Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-11-15
The Hebrew Colonists

-Ai So3cpu TIlcucllNalu, chairman OF inc
Russian Relief Association Of Baltimore
who left Baltimore some weeks ago with a
colony of 50 Russian refugees for Middlesex
county, Va. where tract Of 500 acres had
been purchased for their homes, gives an in
terestng account of the trip, The tract oil
land is situated Immediately on the Kappa
hammock river about 10 miles from Urbana.
The party were in good spirits and worked
with will in taking from the boat the
goods provided for them--the furniture.
horses, cows, tools. food and other neces-
saries. y stable so by Is feet was built for
| the horses and COWS. Bake ovens were mt
up, which turned out excellent bread. Log
houses, neatly weather. boarded, were put
up. They are 10 in number, and 200 feet
apart. There are Is active workingmen in
the party, who performed all this labor.
Ihey did 1t well, showing great ingenuity
BESIDES doing all this work. the colonists
nave seeded 10 acres in rye and are now
putting in 40 acres Of wheat. The farm
ing implements Of the colonsts not hay
ing gone down on the boat with them,
the hospitable Virginians loaned plows
to the newcomers. so that the seeding
Of their grain might not be longer DELAYED
| The plowing will be continued throughout
the winter in order to have land ready for
| planting the corn crop early in the spring.
and also for the planting of vegetables. 4
quantity oflime has been burned and put
out to improve the soil. 1t is not intended
to buy commercial fertilizers, but all
through the winter the men will be busy in
making composts for application to the corn
crop i'll the spring. The farm is in common
at present, but in year or more it will be
divided among the colonists. Through the
winter, when the weather is too inclement
| for other work, the men will cut cord wood.
This will be sold in the spring for their ben
eft. There is plenty Of cortl-wood on the
farm, and the land cut over will be cleaned
up and made arabic, thus giving greater
farming surface, which the colonists will
need the coming season. Mr.. Fredenwald
has purchased for the colony additional
saws and Il complete outfit of blacksmith's
| tools Two brothers among the refugees
are expert blacksmiths, and with the tools
provided will not only do the smithing for
the colony but for the neighborhood also
The refugees are very orthodox, and the
scene was said to be very affecting last Fri
day night when the regular services that
usher in the Hebrew Sabbath were held.
Many of those participating were moved to
tears by their liberty to worship without
concealment Or danger. They are said to
be most moral and honest. Mr.. Frieden-
valid said positively that pocket books could
be left lying among them. that not cent
would be touched that the people did not
know what it was to be dishonest They
are now identified with America and will
be naturalzed in Virginia. They are anx-
ious TO acquire citizenship. The children
expect to attend the public schools of the
| State.
These refugees are from different parts of
Russia, most of them being from along the
banks Of the Dneipcr. Some of them
brought their own tobacco seeds and expect
to grow the weed in Virginia. being experts
in its culture in their own country. If this
colony succeeds in Virginia. which there is
every reason to suppose it WILL fit is kept
from want until it can grow its own crops,
it is thought there will be a flow
of emigration from Russia to the
vicinity of this Middlesex settlement.