Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1907-02-16
SOUTHERN IMMIGRATION
PORT AT NEW ORLEANS WILL BE
OPENED FOR IMMIGRANTS.
immigration to Northern Cities viii
Diverted to the Great South and
Southwest.

Southwest.
| Washington, Feb. 11.-Immigration
to the southern states is to be en-
couraged by the government in every
possible and proper way. The south
land needs labor Of an industrious and
dependable kind The development Of
| its great resources practically, abso-
lutely, is dependent upon the ability OF
its people to Obtain la5orers who will
work and who may be relied upon to
do what they agree to do
1t is not a question Of wages, for
the wage offered the negroes and paid
them when they work generally is con.
sidered fair. The difficulty is that a
majority of the negro laborers will
work only when the spirit moves them
and ordinarily, it does rot move them
until they are pressed for the absolute
necessaries Of life. Once they get
few dollars ahead, many Of them stop
work as If they had been shot at and
nothing viii induce them to return to
their labors until their money is ex-
hausted
Southern men, in and out Of con-
gress, maintain that the south cannot
reach It's highest state Ct development
so long as it is dependent upon that
kind Of labor. and 1t Is their idea that
immigration of a good class should be
encouraged by every possible means to
locate in the south.
It is the intention of Secretary
Straus. of the department of commerce
and labor, to do all he properly can to
induce European immigrants to locate
in the southern states Instead of ag
gregating themselves into colonies
the northern cities. To that end ever
facility is to be afforded not only tn
southern states themselves, but tn
immigrants to take passage directly
from their European homes to south
ern ports of the United States. In
other words, it is proposed to divert
some of the immigration which now
comes to Ellis Island, N. Y. Boston
and Philadelphia to ports on the south
ern coast.
There the particular.
those who have any sort of knowledge
of agriculture-may be located at good
wages without difficulty.
Following the example of South
Carolina, several southern states have
indicated an intention o. encouraging
European immigration and, in a shor
time, it is expected that lines OF steam |
ers will run direct between various
ports of embarkation Of immigrants in
to ports on the south coast OF
this country.
Following a recommendation of Com |
missioner Sargent, of the immigration
bureau, "a bill has been introduced in
congress to provide an immigration
station in New Orleans. The measur
has received the cordial approval of
Straus, as New Orleans is
regarded as an excellent distributing
point for immigrants who desire to To-
cate anywhere in the south or south
west Secretary StraUs believes that
the tide of immigration TO this country
should not be checked. but he is OF
the opinion that the immigrants shout |
be so distributed over the country as
to avoid the congestion in the grea |
cities in the north. The carrying on !
of such a plan for the distribution or
would be good, it is main
tanned, not only for ne immigrants !
themselves, but for the country.
1t is scarcely likely that the measur |
for an immigration static
at New Orleans will be enacted at tn |
present session, but it is, thought &c |
be almost certain of enactment in the
next congress. The establishment o |
an adequate and suitable station |
New Orleans will be foil )wea Il is
assured. by the landing there of i'm
migrants from at least three lines of
steamships. In time, these lines viii
furnish all the labor that is so much
needed throughout the Southwest and
South.