The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, Ga,
July 1880
Submitted by Edna Stephens

Cedartown Advertiser--For some time our people have not been satisfied with the convict labor saddled upon them. Many of the criminals were allowed to go loose as "trusties," and they committed many depredations in the community, at which an injured citizenship had a right to complain. The main cause of dissatisfaction, however, is the fact that it interferes with free labor, and has caused many laborers to leave the county. In fact, the supply of labor, both in the fields and as help about the house, is far below the demand. To meet this demand, Mr. A. G. West, president of the Cherokee iron and railroad company, and some enterprising citizens, have made arrangements with our efficient agent of immigration, Mr. Francis Fontaine, now in New York, to supply the iron company with fifty families at once and to swell the number to two hundred by next December. (The Daily Constitution, Atlanta, GA, July 25, 1880)   ---Sixty German immigrants passed through this morning en route to the Cedartown iron works. They occupied the union passenger depot for about an hour while waiting for the arrival of the down train on the Western and Atlantic railroad. The majority of them are direct from New York, where they landed only about a week since, consequently we saw in them true representatives of the working classes of Germany before they have had time to become Americanized or to lose any of the striking peculiarities of the native German of that class. (The Daily Constitution, Atlanta, GA, July 28, 1880)   IMMIGRATION FOR GEORGIA, ALBANY NEWS   Mrs. Francis Fontaine informs us by private letter that he has sent thirty-one Germans, all young men, to Cedartown (Cherokee iron works) in this state. He also informs us that he himself will start with forty more on Saturday next to different places throughout the state. The starting of this German colony at Cedartown speaks highly of Mr. Fontaine's efforts as commissioner of land and immigration for the state of Georgia. It has often been a wonder why this state of Georgia has not contributed more to this important field, which promises so much for our state in the way of intelligent labor. What the state of Georgia wants, and in fact the whole south, is to fill up her waste places with intelligent labor, so that she may become in every respect homogeneous, prosperous and progressive. What we want is good labor, whether it be Irish, German or Swede, and this we are bound to obtain in due course of time. Then, and not till then, may the south hope to rise to the golden age, the long period of uninterrupted peace and joy for which by nature she was intended. Mr. Fontaine deserves great credit for what he has already done in start the tide of immigration southward; especially so is he deserving since he has had to work upon no capital except that composed of nerve, brain and intelligence, with a strong determination to succeed in this great undertaking, which promises so much for the whole southland. (The Daily Constitution, Atlanta, GA., July 31, 1880)


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