The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-21
Southern Settlement and
Development Organi-
cation Form ed.
URGE GREATER
IMMIGRATION
Plan Is to Settle Unoccupied
Lands and to Provide Facilities
for Receiving Immigrants at
Southern Ports, Such as
Newport News, Norfolk
and Baltimore.

Baltimore. Md. February 2o.-Repre-
semtatives OF sixteen Southern States,
heads of railroads and steamship lines
that serve that section. and men who
have studied the agricultural and in
dustrial problems of the South for
years, met here to-day and formed the
Southern Settlement and Development
Organization. Baltimore was made the
headquarters, with 5. Davies Warfield.
of this city, as chairman and Eli
| Frank. also of Baltimore seer atary. 1t
was resolved to start at once 20 raise
funds to carry OIL the work OF the or
ganiGation, to establish branch Offices
where necessary and to carry on such
! educational or other work In the six
teen Southern States as may be deemed
desirable. with the view to procuring
desirable immigration. colonization and
settlement as the needs of the several
States may require.
1t was further decided to recommend
TO the several states of the South tine
urgent necessity Of establishing in each
state state immigration bureau. for
the purpose OF disseminating relia bic
informa ton regarding the resources,
the possibilities and opportunities of
the South, to be supported ~ the
| states machinery and monsy, under
the indirect supervision of the Cover
nor OF each State, with good. prac-
teal, business man in charge. whose
duties shall bo to cooperate with the
United States government, the trans
portation companies the commercial
bodies. the real estate men, the press
and the southern Settlement and De-
valopment Organization In placing the
country properly before the people Of
| the world"
Farm Labor Department.
al Itch lab
department., to be added to the func-
tions OF the State bur sau, was also rec
commended. IL the bureau found it eX-
pcdient and practical to do SO. a res
olution that caused some discussion be-
fore 1t was finally perfected to suit
tho ideas of tha delegates set forth
that the North Atlantic ports OF entry
are receiving a Very large percentage
of all the desirable Immigrants, who
tremain in the cities and States aGjac ant
| thereto.
II declared that the present COM
mercial Importance and possibilities
OF the South justify the Federal gov
eminent 'in providing adequate ia
cilities for the reception of immi
grants at Baltimore, the South Allan
tic and Gulf ports, from lack of which
said ports are now suffering" and
called upon Congress and the proper
Federal officials Ito take such steps
as may be necessary to provide such
facilities at Baltimore the South At
lantic and Gulf ports as to put these
ports on parity with said North At
| lantic ports"
The meeting was the result Of the
conference on Southern Immigration
held here or December S. 4 committee
was formed Mt that time. with S.
Davies warheld. OF Baltimore, as chair
man, the membership to be constl-
81 l..
by the Governor of each Southern
State; one to be named by the presi-
dents Of each railroad and transported
ton company in the South: one from
each State TO be appointed by Chair
man Warfeld.
The Delegates.
Delegates were present from Ala
bama Arkansas Florida Georgia Ken
lucky, Louisiana, Maryland. ATissis-
sippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Okla
homa. South Carolina, Tennessee,
i Texas. Virginia and West Virginia.
In addition. more than nifty railroad
and steamship companies sent reports.
In some cases the presidents of the
lines acting in person.
When Mr.. Warfeld called the meet
ing to order he faced the largest and
most representative committee ever
organized to consider the agricultural
and industrial development of the
South.
In his address. Mr.. warneId referred
to the vast areas of unimproved farm
lands in the South, and declared tina I
every one concerned in property val
ues in the South has definite inter
est in the promotion OF this work.
which he maintained could not be done
without large expenditures Of money.
Liberal trea tment is necessary, moi
only OH the part of the railroads. hut
the State governments also.
Mr.. Warheld was Of the belief that
foreign immigrants of desirable sort
could be secured by proper system
which would reach into the homes Of
the agricultural classes. especially in
Northern Europe. embracing EnglishI
Scotch, Irish and German people One
OF the most important things in this
connection. he said. is that our port
facilities should be OF tho best char
acter for handling these classes Of peo-
pie.
Not TO Lower Standard
This occupation of the vacant lands
OF the South by people who Will be
acceptable to our Southern people and
who will not lower the standard of cit
Zenship, which is one of the proudest
heritages OF tho Southland. is now per.
haps til most important problem which
that section of our country faces. said
Mr.. Warheld In conclusion.
! Mr.. Warheld was unanimously elect
ed permanent chairman OF tho commits.
sion. An address was made by eros
venor Dave. managing director OF the
southern Commercial Congress, who
discussed various phases of the agrl-
cultural and industrial problems OF the
Southland.
The executive committee presented it's
of representatives of certain railroads