New-York tribune., 1871-08-05
COLONIZING THE SOUTH.

COLONIZlNG THE SOUTH.
| HISTORY OF THE WARM SPRINGS ENTERPRISE
CAUSES OF ITS WANT OF sUCCEss-IMPROVI-
DENCE, DEBT AND MISMANAGEMENT-CONDI-
TION OF THE COLONlSTS.
| WARM SPRINGS, n. c., July 23.-The colony
established at this place about six months ago, has not
proved success and unless speedily rescued by the aid
Of capital Joined with executive ability, the enterprise
be abandoned, and the property purchased revert
to the original owner. The history of this first attempt
at establishing cooperative colony in the South is in
structive to all who contemplate making similar expert
ments in this section in the West. The colony was
organized in New-YOk City some time last Winter, at
an enthusiastic meeting held at the Cooper Institute and
started under promising auspices tract Of about 1900
of land large part Of which is fertile rveroot
tom, purchased in Madison County, y. C., on the
| French Broad River. Upon the property is large
brick hotel with welmproved grounds and fine mineral
springs, and the place well known Summer resort
before the war attracting many as 1000 pleasure
seekers and nvaids during single season. The scheme
of the colony contemplated the use of the fine water
power furnished by the and by large creek hat
! comes tumbling down out OF a ravine, for turning
| the machinery OF extensive saw-nills and fac
| tories OF articles of wood, the timber for which
abounds in the neghboring mountains. The hotel
be enlarged and kept open for guests and the
profits 10 60 to the colony treasury and town 10
be laid off lots assigned TO the coloniss and Others
oeEd for sale The price Of the property S70OoO
and 5000 additional for stock, farm TOOLS &C. and OF
this $4,000 paid in advance the remainder to
be paid year The colony organized as joint
stock companS-shares Sl0each coonist taking one or
more shares About 80 coonsts arrived early in the
Spring and possession, quarterng themselves IN the
hotel Some active, energetic men, ana al were
worthy respectable people; but there were naturally
many visionary, ne'erdoweu persons, who went into
the adventure with belief that they would be freed
from the necessity continuing that wearisome single
handed combat with the world to gain living in which
they had heretofore met with but poor success There
was TO them the wor cooperation and the
colony to be kind of Providence TO provide for
! their wants.
The coloniss began the work Of cutvating the farm,
and commenced to build expensive stone dam across
the creek instead of a cheap wooden which would
have done just well for five years to come. Some
worked industrously but Others found it more agree
able 10 sit the hotel piazza drink the waters, aud
play croquet the lawn, than TO plow dig, and cut
stone and all masters, one was compelled to
work The coOnsts knew nothing about their financial
affairs The President, general manager and directors
remained in NewYork, travelled the country 10
sell stock. Matters went well enough until about
month ago. small store built, and three men put
up small houses remainder continuing to occupy the
hotel II finally ascertaned that OF the first pay
nen on the property $1,000 had been borrowed, and
second mortgage for $4,000 given TO obtain it, and that
nearly all the money raised from the sale Of shares had
been spent in New-YOrk in paying officers salaries,
travelling expenses Office rent, printing &c. The second
gage fell due and there money to discharge
t. so a mortgage given in place Of il for $4,000,
due believe, in or two years. Meanwhile the
treasury Of the colony at the Springs empty, the
officers in NewYork had money send, and the sup
ply Of food about exhausted.
The writer arrived after a knowledge Of these
thingshad been obtained by the coonsts, and found
,hem in state OF indignation and confusion. They
ceased all work the receipt Of the unwecome inteli
! gence, and have been holding indignation ,meengs
every night for the past week. and appointing commit
tees TO devise way out of their difficulties. Night
before last the important question to get food
for breakfast which settled by a resolution that
those who had money should pay certain week,
TO pay food for themselves and for those
means The only revenue the cOonsts have, beside
produce from the farm is the small amount paid by
of their number enterprsing German, for rent
OF the portion Of the hotel not occupied by them and
their families in which he makes shift provide very
comfortable entertainment for travellers and Summer
guests.
The colOnists naturally in despair at finding them
selves $4,000 debt for property costing but s7O0O
on which they imagined I'LL lately they had paid 10000
! and this with money no food and productive
labor possible without capital. few have left the
place. and others would If they had the money get
away The majority however, have stl hope that
something will turn up TO the colony from ruin.
The is hopeless fear unless capital be raised
to pay off membranes upon the property start
manufactures. II this done, and the idea Of
! cooperation were so mOdncu as 10 give room
to individual enterprise and incentive TO ind.
vdual effort believe the experiment might be made
marked success as the Greeley Colony in Colorado
The hotel might continue to be the property OF the
munity, be sold and single factory might be estab-
hshed, as all experiment the cooperative PLAN but to
ssuly carry the principle Of common partnershp,as
intended with the mufariOus operations Of farm
ing, gardening, hOtekoepng stOck-raising, milling,
| backsmithng, wagon making, and manufacturing Of
various kinds, is impraccable. II success TO Dee
achieved however 10 i, clear that the mana cement
/ be here ana not in New-York and that the idea OF
making the concern profitable stock speculation and sell
ing shares throughout the country must be abandoned
/ and everybody connected with the colony must come
upon the ground and 30 10 work producing from the
! soil, or making something that will sell
The climate here !, delightful IN Summer and Winter
the scenery remarkably beautiful the soil produces
abundantly grain, irnits, and vegetables, the water
power Is practically unlimited and available at small
cost, good timber is abundant railroad il completed to
Point nine miles NORTH viii reach the Springs next
year. there IL nothing lacking 10 make the colony
prosperous but capital to make start and talent to
I ttY tf,,- al, "A I.anr .If uIt Bap.