
into the state are successful these
100000 acres OF land would in the
course of time be cultivated. thus
adding S50OOO0,00O to the taxable
value Of Virginia
CNi Pith iuNluutS lllt ulGdllRe-
ment of n system whereby farmers
who desire help can register their
names with statement of what they
wish. The laborers. II they come
here. Will be cared for until they can
be located on farms. Either the far
mers can come to Richmond or other
points that may be estimated as head
quarters. or they can have the men
sent to them on application.
Movement Welcomed Abroad.
I'm fact. besides having been in
correspondence with the town author
tiles of the large cities of England
and Germany-and In every instance
those to whom we have written have
Expressed themselves as glad that
there exists such an opening-we
have had many letters from individ-
ual iaborers, inclosing clippings from
newspapers and seeking further In
formation on the subject.
Many OF these people are Irish
men. who have been trained to till
the soil conscientiously and with
economy, and they. IKE the laborers
from other countries with whom we
are negotiating. will be peculiarly
adapted TO conditions here for the rea-
son thul our pIluclpui ciopS are tHc
same as those that they have been
working ali their lives.
THE class of laborers we want Is
made up of people who have spent
practically their entire lives In one
place. They are not wanderers, and
If they come over here with their
families and are located where they
will receive fair treatment it means
that they will identify themselves
with the locality in which they live
and will remain indefinitely. The
improvement to the State. for this
reason, If for no other. will be sub
stantinl and nernepent"
me regulations oil linuiisi atiUIi uIv
not disturbing Virginia, II seems, for
the official said:
"The legality of State to adver-
tlse what inducements 1t can offer
the prospective emigrant has been
favorably decided. and the question,
so far. is the ease as to how we can
direct the newcomers to our fertile
grounds. Unless there should be some
unforeseen delay. we expect to have