Year: 1874

What Statistics show About Immigra-


fiOn-rhe Way the North and West


Got the Start OF Us.


To the Union and American.


Statistics are curious things, and, what
is better, they don't lie. While at Wash
ington, last summer, spent a short time
in the Bureau of Statistics at the Treasury
Department, and was well paid for my
visit. learned that the South lost about
four thousand millions by the abolition of
slavery and destruction of other property
during the war, while the Northern and
Western States have gained about one thou
sand millions by immigration since
1850. These statistics also tell us
that the climate of the South is prefera-
bic to that of the North or West,
thai its productions are more varied and
valuable, that the country is fully as healthy,
and that lands are cheaper; yet thousands
90 West, and but very few come to this
beautiful portion of the United States. We
are also told how the West managed TO
draw such an immense supply of labor and
capital, and we can see the entire mOdus
OperdRdi of her State, county and i'm
migration machinery, with their agents,
sign-boards, and printed instructions in
several European languages.


The State Of Illinois, when build
ing her Central railroad, brought
a population to settle along its
line which we in Tennessee and other
Southern States have entirely neglected,
and, in consequence, number of our roads
are barely paying expenses. Now, why is
it that, with all our superior resources, we
are not prospering? We have been hiding
our light under bushel, telling one an
other of our grcat advantages, but being
very careful not to let people abroad know
anything about them.


When was in Germany last year, found
that a great portion Of the population
were well informed abont the North and
West, but on telling them that l came
from Tennessee, might as well have
said that was living somewhere in the
moon. While in Chicago, last July, no
ticed at several of the railroad depots
flaming advertisements of some of the
Northwestern railroads, setting forth the
great advantages of that section of the
country; also large number of glass Jars
containing samples of wheat, rye, corn, and
other products, and even different samples of
soil-and / suppose they were always care
ful to select tie best. They are also offer
ing to carry immigrants at very low rates,
and those companies that have lands for sale
offer to sell them on long time, and even to
furnish the new settlers with provisions at
wholesale prices for limited time.


Our railroads could do much toward in
ducing people to come here, by offering
them reduced fare or excursion tickets.
hope the new Legislature will see the great
benefit which the State may derive from en-
couraging immigration and take some
steps towards making our resources known
abroad. The work gotten up by Col. ].
B. Killebrew is one of the best on the sub
ject have ever seen, and, although perhaps
too voluminous for general distribution, l
am satisfied that if good abstract were 10
be published in pamphlet form in several
European languages, and properly distribu-
ted in different countries, it would prove of
incalculable benefit to the State.


Yours truly, Z. c. GIERS.