1952

6

of them replies have been received, which are also submitted,
giving assurances of their hearty co-operation. One of the
agents announces the cheering fact that a colony is forming
under his direction, numbering, at last accounts, fifteen fam-
ilies intending to embark for Maryland in the Spring.

Letters were also addressed and reports sent to the leading
German newspapers, several of which have contained notices
of Maryland, one of them published at Rudolstadt, the prin-
cipal emigration paper of Germany, has published our entire
report, and made favorable comments thereon.

While I am encouraged to believe that these efforts will be
rewarded with a fair chance of success, they would have been
much more effective, had the means at command permitted
me to dispatch an agent to thoroughly organize these sub-
agencies and communicate in person the information I was
obliged to send in print or by letter.

These efforts, though principally directed, were not con-
fined to securing a German immigration. Documents, in
English, with accompanying letters, were also forwarded for
distribution throughout Great Britain.

Satisfied that this method of operation was the correct one
to effect a settlement of capital in the State, I could only
sow the seed and leave to time to develope the fruit, looking
to future Legislation to enlarge the facilities and consequent
usefulness of this office.

IMMIGRANT LABOR.

The deraftged condition of the labor system in many of the
agricultural districts, renders this class of immigrants scarcely
inferior in value to the other mentioned. They are more
easily obtained, for having little or no capital, they are will-
ing to accept employment from the first applicant. Indus-
trious, they are valuable present help to others, and thrifty,
they soon become able to serve themselves by purchasing a
small property, when they become permanently identified
with us.

As the most available of this class were Germans, their
ignorance of our language was at first deemed an insuperable
objection to their employment; but an experiment by some
of these farmers where needs were most pressing, resulting
satisfactorily, others were led to a similar trial, and in this
way a considerable number, amounting to 178, single men
and families, were distributed throughout the counties, and
some placed at labor in the city of Baltimore.

No charge was made to either party for furnishing this la-
bor and no conditions exacted other than those necessary to
secure good treatment and fair wages to the laborer. The
supply was frequently in excess of the demand, owing to the
objections before mentioned, but this will aot be the case
when their Value Is more generally known.