The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-02-20
IMMIGRA IION.
MINNESOTA Is UP AND DOING.
MARK S. GROSS.
Very truly,

Tue Right Rev. Bishop Ireland OF ST.
Paul, Mimi, writes the following in
teresting letter TO the North Western
Chronicle:
Allow me to give some details concerning
our proposed Catholic settlf ment in Swift
county, Mimi, which you have so klod!y
noticed in Your last number.
ltie no longer necessary to tell orr peo-
pie how much happier ard more prosper
GUS they are when settled in Independent
homes on the land, rather than striving for
their daily bread, amidst the slavery aud
uncertainties of lite in large cities. The
objection they oppose to those who advise
them to seek for farms, is, on the one hand,
the want of means to purchase land in
well settled districts, and, on the other,
tie many serious difficulties they must en-
counter, if they remove to new settlements,
where there is great danger of their being
at u distance from railroad, market.
church, school, and, perhaps, congenial
neighbors. have wished TO remedy
those difficulties, aud to offer to Catholic
immigrants in new districts, where land is
cheap, all the advantages of Older settle
ments.
.
Settlers arriving in Swift county towards
the end of April OF the beginning OF May
can put the plough at once into our prair-
daut crops of corn, potatoes aud vegetables
of all kinds. 1t will be only, however. the
following spring that they can hope to
sow wheat. | wish no one to come INTO
uur settlement who will not have after So
curing the lands at least $500 cash. Even
with this sum IN hand. tue first year viii
present it's hardships, AID 1t Will be neces-
sary to supplement it with some earnings
in the fall of the year, when, during some
three months, work can be easily had
aIuoug older settlers, at no great distance
from De Graft | do not wish 10 risk the
prospects of our first settlement, ard this
would be doirg were l to invite men with
no means to come amongst US. The set
there, too, should be men of known tenn
perate habits, and they would ensure
to themselves warmer welcome on our
part, were they to come us with letters of
recommendation from their respective pas
tors.
SPIRITUAL. NEEDS.
Rev. John McDermot, whose present ad-
dress is Litchfeld, Mimi, will during the
! spring and summer spend much of his time
at De Graft, and will personally assist set
tiers in making locations, advise and en-
courage them to the best of his ability. His
experience among the early settlers in
the Catholic Immigration render him par
ticularly fitted to be the Spiritual Director
of our new settlement.
Rev. James McGolrick, of Minneapolis,
has also promised to take an active part in
the enterprise, and will give all necessary
information to those calling upon him or
writing to him.
An letters addressed to myself St. Paul,
. will receive prompt attention. Major b
Thompson has kindly consented to do tor
me much of the work which will be required
to aid immigrants in their arrival 10 St
Paul, on their way to the settlement. He
will be ready to give all needed iufOrma.
tion, procure railroad land certificates
transact business for the settlers with til,
Government and Railroad offices, purchas,
for them tickets at reduced rates from st
Paul to De Graf, etc, etc.
THE BENEFITS OF SETTLEMENTS
) are intended for those of our people VIII
9 have but PrecaTious means of livelihood il
e large cities. Catholics already settled o.
land in the West should not as a rule, thin
n of new homes. The exceptions might
9 where they are situated at great distance
Q from priest or church without much hop
= of seeing soon a remedy to those hardshipt
d or where the children have now grown t
Q manhood, and the old farm has become to
:, small for ell. There are numbers in 81
= Paul and Minneapolis, for whom q removG
? to farm would q great blessing. But
10 more especially in the Eastern cities thS
Catholics are TO be found, who never CO