The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-28
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
Immigration to south

To the Editor of The Age-Herald;
To the average individual it appears
altogether mysterious that while there is
| continuous stream of immigration from
| foreign countries to the northern and
| western states, and also to the Dominion
of Canada, so very little finds its way
10 the southern states with their more
genial climate and more diversified oppor-
tunities for success to both skilled and
unskilled labor. 1t is said that Canada
expects an addition of 100000 immi-
grants during the present year, most Of
them going to extreme northwest to her
great wheat-growing territory, where the
climate is of wintry character more
than half the time. and such as average
Britishers and Europeans cannot readily
adapt themselves to. Yet this uninvit-
ing region-in its natural features-is
drawing hundreds of thousands of desir-
able settlers while the states below
Masons and Dixon's line, with their gen.
orally agreeable climate the year round.
and possession of the greatest variety of
| resources awaiting development, are re-
ceiving only small additions to their pop
ulation. There must be some strong reas-
on for this singular condition of things,
and / think it has been revealed to me
by gentleman in London whom 1 have
interested to endeavor to induce English
capitalists to invest in Alabama and Ken
lucky iron and coal lands. He Is more
than ordinarily equipped for this branch
of business from having resided in the
southern states for a number of years.
Writing me, he says:
"All you say about the properties you
offer is true enough, and there is huge
money to be made out of coal, iron and
timber in Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee
and Alabama, but 1t will take great ex-
penditure of money, time labor and pa
tience combined to. impress the proper
people. If you find a capitalist his inter-
ests are elsewhere, and he doesn't know
or care whether Birmingham is in Ala
bama or Alabama is in Birmingham
Canada is known all oyer Britain be-
cause the Canadian Pacific railway has
opened offices everywhere and spread
broadcast attractive literature The
southern states are utterly unknown be-
cause the southern railway magnates and
the land owners will not spend a cent
making the country known. For years |
have wanted to start a bureau of infor-
nation here for the south. They own it
would be fine thing, but that is all they
Will do. A 100000 company came out
last week to purchase an immense tract
of coal lands in Canada. The promoters
were not the purchasers, neither were the
not the buyers but a large host OF small
investors were because they know Can
ada. II the property had been In Alabama
the shares would not have gone Off All
the people here know OF Alabama is the
song Way Down in the Corn field"
The enlistment of British and other
foreign capital in development of the
southern states, with the diversion to
them of a considerable proportion of in
.ap INN trrro t,kr 90
do mechanical work and fill the various
positions born of the requirements of an
increasing population, are simply differ
ent parts related to. the prosperity and
welfare of the country.
The southern states have left behind
their unhappy history of many decades
that retarded progress. and by the adop-
ton of broad and enlightened business
policy can now come into their own as
the most favored spot in the United
States for the settlement on large scale
of the best quality of immigrants. Up to
now means to increase the population
haye been fitful and inadequate, consist
Ing mainly Of the bringing down OF farm
ers and others from the northern states
to take up land through private enter
prise, and action by few of the states
In occasionally importing groups of Ger
man or other nationalties to form settle
ments. Such small efforts as these do
not meet the requirements of the sit
nation to secure the incoming of desirable
immigration to the southern states COM
mensurate with that flowing continu-
ously into the northern and western
states.
What is required is concurrent and
united action by all the southern states
In disseminating information In Great
prtain ind the countries of Europe as to
the superior inducements to be found In
.eesi .eifitory to the seekers OF new
homes. Union of the states tn this matter
for the common good pNall Is imperative
q success and each would participate