The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-06-13

M'iio Iicic nau numerous appllcatlOnS from
families of farmers and laboring men to bring
them to the South; but times were not then
favorable for that. This tendency in that pco-
pic to comc added to desire to DO something
to aid our PROSTATE country induced Mr.. Lcid-
ing to form the proct Of forming colony.
Germantown is the result Of chat pryct
In fixing upon spot, two points were kept
i'll vicw-healthiness and fertility. tour of
inspection in company with German fresh
from Germany was made. In examining this
locality-thc one finally selcctcd-the good
health Of the inhabitants bore ample testimony
upon the first point. Upon the second, the
German agrculturalist decided thus: s'Thc
land is not Of the richest sort but it has all
the clements for comfortable support and by
proper tilagc--inanuring with stable and barn
yard manurc--it can be brought into high
state of fertility; besides, if desirable the al
luvial bottom soil can bc brought up to the
sander elevations and thus greatly improve
| them"
Thus assured, Mr.. Tciding determined to
secure the place, and make it the centre of an
mode Of proceeding, he determined to begin
with u few who were already resident in the
State; aud from this point advance to the de-
sired extent in Il few years The four fami-
lies engaged had been living in Charleston, in
mechanical pursuits, from ten to fifteen years
give you in the words Of the coonist the
details OF operations at the outset 'sWe had
fine little dwcling-houscs built, plascrcd and
with brick chimncys; also, outhouses and a
general stable, to hold fourteen horses and
their provcndcr. We had two wells dug, one
of hity-fvc feet depth and the other eighty
nine feet We split rails for 900 acres !;
cleared two acres garden lots for three dwelling
houses each These gardens arc now green
with corn, Irish potatoes. cabbage and the
usual ycgctabls of the region We sowed in
November 30 acres in wheat, 20 acres in rye !;
and since then have added eight acres in Irish
potatoes, three acres in sweet potatoes, 30 acres
IN oats.l acres in corn, 80 acres III COW peas,
and 1bacrcs in cotton. We had on an aver
age six horses employed. We ploughcd the
wheat, rye, oats and potato lands very deep and
narrowed them with heavy harrows Up to
the Goth April, the lands bid fair to Weld an
abundant crop. but the occasionally heavy
rains, from the 2oth Of April for near three
weeks atterward, have materially injured our
prospects, besides We have lost great deal of
time in tiliins because Of the constant heavy
rain. However, under the blessing of Provi-
dencc We hope to living the first year
and n surplus the next"
| All this is in keeping with the German
character; and its patience contains world of
wisdom Tor our American rcstivcncSs. In Ger
many, the climate is 50 cold that they have but
seven months out of the twelve in which it is
possible to work in the fields, and land very
scarce at that willie here these Gcrmantown-
crs can gather in ten months out of the twelve
and do farm tillagc in every month Of the year
This comparison, Mr. Lciding holds, will bring
as many immigrants to South Carolina rs we
wish, as soon rs the facts become known
and the countrya little better quoted In
this colony they prefer the uplands, because
there is less risk, although less profit in sue
cesstul years The German mind profers this
sort OF certainty, and is willing to labor for a
certain though a limited gain. This is an ele-
mcnt of character We very much need among
us. MIR. Lcding says: 81 am anxious TO be-
come the means Of bringing from ovcrpopula-
ted Europe honest and Industrious and ambi-
tious mcn-mcn who wish to risc--to this land
so abundantly blessed by Providence in elm
ate, soil, materials, and water power"
With these views, based npon his knowledge
of both countries and upon this experiment
thus far so successful, Mr.. Leding suggests a
plan for the gradual and rapid development OF
his own and similar colonies of which see no
reason why there may not be one hundred in
South Carolina. | give the several points in
! his own words
/. Get such labour rs the country now al
ready has. Ii they succeed they will induce
others, their relatives or friends, to immigratc
from Europe.
:. Put up comfortable It'll, house in a
healthy locality, Tor each family
| 3. Turn over to the laborcrs fifty acres Of
good land for cultivation, and furnish him
with mule, a COW, and a sow with pigs.
4. mnsh him with bacon, corn and pro-
| vcudcr for six or oiuht months