The Washington herald., 1909-05-16

the tnlr1 generation u men inti1lats4g
associated with the railroad and CONNER
eisl development Of the South, takes
great interest in the immigration oues-
ton. as It Affects the whole country and
particularly the South. He has been en-
gagged f5r several years IN certain plans
70 bring sturdy European workers into
the Soatn. and from study and exps-i-
enoe is specially entitled 10 speak upon
the general subject Of immigration 10 the
Southern States. His views are con-
tained IN the following communication 70
The Washington Herald:
Wilmington. y c. Nay 15.-It viii be
conceded that there is no quicker way 70
increase the wealth Of country than 10
add 20 its industrious and thrifty popula-
tion- The demonstration is before Us in the
Northern States. and especially is this
true in the Western States. where mil
lions Of sturdy Immigrants. English.
Scotch. IRISH. Germans, French Can
adams, Swedes. Hungarlans. Poles Films.
and Italians have IN succession been dis
tributed as wealth producers. each in
turn lifting those who went before &c
higher levels Of prosperity and wealth
Great agricultural development. great IL
dustries. ana great cities have been the
direct result OF this ever-increasing army
Of producers Of wealth
Little immigration south.
The South has stood aloof from imni-
grafton partly from conservatism. but
largely from the fact that immigration
20 the South has beer, under the condi-
tons heretofore prevailing, almost i'm
possible. During forty years following
the war. when for lack OF financial
strength the South's energies were dor
nant and only slowly recovering from
the effects Of the complete exhaustion Of
the struggle, there was more labor avail
able on account OF the large negro pOpu-
Iatiou than it was possible 70 use For
this reason wages remained low and in
turn ali industries langutshed because
OF the low earning power Of labor and
the low purchasing power Of wages
The sturdy immigrants naturally went
where there was least competition and
highest wages.
For q number OF years Il has been a
wish Of mine 20 make the attempt 10 Sc
cure immigration. but il has only been
within the past four years that this could
take practical shape; and up 70 the pres
en5 time the work has been largely expert
mental We have established five colo
MES. with Italians al St Helena. HUnga-
rians and HOllanders at Castle Hayne,
Poles al Marathon. Germans al New Ber-
lin, and Hollanders auG Poles at Artesia-
Americans and other nationaiities are 10
Gated also al Castle Hayne and az Ar
tesla
Success with Italians.
7 shall refer especially 70 the italian
colony. as that is the oldest-hree years
old-and is the largest and most sue
cessful
First. word about the preliminary
work Having noted the success Of farm
ers along the coastal region, from New
Jersey through Maryland. Virginia.
North and South Carolina. and Georgia.
10 Florida. We became convinced that
there was a vast area OF fertile land
available for profitable agriculture.
which only needed proper drainage The
country is quite level. and the rainfall is
from sixty 70 seventy inches per annum-
We secured the assistance Of govern
Tnent experts 10 make preliminary soil
surveys Of the section around Whining
ton. which section has the peculiar ad-
vantage Of being south Of the line where
the ground is subject 70 freezing In win
ter. and az the same time Of being near
10 the great Northern markets.
From the knowledge obtained from the
government soil experts other men we're
trained as experts. and surveys and maps
we're made Of more than six hundred
s, square miles OF land The reports Of the
soil experts exceeded OUT expectations.
Options were taken on large areas which
were best suited for the purpose Of colo
uization. After the titles were examined
and accepted by competent attorneys,
corps Of engineers were put IN the field
20 make surveys. drainage plans, and
layouts for farming communities and
town sites. This required about two
years work Of a large force Of men
Studying Sources of immigration.
In the uaantime. agents were sent
abroad TO study TIE sources Of immlgra-
lion. ard the best manner Of directing
the immigrants 70 the desired locality.
Demonstration farms were started 50
that the first arrivals could be shown the
best methods under the new conditions
The ditching. clearing. and fencing were
the colonists as they arrived. A good
superintendent. who was a skilled agri-
culturist, was placed in charge Of each
colony. even when II contained only two
or three families. As the cost Of prepar-
ing for and securing the first arrivals
was enormous. il seemed wise 10 nurse
them with the greatest care
The Italian colony was started with
seven families from Northern Italy. They
were chosen from a district in the prov
ince OF Venetia, and If may be interest
ing 70 know that our agent, upon investi-
gsuen. found from the records that No
serious crime had been committed IN this
district for more than four hundred
years. To this can be added the state
ment that at St Helena in three years
there has not been a single lawless act
have never seen any people more con
tented and happy. They are frugal and
Industrious. and compare satisfactorily
in every way with the native white popu-
lation.
Find the Family Best.
We have found that colonies do not
succeed without families The vvomer
and children are necessary 70 a sound
development. We established the Gus
tom OF showing appreciation OF this fact
by giving present Of five dollars IT goic
to each bride IN the colony, and a gift oi
ten dollars in gold for each child brought
by the storks 10 St Helena. We nave ID
standard by which to gauge the efficiency
OF these bounties. but can say hat JhC
expenditure on that account ms become
quite an item IN our budget
St. Helena manned in honor cf the
Queen Of Italy vas started IN 4 pine
forest The pine wood as soon as It va;
cut from the land was purchased from
the cOlOnists. and each man vas en-
ployed 9ne-half Of his tine WORKING fol
the company. ditching. fencing, and
building roads. The women and children
work all Of their time il preparing the
land for the first crops. the men giving