VISITS TO CERTAIN STATES. During the year the Assistant Chief of the Division visited the capitals of the States of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Michigan to confer with the governors and other State officials with a view to securing their cooperation in the work of promoting a beneficial distribution of aliens and others. As a result of his efforts, the State of Ohio established a Bureau of Farm Labor, and is arranging to cooperate with the Division in its work. From correspondence had with the officials of the States he visited it is evident that great interest was awakened in the work of distribution, and if facilities could be afforded at Ellis Island, there is little doubt that each State would have a representative stationed there. The Southern Commercial Congress, an organization representing the commercial interests of the 16 Southern States, held its last annual session in Atlanta, Ga. That congress arranged for the holding of section meetings on March 12, 1911, and invited the Chief of the Division of Information to preside over and address the section dealing with immigration. The invitation was accepted; he attended the congress and presided over and addressed the immigration section, which unanimously adopted the following resolutions: Whereas a marvelous progress and development of the new and greater South along the lines of agriculture, manufacture, and mining pursuits has steadily and solidly advanced to a point where the need for additional hands to till the soil, man the workshops, and bring forth the treasures of the mine is apparent to all who love the South and value her future, and Whereas the vast acreage in the South, fertile, productive, well watered, admirably located, and in close proximity to avenues of transportation, affords opportunity unexcelled for the success of colonies of enterprising, law-abiding people: Be it Resolved, That we favor immigration to the South of earnest, temperate, honest, industrious, and law-abiding workers. Especially do we favor the coming of heads of families whose object it shall be to carve out and own homes in the South; and be it further Resolved, That we urge upon the governments of the various States represented in this great commercial congress to establish bureaus or boards of publicity and information, the purpose of which shall be to acquire reliable useful information concerning the resources, products, and physical characteristics of the several States and be ready at all times to supply accurate information to all who seek employment as home builders on the land, or as workers in the mine or factory, and to the end that only respectable, thrifty, and law-abiding people may be directed to the South these various boards should be in constant touch and harmony with the Division of Information of the Department of Commerce and Labor. The National Board of Trade, which met in Washington, D. C., on January 17, 18, and 19, 1911, requested the attendance of the Chief of the Division at the meetings of the committee on resolutions. In the resolutions which received the unanimous approval of the national body appear the following: Resolved, That the National Board of Trade commends the work done by the Immigration Bureau, through its Division of Information, in placing at the disposal of immigrants information which enables them to obtain employment at interior points, and especially on our farms, and thus tending to prevent a further increase in the overcrowded slums of our cities; and recommends the providing by Congress of a larger appropriation to make possible the opening of branch offices of this Division at the various seaports of our country; and Resolved, That as a means of more equitably distributing our immigrant population, and as a means of relieving the congestion of our eastern coast cities, the National Board of Trade approves the suggestion of President Taft that additional stations for the reception of immigrants be established at one or more South Atlantic or Gulf ports. LETTER TO GOVERNORS. On May 16, 1911, the Division addressed a note to the "Governors of every State and Territory of the United States." The text of said note, which follows, indicates its purpose: The Division of Information, Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, Department of Commerce and Labor, contemplates the publication of a pamphlet for distribution among aliens and others in industrial centers in the United States, setting forth briefly and in a general way the opportunities offered to agricultural settlers in the several States and Territories. In order that a fair and accurate description of the conditions in each State may be presented, the Division is forwarding this identical note to each governor. The Division would be pleased to have you refer this communication to the proper official, with instructions to prepare a concise statement describing the opportunities offered settlers in your State. The principal points to be covered are as follows: Are there any public lands, such as Government, State, or school lands open to settlement; if so, their extent and how they may be procured; are there lands in private ownership for sale; if so, the general range of prices per acre and terms of payment; are there lands for rent; if so, the usual terms; the principal products and resources; the physical characteristics; the climate; whether rainfall is sufficient, or if irrigation is necessary; whether local societies exist which by advice and example tend to assist and encourage newcomers. Each statement should also include the name and address of the official with whom prospective settlers should communicate, and such other general information as may be deemed helpful to one who is seeking a home on the land. It is desired that all statements be mailed in time to reach the Division not later than June 15. The replies received prior to the close of the fiscal year were very encouraging and evidenced the keenest interest in the subject. The Division is warranted in predicting that each State and Territory will be fully represented in the forthcoming publication. PUBLICITY. The Division believes that through the medium of the press the widest publicity should be given of its existence, effort, and purpose. Thousands of unemployed could be directed to places as farm workers where, in addition to the monthly wage, house rent, garden plat, fuel, and, in most cases, milk, are offered free. The best evidence that such offers are genuine lies in the fact that many who have availed themselves of them write in confirmation of the statements made by employing farmers to them before employing them. While it is true that over 100,000 persons were, directly and indirectly, provided with information by the Division, there is no known way of determining to what extent their expectations were realized, for it is only when something goes wrong or they are dissatisfied that they write to the Division. With 5,176 men directed by the Division to where they found work and over 100,000 others who may have profited by the effort of the Division, it is reasonable to assume that more than treble that number can be served by opening a branch of the Division in Chicago. The Division therefore renews its recommendation that a branch office be established in that city. The effort of the Division to secure the active cooperation of all the States is meeting with success, for a majority of State departments of agriculture and State boards and bureaus of immigration have accepted an invitation to meet with representatives of the Division for the purpose of formulating a system of cooperation between the States and the Division in the work of promoting a beneficial distribution of admitted aliens and other residents of the United States. It is hoped that when this conference assembles a plan will be mapped out whereby the thousands of American farmers who emigrate each year to the Canadian Northwest may become informed of the greater advantages and opportunities to which they may turn in this country. It is estimated that the emigration for the last fiscal year from the United States to British North America of American citizens who follow farming for a living will exceed 75,000. There is no reason why the information gathered by the Division concerning the splendid opportunities for agriculturists in the various States should not be made available to Americans who contemplate emigrating to take up land in other countries. This can and should be done by concerted effort on the part of the Division and the immigration officials of the various States. It should be patent to all that every farmer induced to remain in this country, through presentation of accurate information properly vouched for, is a gain in the way of promoting a beneficial distribution of aliens and other residents of the United States. The greater the number of farmers we can induce to remain in this country, the greater will be the number of opportunities for all who would follow agriculture for a living, either as farm owners, renters, or farm laborers. The fact should be emphasized and pressed home that it is not necessary for a single farmer to leave the United States for want of good land, cheap land, good markets, or transportation facilities to get to market, while climatic conditions are more varied and better than they can possibly be in British Columbia. The Division has had the cooperation of the National Societies of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution as in preceding years. It is proposed during the coming year to publish the Constitution of the United States in convenient form, the same as "Information for immigrants" and "Naturalization of aliens in the United States" and place it at the disposal of the Division for distribution. In conclusion, the Division directs attention to the suggestions contained in its report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1910. Respectfully, To Hon. DANL. J. KEEFE, T. V. POWDERLY, Chief, Division of Information. Commissioner General of Immigration. |