Viewing page 65 of 310
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
UNITED STATES MUTUAL PROTECTION HOMESTEAD COMPANY.
HOMESTEADS IN THE SOUTH FOR THE LANDLESS.
[[left margin]]
THE emancipation of slavery is not the only, or by any means the most important, result of the suppression of the rebellion of the southern States. A [restle?] far more important is the opening up of that beautiful country to free and unrestrained immigration, the division of the immense landed estates into homesteads for the enterprising farmers of the North, and the destruction of the caste which made labor odious. Our idea of the importance of this result may be obtained by a comparison of the growth of some of the western States, where immigration was encouraged and labor respected, with some of the Southern States, having the advantage of climate, soil, and production over their western sisters, but where labor was degrading, and the policy of acquiring large, landed estates for the purpose of keeping out immigration prevailed.
ILLINOIS AND ALABAMA COMPARED.
Compare, for example, the States of Alabama and Illinois. In 1830, Alabama had a free population of 191,978 and 117,540 slave ; Mobile city, its metropolis, 2,019 free, and 1,175 slaves ; while Illinois had a free population 156,698 and 747 slaves ; Chicago, its metropolis, unknown as a city at this time. The number of acres of cultivated lands in Alabama greatly exceeded that of Illinois, and an advantage of population of over 35,000 free, with an excess in the aggregate of over 152,000. The aggregate of natural advantages was largely in favor of Alabama. These two States had then fairly started on the development of their destiny. Alabama, with a system of monopoly of land and labor, discouraging in every possibly way both home and foreign immigration, while Illinois pursued exactly the opposite system and policy, legislating liberally for the encouragement of immigration and the settlement of her lands with a dense and freehold population. The census of 1860 (thirty years) shows that Alabama, with its policy, had a free population of 529,121 and 435,080 slaves, and Mobile, its metropolis, 29,258 including slaves; while Illinois, with its policy, had a population of 1,711,951, (no slaves,) and Chicago, its metropolis, 109,260.
[[2 columns]]
Alabama, 1880.
Population,....... 809,527
1860.
Population,....... 964,201
Acres cultivated lands.. 285,724
Purchased lands, uncultivated..... 12,718,821
Cash value of purchased lands...$175,824,622
Number of farms... 55,128
[[Second column]]
Illinois, 1880.
Population...... 157,445
1860
Population...... 1,711,951
Acres cult'ed lands,.. 18,096.615
Purchased lands, un-cultivated..... 7,815,615
Cash value of purchased lands..... $408,944,088
Number of farms...... 148,818
While Illinois had only 194 farms of over 1000 acres, Alabama had 696 farms of over 1000 acres, and 2,016 of over 500 and less than 1,000 acres; Illinois had 95,625 farms less than 100 acres.
No one can doubt as to the causes that produced this great discrepancy in the prosperity of these two States during this thirty years of universal prosperity. Take an equal amount of territory in the northwest, including several States, and of the South, including the same number of States, and the contrast will be still more striking. The war having destroyed the monopoly of labor in the southern States, it only remains to break up the monopoly of land and encourage immigration for them to realize a prosperity unequaled even in this country. Let Alabama cut up her 696 farms of over 1,000 acres, and her 2,016 farms of over 500 acres, into 25,000 or 30,000 farms,and sell one-half of them only to good, substantial farmers from the north and Europe, who will take into the State from $500 to $3,000 each in cash, and who can doubt an unexampled prosperity would be the result?
The State of Ohio has 12,625,394 acres of cultivated lands, 52,356 farms of from twenty to fifity acres, and 66,356 farms of from twenty to fifty acres, and 66,350 farms of from fifty to one hundred acres. What State more prosperous, independent and patriotic than the State which has furnished the men of brains, who have conducted consummate skill and success the finances of the nation throught the trying ordeal of the last five years. The small, but independent, and liberty-loving farmers, as in Ohio, furnish the guaranty of the perpetuity of our cherished institutions and national existence.
There is now no permanent prosperity for the southern States until the pernicious monopoly of land is thoroughly broken up; the encouragement of emigration, liberal homestead law, labor made honorable, and equal protection to all citizens, resulting in a dense population, the appropriation, development and productiveness of all their unequal natural resources.
President Johnson, in his late able message to Congress, says that "peaceful emigration to and from that portion of the country (the South) is one of the best means that can be thought of for the restoration of harmony." President Johnson having been raised in the South, and knowing well the great drawback of land monopoly to its prosperity, was always a consistent and zealous advocate of that broad and enlightened policy which provides the landless with homesteads, and looks to the honorable industry of the people as the real wealth of the nation.
Major General Howard, in his report, as head the Freedmen's Bureau says: "Seventh. That joint companies, whose object shall be to aid the poor blacks and whites in the rental, purchase, and settlement of land, should be encouraged by the Government."
We understand that the President favors the plan of the Commissioner of Agriculture to send a competent agent into the southern States, who will procure reliable information upon all the matters of interests to parties desiring to settle or invest in the States; and it is peculiarly the province of this department to furnish to the people this information in such a reliable form, as will carry conviction to the minds not only of our own people, but of those in Europe who are looking to this country for homes, now that the integrity of our territory, under a free government, is established and the name, "American citizen," indicating patriotism, loyalty, bravery and success, stand first in the roll of honor throughout the civilized world. Why nearly a year should have rolled around since the collapse of the rebellion and this step not taken is best known to the present Commissioner.
There is no doubt of the great and beneficial results to be anticipated from unrestricted emigration to the South; it appeals to the pecuniary interests of southern landholders as well as of northern capitalists, and those who desire to settle in a mild, healthy and productive country. It is gratifying to see the universal interest felt upon the great question of reorganizing labor in those States upon principles which have contributed so largely to the prosperity of the northwest.
HEALTH IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
It is believed by many at the North and in Europe that the southern States are unhealthy, and that white people cannot live there. Upon this point let us again compare the States of Alabama and Illinois. The census report of 1860 shows that during the year ending May 31, 1860, in Alabama 3,293 infants under one year old died, and in Illinois 4,382 of the same age died; making an excess of 1,089 deaths of infants in Illinois over that of Alabama in one single year, while during the same time there were 106 persons died over the age of 90 years in Alabama, and only 73 over that age in Illinois.
[[Two columns]]
Alabama
deaths for year ending May 31, 1860
Childbirth..... 124
Consumption.... 596
Convulsions.... 104
Croup.......... 425
Dysentery...... 318
Fever, (intermittent)... 189
Fever, (remittent)...... 441
Fever, (typhold)........ 886
Throat, disease of...... 66
Old age....... 968[[?]]
Lightening..... 9
Poison......... 84
Suicides....... 21
Murder......... 18
Deaf and dumb... 285
[[second column]]
Illinois.
Deaths for year ending May 81, 1860
Childbirth..... 228
Consumption.... 1,948
Convulsions.... 228
Croup.......... 1,158
Dysentery...... 845
Fever, (intermittent)... 464
Fever, (remittent)...... 682
Fever, (typhold)........ 1,188
Throat, disease of...... 167
Old age................. 262
Lightning............... 16
Poison......... 617
Suicides....... 44
Murder......... 28
Deaf and dumb........... 801
The whole number of deaths in this year was, in Alabama, 12,760, and in Illinois 19,263; showing an excess of mortality in Illinois of 6,502 over that of Alabama in a single year.
It must be remembered, of course, that the State of Illinois had nearly double the population of Alabama; but the foregoing figures show that, if there is any difference in the healthfulness of the two States, it is in favor of Alabama, and explodes the humbug of "sickly climate" and all that sort of thing. This comparison will hold good as between the whole northwest and the southern States, except in some few localities, which are well known, and consequently easily avoided. We do no wish to be understood as especially favoring Alabama. We have taken that State as suitable to compare with Illinois, and we think the illustation will generally hold goof as between the northwestern States and the southern States.
THE UNITED STATES MUTUAL PROTECTION HOMESTEAD COMPANY,
FOR ENCOURAGING SETTLEMENTS IN THE AMERICAN STATES, has been organized for the purpose of bringing together from all parts of the northern States and from Europe a class of settlers not to be reached in any other way, vis: The men of familied who have a capital of from $500 to $3,000, and from that to $5,000, and who desire to become permanent citizens of the South, and grow up with that now new country for enterprise and easy accumulation of wealth.
Through the agency of this company a number of settlers, say from fifty to one hundred families, will be settles in the same locality of neighborhood, securing mutual protection against any encroachment of evil-disposed persons; also, schools and congenial society. These settlers can be united together in one settlement from different States of the North with the greatest facility.
One important advantage in going South with a settlement under the auspices of this company is the immediate rise of the values of the lands upon which the settlement is made; e.g: If a man settles in an isolated place and pays ten dollars per acre for one hundred acres of land, as long as there are no settlements around him his land will remain for years of about the same value as when he purchased it; but if he purchases and settles with fifty others in the same neighborhood, his land immediately rises to its original value before the war, whether it may have been $50 or $160 per acre, from the fact that society, civil government, and protection are restored, the destruction of which caused the depreciation of the land. Here is a great inducement to settle under the auspices of this company.
The settler takes one hundred acres of land at ten dollars per acre, to be paid during the life of a lease of three years; this amounts to $1,000. Now, if by settling in the same locality with forty-nine other families at the same time, his one hundred acres of land rises in values to fifty dollars per acre, or $5,000 for the whole, he actually gains the sum of $4,000 by the act of settling in the manner proposed. Then, again, if the settler, under the direction of the company, shall be able to raise from $500 to $1,5000 and goes in good faith, the company will furnish him with an additional amount of means to makes his first crop, and allow him to return the money, with a reasonable interest, out of the proceeds of the sale of the same.
The company will use its influence in securing stock, farming tools and goods for the use of the settlement.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Labor can be had for ten dollars to fifteen dollars per month, each hand. One hand can cultivate from ten to fifteen acres; one-third to corn and two thirds to cotton.
Cotton lands will produce from two hundred pounds to eight hundred pounds of cotton to the acre, depending upon the quality of the lands and the time of planting.
A commercial bale of ginned cotton four hundred pounds.
Four hundred pounds of cotton with the seed in it will gin one hundred pounds of clear cotton.
The ground should be prepared so as to plant in March and April; but a middling crop is frequently raised planted as late as the first of June.
It required about $3,000 to cultivate 100 acres of land - $1,000 can be paid from the proceeds of the crop to the hired help; $1,000 can be had on loan from the company on a pledge of the crop.
Lands valued at from $50 to $120 per acre, including buildings, can now be had from $5 to $25 per acre. No time is to be lost in making these settlements, therefore every man desiring to participate in the great advantages now presented should send in his address, amount of means at his command, number of his family, and the State he desires to settle in. The following estimates have been made by parties who were well acquainted with cotton raising.
CULTIVATION OF ONE HUNDRED ACRES.
Eight hands, $10 each, $80 per month... $960 a year
Four mules, $100 each....... 400"
Four ploughs, $40; two wagons, $160... 200"
Other farming utensils..... 100"
Corn and bacon.......... 400"
Expenses of family...... 500"
First year's crop, total expense..... $2,560
Three hundred pounds ginned cotton to the acre, 70 acres, 21,000 pounds, of 52 1/2 bales, $120 bale. $6,8000
Deduct expenses....... 2,560
Net profit, at 80 cents per pound..... 3,740
At 50 cents per pound, (which is about the present price) the gross receipts will be $10,500; net profit, $7,940.
At $1 per pound (which is probably will be within a year) gross recipes will be $21,000; net profit $18,440. There will still be thirty acres of corn, vegetables, &c, for use the second year; also, the mules, wagons, and tools.
The reason why cotton will probably advance to $1 per pound within the year is that the crops of previous years have been consumed, and this last year's crop did not exceed $250,000 bales - but about one-twentieth of the crop of 1860. Now, when we consider that in 1860 Massachusetts alone consumed over 300,00 bales, and New England over 600,000 bales - also that a fair estimate of the coming season's crop will be less than 800,000 bales for the supply of the world - this will be apparent.
The time for harvesting cotton commences in October, and continues for some three months. The company is now prepared to make settlements upon the best lands along the Central railroad in Mississippi; on the Red river in Louisiana and Arkansas; near Helena, Arkansas; on the Sea Island cotton lands in South Carolina; in the most healthy portions of Georgia and Alabama; in North Caroline, near Newbern and Washington; in Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and Florida. Agents are now leasing and contracting for lands and arranging for settlements. The agents of the company are selecting the best lands in the most productive and healthy portions of ali these States.
As there are now over 12,000,000 acres of cultivated land in these states lying idle, there is no doubt of the continued successful operations of the company for three years to come.
Parties from different States desiring to settle in the same locality will be notified of the place where all will meet, and then proceed together with their families, stock and goods to the place of settlement.
C.A. STEVENS, General Agent,
27s F Street, Washington, D.C
[[Along bottom]]
EUGENE BRANCH,
General Agent, State of Illinois
17 s. Wells St., CHICAGO.
