No. 386.

Mr. Andrews to Mr. Fish

No. 116.]

Sir: Having in my No. 100, of March 20, submitted to the Department some remarks on the diffusion by the General Land Office of information as to the means of acquiring and methods of cultivating home-steads on the public lands with a view to promote immigration, I now take the liberty to offer a few suggestions respecting the best means for increasing immigration from Europe to the older States, and more particularly to the Southwestern and Southern States.

The plan, in brief, which I recommend is the preparation by State authority of a pamphlet setting forth the resources and opportunities in the State for immigrants, and its circulation in those countries from whence immigrants are desired.

1. The preparation of the pamphlet, its size, contents, &c., in my judgment should be published by authority of the State interested so as to have full official weight, which latter goes far in Europe. The very best, most experienced, and most practical talent should be employed in its preparation. It should be candid and brief, say not over forty pages in length. The more pains taken with it the briefer it can be made. Voluminous documents are not read by the masses; and, besides, postage in Europe on printed matter is high. For example, the postage here in Sweden on the recently issued special report on immigration by the chief of the Bureau of Statistics—a document of 258 octavo pages—is 20 cents in gold.

It must not be too general. The sensible man intending so grave a step as abandoning his native country, crossing an ocean with his family and seeking a home in a strange land, desires facts; and mere glittering generalities” will rather tend to excite his distrust than inspire his confidence. For a concise general description of a State, the sketch of North Carolina on page 176 of the report above referred to will almost answer as a model.

In the general description of the State the number of the population should be given, its area, elevation, geological characteristics, &c. To say it has a healthy or a salubrious climate is rather to state a conclusion than a fact. Let the facts be stated so that the reader can form a conclusion for himself. For instance, the writer should give the statistics of health and mortality of the principal geographical districts and the average temperature.

As to land, what proportion arable, cultivated, and uncultivated; what proportion swamp; what too hilly or rocky for field culture; what proportion timber, and the various kinds and usual size of each kind; the kind of rocks and springs.

As to the streams, whether sluggish or rapid, color of water, the kind of fish that inhabit them; to what extent the banks are high, to what extent low and subject to overflow.

Under the head of agriculture I would state the nature, quality, depth, and color of the soil; number of days in the year without frost; the principal crops raised; average yield per acre; quantity of seed required per acre; usual season of planting and of harvest; time required for the crop to mature; kind of cultivation; to what extent by manual labor, to what extent by machinery; average cost of production per acre; value [Page 819] of the crops in the market; usual place of market; a list and the cost of the live stock usually required for cultivation of an average-sized farm, (giving size of the farms;) a list and the cost of implements and tools (including chains and harness) necessary on such a farm. Localities where gardens or small farms can be cultivated with profit without the use of horses, mules, or oxen.

Under the head of dairy or stock-raising should be stated the number of tons of hay cut per acre, and value per ton; number of tons usually fed per head to stock during the season or winter; the usual kind of grass; the breed of cattle in use; the expense and profit of raising stock; statistics of butter and cheese making. That a stranger may get an idea of the appearance of the country, mention might be made of the manner in which dwellings and farm-houses are built, of the highways and fences, the vehicles most in use, &c. Of course those localities should be specified and more particularly described where land is obtainable by immigrants, and the terms given on which it can be obtained; also, where there is a demand for labor; the kinds and wages; usual number of working-hours per day; the cost of subsistence and living.

Suitable notice should be given of any special industry in the State, its capacity for development, &c.; whether any particular branch of agriculture, fruit-raising, the dairy, stock-raising, manufactures, lumbering, mining, fisheries, &c. The means of transportation by water, by railroad; also, freight charges. Statistics of taxation, and the financial condition and prospects of the State. Statistics of education. A familiar account of county and local government. The time in which a foreigner acquires political rights; his prospects socially and civilly; what property exempt from attachment and execution; rights of women, single and married. Such are the heads of some of the matter which I should think the pamphlet ought to contain. Inducements should, of course, be held out as much to men of capital as to those without capital. It would be desirable that a neat map of the State should accompany it; one which, while showing the topography and the political boundaries, should by colors show the present and future capabilities of the soil. I cannot but repeat, that such a pamphlet ought to be prepared only by a master-hand; by one who combines the careful industry of the statistician with the ample knowledge and views of the statesman. When once done it will answer, with a few easy additions from time to time, for many years.

2. Its circulation.—The most economical and thorough way to circulate it abroad is, in my opinion, for the State to employ some trustworthy person in the country or countries whence it is desired to procure immigrants. Let him keep, in a few newspapers of largest circulation among the industrial classes, a brief advertisement setting forth the prominent inducements for immigrants to the State in question, and that, on request being sent to him, he will mail, free of expense, to any person, a pamphlet published by authority containing full particulars.

The expense of employing a person who will devote his whole time to the business need not exceed $1,000 in any country in Europe, which would be more economical than sending an agent from the State. The expense of translating and printing the document would be inconsiderable. The cost of advertising and of postage could readily be estimated. The selection of a suitable person to circulate the pamphlet could be effected through the assistance of a diplomatic or consular officer of our Government, who could also, if it were desired, occasionally observe if the work was being faithfully performed.

Fruits of such an enterprise I should hardly suppose could be expected [Page 820] the first or even second year unless immigration from the field of operations had, to some extent, already taken place. The second year persons might be expected to be seen looking about the State, in order to report to colonies of people who had sent them out from Europe for that purpose. The stream of immigration once having turned toward the State, it would not be difficult to keep it up.

The sympathy and kindness shown to immigrants on their arrival, by the native population, will go as far towards making them contented as the physical advantages which the State affords. After immigration should have got well under way it would probably be advisable to establish a sort of home, at a suitable place in the State, where the poorer class could rest for a few days and get directions as to the locality to which they should proceed. Under proper management, the mere cost of subsisting immigrants at such a home need not exceed 20 cents a day per person, which is about the average cost of subsisting soldiers in the United States Army at the principal military stations.

Immigrants having been secured to the State, there remains something to be done to retain them and to increase their usefulness. It is not to be denied that large numbers of the peasantry of Europe who emigrate to our country carry with them excessive ignorance and traditionary superstition, and that they too often settle down in the unskillful routine which was habitual in their native land.

In our own country we see and long have seen a tendency to emigrate from State to State. Among too many this is caused by poverty and a spirit of discontent.

Professor Johnston, the Scotch agriculturalist and chemist, a candid and capable observer, who made a tour through the United States a few years ago, tells us that the system of agriculture as then practiced in the United States was one of exhaustion of the soil; that it was “far behind that of the best parts of England and Scotland:” that “with our then knowledge and methods we should, year by year, become less and less able to export wheat.”

The dairy editor of the Rural New Yorker, in an address last year before the American Dairymen’s Association, said it was a source of infinite disadvantage that farmers, as a class, are not educated in a correct system of farm accounts; and that not one in twenty could tell the actual cost of any farm product. It is unnecessary, however, to go into such matters here. It is enough to know that, in the great work of development in our country, many improvements remain to be adopted. The essential conditions of success, as well in agriculture as other occupations, are skill, industry, and prudence. How shall these three qualifications be made habitual in the greatest number? This is a question of practical statesmanship, the solution of which largely devolves on State governments, and is of special interest to those which invite immigrants. I cannot refrain from expressing the opinion that one of the steps toward development, which ought not to be delayed, is the establishment in each State of compulsory education. It will be a help in the development of our physical resources and in the development of a sound national spirit.

Your obedient servant,

C. C. ANDREWS.