The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1912-1921, 1918-11-19
WEST VIRGINIA AND THE IMMIGRATION QUESTION

Men who are most intimately great question
immigration opinion that there will be big after
hewar tide immigrants this country and Canada just
the Allied armies dmobzed and conditions settle
prominent Canadian recently in Washington authority for
that Canada preparing for huge increase in
population the and he is OF the opinion
that many millions immigrants will the world just
affairs get back to normal again. There millions
acres yet virgin SOIL which waiting to be developed
similar expression opinion ago
to the writer by Thomas Popp Commissioner of immigration for
West Virginia very anxious that this state take
that she viii be in position to offer such inducements
immigrants that they will be willing and
glad to to West Virginia.
1871 put the Statutes of West
Virginia which the creation of the Office of Commits
oner of immigration but real action taken in the
until the last of the legislature January 1917
through efforts of present Commissioner Popp the leg
ae finance committee appropriated $1,000 to maintain
the ball rolling matter that of vital i'm
portance to West Virginia
Popp public spirited citizen, agreed to act
without compensation in order help the bureau get
his appointment he has been working dill
gently only immigration the state but
people of West Virginia to the vital need of inducing
people settle within its confines.
The time ripe West Virginia wakes
to the fact that here great opportunity for her in getting
her numbers immigrants winch bound
come country within the few years. much the
will this develop and increase its wealth
and population. frs ~ e4tfff
West Virginia has population fy-four persons
square mile scarcely than wohird the population Of
Philadelphia It millions Of of land that practically
undeveoped much of which ideal for fruit
all kinds and Arrangements could undoubtedly be
with of large tracts of this land to
method of development plan whereby the immigrant could
easy and still make it profitable for the
part with it.
Every immigrant that be induced West Virginia
that much latent wealth for the
very years these immigrants will be splendid citizens
through their industry and effort there will have been added
to dollars increased realty values and
money increased taxes Sections of the state
which sparsey settled will become popuous centres and
needed be made without mpoverhing
the state.
legislature which meets January should act promptly in
this matter of immigration. 1t should make appropriation
large eiough enable its commissioner get the ra
ure place before these strangers coming to America the
opportunities open them in West Virginia Other
spend large of and they get the immigrants
Especially this true of the middle West This state much
Atlantic seaboard that would be matter for
us to compete states immigrants poor
people would them comparatively little to journey to
West Virginia whereas would expensive for them
far of the western states.
hope that legislature will not pass by this golden
opportunity The has much offer and the thrifty indus
immigrant has much give Both will profit by the trans
action and West Virginia viii advance faster than she has
done before. ss FssS&4