The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-06-10
immigration i'm the South
By JAMES E. WYCHE.

TAs the readers of the Banner have
learned through previous announcement
in these columns, the following is
prize essay. The author, a recent grad
uate from Plain Dealing High School,
received handsome medal on it from
the Interstate Bank and Trust Company
of New Orleans upon submitting it in
competition. That means that in point
of excellence it outclassed all others
submitted. 1t was received at this Office
some weeks ago, but the crowded con-
dition of the Banners columns have
precluded its appearance before this
date.-Local Editor.
One of the greatest problems that con-
fronts the South and the United States
as whole is immigration. A proplem,
which as yet has been unsolved by the
most learned men of both past and pres
ent times.
However, in regard to immigration,
we know what we want and we know
what we do not want, but to discriminate
between these two great classes is a part
of the problem that remains to be solved.
First, let us consider the South's needs
for immigration. In the South, espec-
tally in the states lying in the Missis-
sippi Valley, can be found the most fer
tile soil in the whole world, the Valley
of the Nile not excepted. Of this vast
amount of rich soil very little is now
under cultivation, and to put it all under
cultivation is the goal toward which we
| of the South must strive. By the recla-
nation of the wet lowlands enormous
tracts of rich land are now being added
to this vast acreage. Thus year by
year the number of acres under cultiva-
ton is steadily increasing. Large areas
of the finest kinds of pasture lands are
found in the South, on which the South
ern farmer may raise the best breeds Of
live stock, such as horses, cattle hogs
poultry, ETC., and from this alone he
could make himself Immensely wealthy
Then there. is great variety of crops
that can be grown in the South, Of
which some Of the important are cotton
corn, sugar cane, rice, peanuts, fruits
especially citrus fruits, and all kinds Of
vegetables - too numerous to name
And besides these great crops, our OF
and gas indutries, our salt and sulphur
mines, our great forests of standing
timber, and fisheries should be some in
ducement toward bringing settlers here
Now, although the South has this
vast amount of the most fertile soil, ant
its great diversification of crops, live
stock raising and other industries, i
lacks one thing-population. Withou
this its many treasures will be of nj
avail to itself or the United States as {
whole, and the South must use every
legitimate means to secure immigrant.
in order that the existing evil of toe
scanty a population may be remedied.
But why is it, if all this is true, tina
about 85 per cent of the immigrants set
tie in the North and West instead of il
the South? Before the Civil War thu
foreign immigrants, not being able tt
buy large plantations and own slaves al
the Southern planters did, and being
unwilling to compete with the slave
labor, would land in the North rattle
than in this part of the country. Blu
after the Cival War the newcomer
began to settle in the South, and tn.
port of New Orleans became the lead
ing immigration station in the United
States, through which thousands of i'm
migrants passed yearly, populating TIT
South to great extent. However, thu
rich fruits of a thoroughly populated
country were not, as yet, destined to b.
enjoyed by the South, for in the years
of 1898 and 1905, the yellow fever cpl.
denies broke out in New Orleans, caus-
ing it to become quarantined; thus clos.
ing its immigration station and indirectly
injuring the whole South. So AGAR
the stream of immigrants was turned tt
the North, the greater part of which
has continued to flow in that direction
until this day.
Thus it is an evident fact, that wha
the South needs is not the gifts of nature
or natural resources, but its one grea
need is population. We know now wha
we want and whom we want, but how tt
get them is the perplexing question tina
must now be considered.
Let us first give all the desirable citi.
zens of the United StatesAour HON,
immigrants-a chance of earning tn,
rich rewards the South is Offering. Fo
instace, take the Northern and Western
farmers, those hard working men, whit
strive SO diligently for livelihood OIL
their small farms, having only few
months during which they are able t,
till their soil, and induce them to settl
on Southern soil, which may be cult
waited the entire year. Then, lettin,
them use those same hard efforts tina
they put on their previous farms,
would be almost impossible to imagin
what would be the result. The presen
day Southern farmer has gotten himsel
into the habit Of making only goo
living, and does not put fourth as nue.
work on his farm as he should. Now
when the Northern and Western farmer
settle here, think of what an increas