The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-02-10

THE Efforts OF Major Alexander Mel.
chers to Brig Them to this Stats-Who
the Mennonites Are.
Charleston Ncu, and Courier.
For number of years Major Alex.
ander Melchers, of this city, has devoted
4 great deal of attention to the subject of
foreign immigration, and has done much
to encourage the influx of new people
iuto South Carolina. He is now endeay-
pring to secure q favorable situation upon
which to lvcate colony of Russian
Mennunites, ard is in correspondence
with persons in different sections of the
State in regard to the scheme.
During the past six years, largely
through his representations aud by his
persistent efforts, three thousand immi-
grants have been induced to come to this
State, ard have been provided with culn-
Portable homes. He has q faithful ally
in the Rev. Mr. Neumann, q missionary
among the immigrants at Castle Garden,
New York, who is anxious to secure good,
cheap homes for the strangers who are
committed to his care and whose location
lie can do much to determine.
During the month Of December, in
company with Major Melchers, he made
a partial tour OF the State, visiting the
Counties of Abbevile, Anderson, Green
vile, Oconee and Sparlauburg. Their
object WAS to look out body of land
containing from five to ten thousand
acres, which could be secured at Il nomi.
nal price or altogether free Of costs to
-uch colouists rs would locate upon il,
and, becoming permanent settlers: !orn'
The nucleus iur larger colony. They
ound in 0conee County plenty Of cheap
'and, but with defective titles. In other
counties they found many lurse tracts Of
land, but with no disposition or apparent
desire on the part OF The owners to dis
puse of it upon such terms as would lie
within the reach of those Wishing to
secure humes. The sale at low price or
The gift Of q few thousand acres Of land
would, in their judgment, SO enhance the
value OF surrounding real estate that it
could be sold at paying figures.
Major MeIchers was assured by q gen.
tleman in WaIhalla that he would bring
,he matter before the people of Ocuuee
County and eudeavor to secure their co
operation in placing large tract OF
mountain land at the disposition Of the
Mennonites as an inducement for them
To make their home in that section of the
State. Mr.. Macuskcr thinks there are IL
number of gentlemen in Georgetown
County who will give from five hundred
TO Il thousand acres rs nucleus for the
settlement Of the immigrants in that
county, and, after consultation with
Major Melchers, went to Columbia on
Monday night to suggest 10 tue State
Buard Of Agriculture the wisdom and
practicability ofgiving the forfeited lands
IN Georgetown County to the immigrants
upon easy terms. These lands amount to
from thirty-iive to ,hirtyseven thousand
acres. If satisfactory arrangements can
not be made with The landhuIders in this
State the Mennonite Immigrants will go
10 other States, and will probably settle
IN considerable numbers in North Caro-.
lima and Tennessee.
The Mennonite Immigrants began COM
ing to this country about six years ago
and went to the Northwest, many of them
locating in Minnesota and Kansas. At
the time of their coming Major Melchers
made an effort to secure their settlement
in this State. No cheap lands could be
secured here. The railroads offered free
transportation from Chicago to the West,
aud the chances were all against us. But
the railroads do not now furnish free
transportation, property has become more
valuable in the West, and the induce
ments for immigrants to come South are
favorable.
TIE Russian Mennonites are q sturdy
agricultural people, and are noted for
their industry and modest worth. They
come from al ancestry who sounded all
the depths of political and religious per.
,eculion, and originally came from Sw'iz'
erIand and South Germany, whence they
emigrated to Southern Russia. settling
first in the Dnieper aud later near the sea
of Azov. They acquired considerable
property, and in 1870 formed a pupula
lion of about forty thousand. BY special
DEGREES of the Emperor they were ex.
emptcd from military duty. In 1871
This privilege vas abolished, and nu
alternative was lett them except cunscrip-
tion or emigration, the privilege Of emf.
grafton being confined to the period from
1871 to 1881. They are opposed to war,
and rather than sacrifice their principles
they have determined to accept the alter
native left to them by the Russian gov
erumeut, and are coming to America to
find homes. The time for their depart
ure is at hand, and their emigration will
begin in the Spring. Fifteen villages
will be broken mp entirely, and their in
habitants will come to this country with
all their possessions. These villages
cuntain 500 families, or about 1000 per-
SONS.
1t will take from fifty to eighty thou
sand acres of land for the settlement oi
the eight hundred families. who will de.
vote their attention almost exclusively to
farming operations. They are well ac-
quaiuted with the culture of grain, but
have never tried to raise cotton.
The Mennnnites are pretty we'll edu'
Gated, and can, almost without exception,
read and write. Nearly all of them have
some property, and the coming of SO
thrifty and economical population
would be Of inestimable benefit to the
! State.
WINE GROWERS FROM wURTEMBERG.
Major Mclchers is also trying to secure
q location in the upper part Of lhe State
for a colony from Wurtemberg. Germany,
who will engage in the cultivation of the
vine. Their vineyards in Wurtemberg
have been destroyed by the fly, aud they
want to settle in this State, the upper
rrfpn of which IL so we'll adpQtsd ip