The Railroads and Immigration.
The organization of land companies for the purpose of inducing immigration to West Tennessee is most commendable, especially when these companies are conducted upon the plan of that one which proposes to open up the territory along the line of the Paducah, Tennessee & Alabama railroad. The capital of the company is very small, and there is little profit in the enterprise for those who have formed the company. They intend merely to direct the attention of immigrants to the advantages which this heaven-blest region holds for the thrifty and hard-working farmer. The road is a new one, but it runs through a most fertile region, especially adapted to small farming. The Illinois Central railroad has done much to attract settlers to Mississippi, and every railroad in this section should be equally alert. It was the railroad agent who made States out of Territories in the Northwest, and it is a most assuring sign that he is now taking hold of the Southern country. The railroad company is the best of all immigration or colonization societies. It can accomplish more at less expense than any other. The example set, therefore, by the officials of the Paducah, Tennessee & Alabama, is commendable in the highest degree. The prosperity of a railroad depends upon the population of the country through which it runs, and the more rapidly the country is built up the sooner will the stockholders realize upon their investment. The public has a profound interest in such enterprises. The Appeal-Avalanche has no support to give to purely speculative and boom schemes, but it is in favor of all enterprises the object of which is to put forward the advantages of soil, climate and distributing facilities which Tennessee and other Southern States enjoy to such an exceptional degree.—Memphis Appeal-Avalanche.
The Louisville & Nashville is Pushing Immigration Work.
Col. C. P. Atmore, the general passenger agent of the Louisville & Nashville railroad, is pushing the matter of immigration to the South with great vigor. When approached on the subject recently he said that the Louisville & Nashville road had several agents in the Northwest and in Europe, who were sending families down rapidly. It is the intention of the road to put between 200 and 300 families on its line between Paris and Memphis.
The Louisville & Nashville is now running home-seekers’ excursions from points at a rate of one fare for the round trip, with a view to encouraging the movement. It owns many thousand acres of land between New Orleans and Flomaton, Ala., and also between Pensacola and River Junction.
On the Nashville, Sheffield and Florence branch of the line in question there is a Norwegian colony of about 200 families. This colony has done remarkably well, and the road is much pleased with its venture.