The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-04-05
MR.. KO|NERI AGAIN
SEEKING LABOR.
commissioner Of Agriculture
\ and immigration Oh d Second
Trip Abroad.
ANTICIPATING I NEW VIEW law v,
Wishes to Get as Many Farmers
as Possible Before New Statutes
Are Effective.

l Commissioner of Agriculture and
immigration G. w. Koincr left last
night for New York. from which place
lie will sail Tomorrow on tile steam
ship Celtic for England, his mission
being to induce desirable Immigration
4 to this State before further efforts in 1
this direction are handicapped by the
new migration law OF the United
Z States, which becomes effective July
list. A
Mr.. Koincr has already done a good
work in this drection as result Of
which many farm laborers have been
number OF Immigrants thus far has
not been anything like large enough
q to meet the demands or the farmers.
but considering the short time the
i movement has been going on, and tho
limited funds with Mnch the Commits
sioncr had to prosecute 1t, the sue
cess has certainly exceeded cxpecta-
lions. Scarcely IA week has passed for
4 six months that vessel has not land
ed with Immigrants for Virginia. How
ever. the labor situation In this State
as far as the farmers We're concerned
had reached that point where thousands
drdeds. and, therefore. though many
have been supplied by Mr. Koiner,
there Is q constant cry for help from
the great majority who are still In
lire need.
The immigrants already here Will
be the means of inducing many more
TO follow them, from which It will be
seen that the work Is one that to
great extent builds itself. but the Com
missioner wishes to have a solid
foundation upon which to build.
During his trip last summer, Mr..
7 1Soiner's work necessarily was to some
extent experimental. as he had to be-
E come familiar with the situation as 1t
confronted him in the countries in
which he was WORKING.
The experience he now has, however,
VIII enable him to prosecute this work
with greater effect. as lie Is already
familiar with the conditions which Will
have to be met, and. therefore, Will
be in better position to conduct the
work to the best advantage.
He VIII operate only in Great
britain and Northern Europe. where
ers that Mr.. Itoiner thinks best adapt
ed to Virginia. There is no man in
the state better fitted for this work
than Mr.. Kolner, and the State Board
OF Agriculture and Immigration, as
Well as the Governor Recognized this
\ in again sending the Commissioner on
this most important MISSION.
Virginia, however, Is not alone in
realizing that now, II ever, Is the time
to act. II the immigration work is to
be successfully carried on, for South
Carolina. Alabama, Maryland, Louis
lana, and other Southern States will
have their representatives in Europe
within the next few weeks.
Ex-Governor Haywood. of South Car
DINA. will go to Europe in a few days
in the interests of his State, which has
made such a determined effort to Sc
cure immigration.
a prominent railroad immigration
agent who visited Richmond yestcr-
day. said that he thought Virginia was
doing the best work in this direction
of any in the South.
AS an instance of the pressing need
OF farm labor in Virginia Mr.. Koiner
said that a few days ago he received
a letter from a man who owned 500
acres OF good land, upon which was
some very fine stock, but the only help
he had was a boy, and he and this
lad had to do all the feeding.
This farmer stated that unless he
could secure some help very shortly
he would be compelled to sell his farm
and everything upon it. Many similar
cases no doubt exist in the State
w. Alllcorrespondence should be address
a ed, as usual. to the Commissioners Of
hce in the Capitol building, and such
communications as require Mr. Koiners
personal attention, will be forwarded to
him.