CHAPTER XXI. A WORD TO IMMIGRANTS. In a work, the object of which is to give a plain, practical statement of the resources of the State, it is altogether proper that some space should be given to that class of persons desirous of seeking homes in this State, and upon whom it must, in a great measure, rely in the future for its material progress. That many have come to the State, and have to some degree become dissatisfied, we have no purpose or intention of denying. But this discontent has arisen in nearly every instance from the want of the exercise of proper judgment in the selection of their places of residence, or from the inherent sterility of the soils upon which, in consequence of their great cheapness, they have been induced to occupy. Let it be understood, once for all, that the productive, improved lands of this State, favorably located with respect to markets and transportation, cannot be bought for one dollar nor five dollars per acre. Good lands, upon which an industrious, hardworking man may grow rich, are to be found in every division of the State, but these lands are worth from eight to fifty dollars per acre, according to improvements and location. Good unimproved lands may be bought for half this price. Good soils are, in the end, the cheapest. An acre of land that will produce fifty bushels of corn is far cheaper at thirty dollars than an acre that will produce only twenty bushels, though the latter may have cost only ten dollars. The work required to cultivate each is just the same, which may be set down as worth fifteen bushels of corn. In the first instance the farmer will make thirty-five bushels, in the latter five bushels, after deducting the worth of his labor. So that, although the higher priced lands cost three times as much, the profits are seven times as great. But the expenses do not stop here. The cost of improvements and the demands of the family, are as great on the poor soils as on the rich, and this expense will, unless a rigid economy is practiced, in nine cases out of ten eat up the profits and leave nothing to the tiller of the poor soils. Hence follows dissatisfaction. Immigrants who have sold their farms in Ohio, Penn sylvania, and New York for fifty or one hundred dollars per acre, ought not to expect to purchase lands of as good quality in this State for one-tenth the prices realized in the northern states. There is no reason for such expectation. This much may be said truthfully. Lands equally as productive, and with greater aptitudes, and in a better climate, can be bought from fifty to seventy-five per cent. cheaper here than in the north, and this arises from a variety of causes, among which may be mentioned: 1. The great quantity of land for sale, in consequence of the destruction of the labor system and the scarcity of labor. 2. Because a large proportion of our old farmers can never adapt themselves to the change from slave labor to free labor, and are therefore anxious to retire from the occupation of the farm. 3. Farming is not profitable unless the owner can "either hold himself or drive," and this is what many farmers cannot get their consent to do, and are consequently not prosperous. Though every farmer who works thrives, and such constitute a large majority. There is no question that the advantages which this State offers to men able and willing to work are very great. They can have rich soils, healthy climate and good markets. There is scarcely a product of the farm that does not sell twenty-five per cent. higher here than in Illinois and Ohio. Corn, wheat, oats, hay, butter, cheese, are all made in the north-western states and shipped to Tennessee, and through it to the southern markets. Why should not the inhabitants of those states remove nearer their market and save transportation, and where the same knowledge of business and attention to it will produce equal results? Why not possess themselves of soils equally as productive at half the price? Are not these sufficient inducements, not to mention a thousand others? Below is a statement framed in the experience of a large number of small farmers in the State who occupy good soils: On land of the quality to be had for the price mentioned there can be raised by one man, with the exercise of proper industry, in an average seasonable year: * 3 acres of tobacco, averaging 800 pounds, at 7 cents...$168 00 15 acres of corn, 40 bushels per acre, 600 bushels, at 50 cents.... 30) 00 1 acre Irish potatoes, 150 bushels, at $1. Beans, peas, etc....... Total................ Deduct value of labor.......... There remains........ 100 00 150 00 50 00 $1,198 00 200 00 $ 998 00 In The profit on this investment is over twenty-five per cent. this, no account is taken of profits that might be made in .converting the provender into stock, the sales from the poultry yard, apiary, orchard, and many other items that a thrifty farmer might add to the list. No farmer will say these are over-estimates, on good soils well worked. But it may be asked, if such profits can be made, why do not the farmers grow rich in the State? Why do they complain so much of poverty, and why do they have so little money? We think this can be easily answered. In the first place, it is not true that they have no money; and if they have none, it is because they do not work themselves, but rely upon hiring the entire force employed on the farm. In the present disorganized condition of labor, and the want of attention given to their business by a certain class of farmers, they do well to get a support for their families. How much better would a merchant or mechanic do who would sit idly in his house, and leave all his business to the control of irresponsible agents? The wonder is that such farmers do so well, or make so much. In the second place, many farmers cultivate too much land, and do not have it in good tilth. The crops are therefore meager, unsatisfactory, and unprofitable. In the third place, however extravagant a farmer's family may be, he does not consider that his farm makes anything unless he has a surplus left after paying all the family expenses. *In place of tobacco six acres of cotton may be substituted, which ought to yield, with good tillage, at least 250 pounds of lint cotton per acre, or 1,500 pounds at 12 cents, $180 00. In the fourth place, many farmers pay taxes on a large quantity of woodlands that do not contribute a dime to their incomes. The capital invested in such lands is worse than dead, inasmuch as it entails an annual expense in the shape of taxation. In the fifth place, farmers rely too much upon the virgin fertility of the soil, and there is but little saving or making of manure, and but few farmers will even haul out that which accumulates about their stables. We do not wish to mislead any one who desires to settle in this State, and we would not have them disappointed after arriving here. To say the least, this course would be the very worst possible policy. There are hundreds of industrious men in the State of Tennessee who have bought small farms, and paid for them with their own labor in the short space of four years, besides supporting themselves comfortThey did it by rigid economy, by indefatigable industry, by the exercise of a proper judgment and a wise forecast. They did it by hard, patient, and persistent toil, not greater, however, than thousands in the northern states practice every year. The very fact that Tennessee can grow such a variety of crops, makes it patent that the farmers, with the same labor and industry, can make here a greater profit than in the north. His cattle and hogs do not require to be fed so long, the number of days suitable for outdoor work is greater, the amount of capital required to be invested is less, and the price for a majority of his products higher. Is there any good reason why they should not be prosperous? A strange hallucination sometimes takes possession of the minds of many northern immigrants upon their arrival within the State. Not only do they expect to get lands of the same productive capacity for about one-tenth what they are worth in New York; not only do they expect to have a winter so mild as to make the feeding of stock unnecessary; but they cherish the hope that their labors will be greatly lessened, while their profits will be greatly increased. Now this hallucination should be dispelled. There has been no country yet found in which men can be thrifty without work. It is a law as inexorable as the law of gravitation that man shall eat bread in the sweat of his face, and in shirking labor he shirks thrift, independence, and moral rectitude. Land is cheap, the winters short, the products varied, the markets good, but work is necessary to attain success in this as in other pursuits. 6 The question is often asked, through letters and otherwise, how will the people of Tennessee receive northern men and women? As kindly as they deserve. If they come to stir up strife between the races, they will not, and should not, be respected. If they come to live by their wits, and, by making false representations to the Government, to secure a fat office, they will not, as they should not, be respected. If they come to preach the unutterable turpitude and sinfulness of the former slaveholder, and to set themselves up as examples of virtue and unstained purity, they will not, and should not, be respected. But if they come with earnest hearts, and willing hands, and cheerful voices, to help build up the prosperity of the State, be their politics what it may, be their religion what it will, they will be received with all the heartiness and all the civility that it is possible for a gallant people to exercise. They will be welcomed with open hands, and encouragement and sympathy will be given them by every intelligent man and woman in the State. Instances could be given, and names mentioned of persons who fought in the Union armies, who would be sent to Congress to represent the people against whom they fought, or other positions given them of honor and profit if they would accept. The prejudices of the war have vanished, except in some dark corners of the State where the facilities of intercommunication are scarce, and where ignorance broods, and prejudice is nursed, as an evidence of patriotism. Yet even such places as these are difficult to find. The great body of the citizens sincerely wish for a denser population, and would give to worthy men and women every attention in order to make them comfortable and happy in their new homes. It is also asked whether it would be best for immigrants to come singly, or in groups, or colonies. Experience has shown that, not only in this State, but in every State, they are better satisfied, and go to work more earnestly and vigorously when they have. the companionship of some of their old friends and neighbors. Not less than six or eight should come at once. Lands in sufficient quantities may always be secured in one neighborhood to settle several families. Coming in groups, they are usually independent. They have a society of their own. The transition is not so sudden. The feeling of loneliness is dispelled, and they do not feel so much like strangers in a strange land. But they should not practice an exclusiveness. They should lay aside whatever prejudices they may have inherited or imbibed, if they expect others to do the same. Like begets like. A cold, suspicious, distant demeanor on the part of immi |