The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-13
HOW MISSOURI
 GETS IMMIGRANTS Report of Immigration Board
 for the Year LAND VALUES INCREASE The Greatest Population Gain Is In the Southeast-The Number of New Settlers During the Past
 Year Is 55,560
LAND VALUES INCREASE

From the Omaha Bee.
 In his first annual report of the work of the state board of immigration, which was organized under the administration of Gov Herbert s. Hadley little more than a year ago, John H. Curran, chief immigration commissioner. shows that within this period 55,560 persons have come to Missouri to make homes, while the outgoing citizens number. according to estimates, but 4060 Lands have been thrown open for cultivation, Missouri has been exploited not only to those who re- side within her borders, but to countries beyond the seas; the interests of the state argirculturally and to natural re- sources have been given an impetus which augurs well for even greater re- suits, and that this work has been &C., complished an entirely inadequate sum, little more than $12, 900 provided for this year. marks it as an extremely suc- cessful undertaking. The report was made public Saturday.
 The Missouri legislature of 1909 passed law establishing the state board of immigration. This replaced a law pre- viously passed for immigration work, but (which was a dead letter under demo- cratic administrations. The members of the board were appointed by the gover- nor after the adjournment of the legis- lature and they were not confirmed by the senate. This was given by the demo- cratic state auditor as the reason for holding up the appropriation to make the work effective. The banks of St. Louis,
 
 the support of Governor Hadley and the work of advertising Missouri, and pro- vided the money with which the work has been done.
 The board had first to prepare the people of Missouri for necessary devel- opment and then to call attention of those in other states and countries to the state of Missouri and her resources To accomplish this work Missouri land and industrial association, composed of realty and industrial men throughout the state, was organized. Following this an aggressive advertising campaign was started, with the result that inquiries from various sections were received Newspapers Boost State
 Comm issioner Curran gives a deal of praise to the daily newspaper for great ly aiding the work. Advertising in 200 dailies of the north and east brought more than $500 inquiries about Missouri lands and resources. Publicity through the press, he says, has resulted in much good. An estimate of publicity given through newspapers in the months of June this year alone showed that more than 700 columns of space had been given to boosting the state.
 Exploitation trips, too, carried on un- der the direction of Gov. Hadley. have 1 teaJ tn ctio d dya,, ,tc f na vast resources of the uncultivated sec tions of the state. These trips have been made to the Ozark region. to the drain age district and other sections of the state which have not as yet been de- veloped fully. Land congresses have been utilized for educating Missourians | in practical present-day history of the state The first of these was held at Springfield in January, this year. It Is estimated that fully 60.000 persons at | tended. A second land congress was held at Ironton, and still later. another at Mob erly. As an added means of | awakening a spirit of pride in the state contests along educational lines were planned and carried out. The prize for a fve-acre farm, donated through Gov. Hadlsy attracted answers from 5000 from Washington to Florida and Maine to Mexico. Speaking of the present linn itations of the work, Commissioner Cur ran says In his report:
 "Inasmuch as the commission was given only a limited appropriation, it was thought best to confine the expen - ditures of this fund for the present to the United States, for 1t was believed a great number of good farmers in this country were willing to come to Mis- souri when properly encouraged. And since they could be encouraged more cheaply than could foreign immigration there is no present occasion under tn C circumstances to attempt to do foreign work among people who are not ac- l quainted with our language. Informa | ton, however. has been rapidly gath cred to the end that should future ap- propriations warrant, this work can be