New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-01-25
FROM TOXIN TO COUNTRY.

We observe that during the last week the
different associations ia the cities for colonlz-
ing in the West and South have been holding
meetings preparatory to the Spring emlgra-
ton. One in Philadelphia, formed under the
auspices of the Roman Catholic Church, reports
that they have bought nearly 5000 acres OF land
in Virginia, which is divided into lightweight
farms, of which fOrty-twO were sold during
the last year. We would suggest that other
wealthy churches and benevolent people IN
towns could find no better way OF lifting Their
fallen brothers in body up to decency pros
perity and civilization than by forming
such societies as this. 1t will be GER
tainly more effective help to man
to set him and his children down on farm
and put them to grubbing for their living,
than to make him, as a pauper, a permanent
institution, by building hospitals or prisons or
organizing Mendicant Aid Societies for his re-
lief. The money expended IN this way,
too, will come back to the pockets OF
the donors it is only loan at
fair interest that is required. Land can
he bought in large bodies by corporation at
almost nominal prices, aud sold IN small
patches at easy rates of payment. The por-
ton r( served by the corporation would IN six
years, in any ordinary settlement, have adj
vanced in value sufficient to protect them
from loss, even perhaps yield Il good profit.
From every side we hear encouraging ac-
counts of the farming experiment tried last
year for the first time by individuals ana
colonies. Our readers probably have but
little idea of the vast extent to which this
experiment was tried, nor OF how freely the
Over-crowded cities empticd their surplus
unrmploycd labor into the waste lands OF the
West and South. The sales OF land by the GOV
eminent alone In 1878 amounted to 4,224,OO0
acres more than in 1877. The amount OF I'M
broken new land actually settled IN 1873 Is
estimated by THE TRIBUNE at 1lOOO,OOO
acres, though it is estimated by Dun, Barlow
&, Co. mt little below 20,000,000 OF acres,
and the occupants at over bali million oil
DeOplp. Some interesting facts on this sub
icct will be found on another page. Not one
fifth OF these cOlOnists, according to the
statistics of emigration, were foreigners
fine remainder are the mechanics, labor
err. tradrspcope and professional men of the
East who have been driven by the hard
times back to Mother Earth for their living.
We must add to these the immense number
South. if we would obtain any idea of the
actual extent of this exodus from town to
country.
Our readers know how earnestly THE TRIB-
rNE has worked to this very end We are
Glad to state that we have not received
word OF regret or complaint from single
individual or colony, induced by the ar
guments and information which we placed
before them to cmigrate from the cities anu
settle in the upper Southern States Although
the first year OF such an experiment must be
the most full of discomfort and actual want,
instead of complaints have come the most
hearty. cheering accounts of good crops good
health. plenty Of hard work, but the certainty
of comfort and prosperity IN the future. We
should be glad. by the way, to hear from all
of these colonists, for whose success THE
TRIBUNE feels itself partly responsible.
There is no more hopeful sign that the good
times so long hoped for are actually approach
ing. aud that when they do come, they will be
based on a s0hd foundation of permanent
urouerty, than this Wholesale conversion of
townspeople into farmers. Improbable con-
sumels are now producers; every acre conquered
by the quo1dan pauper is SO much of an adCl-
tlOn 10 tit StdDlr lHtcIfStotth S 'dPl'''i vi ia"
county. But, large d is the number or colo
nists already gone, the number left behind is
still great enough to drag down the cities witha
dead weight Of want and idlencss. We have
little d0abt th4t the movement will be greatly
increased in 1879. Now is the time for the
intending emgiant to make inquiry and choose
a location. lie shOu!d be upon the ground
and ready for work before the middle of
February.