There was an attractive exhibit of live and dead game and fur-bearing animals, and two curious hybrids between turkey, guinea fowl and Plymouth Rock hen. The floral exhibit was simply exquisite, and the colonial relics and old family plate and curios were very interesting. There was never such a poultry show seen on earth for quality and variety. At least two kinds were shown!
In the department of Women’s Work the productions of deft fingers were astonishing in all fabrics, laces, gold embroidery, feathers, flowers, etc., rivaling Japanese art, and causing Valenciennes to blush with jealousy. Altogether, there was a wonderful diversity of industrial products of which the old North State and all her sisters may be proud. New Berne herself has earned honors.
An Immigration Bill in the Maryland Legislature.
A bill is to be introduced in the legislature of Maryland, which is now in session, enlarging the powers of the chief of the bureau of industrial statistics so as to give him authority to provide for the settlement of immigrants in Maryland. The bill makes it the duty of the chief of the bureau to collect reliable information in every county of the State bearing upon the question of immigration, and authorizes him to appoint a local immigrant commissioner in each county. The local commissioners are to receive $2.50 a day for each day of actual service and personal expenses, the expenses are to be itemized and certified to before a justice of the peace, and $1.00 for each immigrant sixteen years of age and over settled by them in their respective counties. Their duties, under the direction of the chief of the bureau, are to procure the statistics and information necessary to properly set forth the facts, advantages and conditions of the counties, to perform such other duties appertaining to the work of the bureau as may be required and to procure options on farm lands at such prices and upon such terms as will be within the means of the immigrants desiring to locate upon them and to give them such assistance, care and information within their province as may be necessary.
The owners of lands upon which options have been thus secured shall upon the sale of the lands through the agency of the bureau, pay to the chief of the bureau a commission of 5 per cent. upon the gross amount of the sale, the sum thus obtained to be used in defraying the general expenses of the bureau and to be accounted for by the chief of the bureau in the itemized statement of receipts and expenditures which he is at present required by law to publish in his report and to make to the State comptroller.
The chief of the bureau is authorized to visit such States and countries as in his judgment may be necessary, or to send an authorized agent, for the purpose of securing immigrants, having special regard to the character and responsibility of the immigrants. He is to adopt such means of advertising the State’s advantages as may commend themselves to his judgment, including such maps, charts, &c., as may be best calculated to illustrate the geographical, geological, topographical and physical features of the State, and to make contracts with railroads, steamship and other transportation companies and the masters of sailing vessels to secure a low rate of transportation for immigrants and to make the necessary arrangements for their temporary reception and accommodation upon their arrival until they can be located.
The bill provides the sum of $10,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, in addition to the present annual appropriation of the bureau to carry out the provisions of the law.
Packing-Houses in the South.
The people of the South have so long been accustomed to buying their meat from Northern and Western markets that the suggestion of packing-houses in the Southern cities is full of novelty and surprise. Packing-houses distributed over the Southern territory would be the incentive for farmers to raise more hogs and cattle and a better quality, and thus create a source of revenue now practically closed to them.
Are not our people convinced of the folly of selling their marketable live stock to drovers and buying their meat, thus paying the cost of transportation both ways, besides the profit each handler obtains?