New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-26
COLONIAL EXPERIMENTS.
A TOUR THROUGH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

HINTS TO COLONISTS.
IFROM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OP THB TRIBUNE
Los ANGELES, April 95.-California has just
several experiments going in settlement by colo
mics. Tho Southern California Colony is near San Ber-
nardino the Westminster Colony is wilmington,
the port OF Los Angeles there is Methodist Colony
the plain which lies between Los Angeles and the sea
I have heard that another colony Is projected on q
rancho in Santa Barbara County. called Lompoe, and
belonging 10 Col. HOLSTER There may be Ihers for
aught l know. l have seen all that have
made a beginning, and I have come
see Anahem, which is the only one which
has had time 70 fully its plan. and Which, as shall
show you, has achieved notable success. or course
settlement region by colonies or by the CO.
operation Of families is nothing In all our West
ern States there were in the early days numerous In
stances Of such settlements, and where the Indian dis
puted tie white mans advance single family could
hold its ground. But the systematic laying out and
planting of tract OF country upon plan decided be-
forehand and faithfully carried out is think peculiar
yet TO Anaheim and wonder much that II has not
had frequent andnumerous mitaors in California which
is peculiarly adapted for such experiments
A FARMING COLONY WITHOUT A FARMER.
In 1915 years agO-severa Germans proposed, in
San Francisco TO Of their counymen to purchase,
by general effort piece Of land lay 1t out into ind-
vidua farms plant these with grapes for wine, and to
DO all this by general head manager, and in the
cheapest and best manner possible. After discus
sion 80 men Joined to buy OF Lies of land
southwest of Los Angeles They paid for this 81 per
acre. and took to get for this price also sufficient
water-right for irrigation The land was selected and
bought by the leader in the enterprise, MIR. Hansen Of
Los Angeles, a German who had long lived in Cali
forna. aud who is man Of culture aud IDEAS and who
desired 10 what could be done by CO.
operation in this direction He became, sub
sequently, much interested in the success OF
the plan he had formed that be became the
manager OF the colony in all its preparatory stages and
as he is an engineer capable honest and patient
man, he was, Think very valuable person. The
Auahem Company consisted, you must understand, of
mechanics in the main. There were several carpenters,
gunsmlth an engraver three watcmakers, four black
smiths, a newer, teacher, shoemaker a miller,
several merchants bookhndor poet lof course four
or five musicians, a halter some Transfers hotel
keeper, and others; not farmer among them ALL pray
notice. Moreover-and this say with certain degree
Of hesitauOu-here is TO believe that the
members Of the company not eminently sue
cessful in their caing They not getting rich in
san Francisco, where most OF them lived Several of
had money ahead, but OF Them judge from
what hear were ready enough to better their for
tunes, bat 70 whom it would have been impossible to
buy ready made farm of even twenty acres.
GOOD BEGINNING.
We'll II was agreed divide the 1,l65 into so 90
acre lots, and houselots in the village leaving
lots for schOOhouses and other public buildings, Il in
number. The first contribution payment toward the
common stock bought the land. Thereup0n Mr. Hansen
was, very wisely, chosen Resident Manager, and the
shareholders quietly went on with their pursuits In San
Francisco. taking only pay up the calls their
stock they became due. 1t was the managers duty
meantime. % go with the improvement of the lots.
This did with hired labor-Indians and Califoruans.
lie dug main ditch about miles long, TO lead the
irrgating water the whole area and $50 miles of
subsidiary bitches miles OF feeders TO these He
planted each 2Oacre lot in vines 5000
yinesl and some fruit trees. He fenced each lot
with willows. making 81 miles Of outside and IS miles
OF inside fencing These willows topped for
frewO0d, and as they grow rapidly they give very
fresh aud lovely the aspect Of naheim. This
Done he continued 90 cultivate, prune and keep up the
whole place At the end Of three years, in 1862 all the
assessments paid; each stakeholder had paid
a. 300. aud a division Of the lots made This
by kind OF lottery. All the lots viewed and
assessed their relative value, from s4OO to SGO,
according situation, &c When lot drawn, If it
was valued 81 200 the drawer paid the difference;
II less he received the difference Thus he who drew
S.OO would pay $500; he who drew 5000 lot would
receive 500 additional in cash When all were drawn,
there vasa sale OF the effects OF the cOmpany-tools,
horses &C. and balancing the books il was found
tnat sum remained on hand which sudced for dvi-
d,nd OF over SlO) 20 each shareholder. 1 believe the
actual cost OF the lots but $3.50 For this each had
90 and town lot 15ON2OO feet with 5000 bearing
grape vines and some fruit trees.
GREAT SUCCESS.
Then the owners broke up at san Francisco and
down 70 take possession. Lumber for building
bought at wholesale; for 90 families schoOhouse
quickly erected; shopkeepers hOcked in and bought the
town lots; newspaper was begun; mechanics Of diff
fcrrIt uis were attracted the colony and the col
oni-ts themselves had about them all the
vccuces which, had they settled singy they would
have had wait many years. Now, IL must be remem-
bcrcd that these cOlOniss not either farmers
gardeners by trade. Only had ever made wine.
They began green hands; some Of them borrowed
money 20 make the improvements, and had to pay
heavy interest. They had TO build their houses, and
make their gardens and support their families. want
10 give you briefly the results OF the experiment:
Is. There was a struggle for some years. but in this
early time everybody tells me, they all had enough to
rat good school their children, music and pleasant
social amglsemens, and they were their own masters.
a. Only one Of the original settlers has moved away;
and the Sheriff has never issued execution in Ana
hem ID The property which cost S1,O5O Is now worth
from 5000 $40 J aud do not believe more than one
In ten OF the cOlOniss would have been worth to-day
had they remained at their trades in San Francisco any
money al all. Attn. There no poor in Anaheim. 9TH
IL the general testimony that the making Of wine and
brandy has not caused drunkenness among the cOOnists
sHhrn YOU sec drunken man in our town 1t Will be an
Indian or an Irishman" said several people to 9th.
have not doubt that the moral standard OF the peo-
Die las been greatly improved Their children are well
trained; the men are masters Of their lives; they
have achieved independence, and what 10 an average
Nrv-Yor mechanic would the ideal of fortunate
existence The average cearncOme from their vineyards,
which now contain mostly sixteen acres is about $1,000
er anuuin Some few fall below this, but most OF them
40 above. They have besides this, of course, their
gardens which here yield vegetables all the year round
their chickenn short the greater part Of their living
They live well; it is a land Of plenty; and TO me- who
remembered how painful and unpleasant is the life Of
mechanic or artisan in New York it delight to see
here men and women had redeemed themselves, by
their own Efforts, from this drudgery and slavery.
SUGGESTIONS TO cOLoNIsrs.