Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-01
sPAULDING's VISIT.
Tire President of a Society that
Wants TO Buy 100000 Acres
Of Land.


AlClO A0n VAAh ~ ~ - 80
the past few days a noted Catholic
divine, who is president Of one Of the
largest colonization societies in Amer
lea, Bishop j. l. Spauldiue, OF Peoria,
I'll. he is making a tour through the
southwestern state', looking out for q
suitable location Tor a Catholic colony.
The association is a very powerful one,
with its headquarters In Chicago, and
the colony which it is expected to be
brought into the southwest will come
from all parts of the United States,
and about 200, 900 acres Of land will
be purchased Tor them. III bishop
has been in Arkansaw for The p.s
week, and has visited various point.
along the line Of the Fort Smith rail
road. lie went down to Hot Spring.
on Sunday with Bishop Fitzgerald, Of
Little Rock, and will go from thence
into Texas and then the Indian ter
ritory. Bishop Fitzgerald returned
from Hot Springs yesterday and q
Gazette representative called on him
at his residence. Upon being ushered
into the library, the newspaper man
could not refrain frem a glance at the
surroundings of the talented divine.
The library was a comparatively small
room, but from ceiling to floor it was
lined with books, and a very busy
looking desk at one end, gave evidenc,
of severe labor. This was all taken
in at a glance, Of course, for the BISHOP
having looked at the card of his caller
cordially extended his hand, aud push
ing back his hair from his forehead,
the thoughtful motion of the student,
volunteered to tell what he knew OF
Bishop Spaulding and his mission.
I'm the first place." he remarked.
''the colony will want to buy 100000
acres of land"
THE society is a Catholic organiza-
ton, is it not, bishop"
1T is, and has settled a large num-
Der of Catholics and bought a large
amount of land, running up into hun
dred thousands Of acres in the north
west. The object of the society is to
%colonize Catholics out of the large
cities and settle them on homes in the
u~ndeyeloped portions Of the country.
Il has accomplished great good
Bishop Spaulding is here to see where
is a suitable location. He has been
up the Fort Smith road, and has now
gone to Texas. He was much pleased
with the state and its resources and
climate, and if satisfied with it will
open negotiations for the proposed
purchase. The bishop did not have
time to visit other portions of the
state, but judging from his expressions
| do not think it impossible that Ar
kansaw will be chosen for this enor-
nous colony"
THE emigrants are not confined to
one place, then2"
mot at all. Every city in the Uni
ted States; every portion Of the whole
country will furnish some members OF
the colony. There is not much more
that l know Of the workings in detail
OF the society, but you have, from
what | have said, a general idea of the
proposed colony"
The note book was pocketed, and
the reporter made his way out after a
hearty invitatian to call again. He
has a recollection of seeing a dilapida.
ted old lrishman very kindly received
by the bishop who retired into his
room and emerged thercfrom shortly
after with a hat.
He gave it with something else,
which he slipped into his hand, and
which glinted in the sunshine like
silver to the freshman. The latter
ducked his head and said God bles,
your riverance." What else happened
the reporter cannot say, for just ther
he passed around the corner, but b,
has his suspicious that one Of those
airy forms to which we give shape il
our thoughts sometimes lowered neaI
the good bishop, and let a stray sun
beam fall on him who would not turl
away even a "dilapidated old Irish
man.