Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-21
THRIFrY coLoRED CoLoNIsrs.
They Purchase Land with the Proceeds
gnq OF Oysters.

WWN Oh OIAACtc-
Eleven miles from Savannah on the
White Bhliroad is perhaps the thrlftiest
colored SETTLEMENT in the State. More
than that, it Is a successful cooperative
experiment.
-Four years ago seventeen industrious
colored men formed a sort Of syndicate
on small scale for the purpose Of pur-
chasing a tract Of land and making a
settlement. They picked out 200 acres in
the JayaesviAe tract, and agreed to pay
$4,000 for the lands The tract is also
known asIthe sold Nicholson place." The
papers We're drawn BY r. D. Walker, Jr.,
ESQ, who represented the purchasers,
ana Hon. X. +. Lester, who represented
the seller. The purchasers gave their
notes, payable in i've years. 1t was
agreed that all who went into the enter
prise would put as much in the general
fund as they could. one OF the more in
teillgent OF the buyers, Charles Wiley,
kept their accounts and books, and acted
as treasurer.
1t was predicted that the scheme would
prove failure, as half Of the land was
uncleared, and tue cOlOnists would never
nave made enough from planting the
ground alone to pay for it. But The set
TIERS ala not depend upon farming. All
OF them were fishermen and oystermen.
Ihey caught great quantities OF both hsh
and oysters ia season, and generally sent
them to market by the women and chill
dren. The peddlers sold their oysters and
nsh 10 the housekeepeTs in Savannah,
principally, and on their return were
credited on the cOmpany's books with as
much cash as was turned in. The notes
were met promptly. and were paid up
long before maturing.
In two years the purchase money was
all paid. They did not make their pay
ments by caecks, but in cash, and often
brought in as much as half a peck of
quarters, dimes, tiye-cent pieces, half
dollars, and dollars. The treasurer al
ways brought the money In pillow case,
thrown over his shoulder, and the
settlers always sent two OF their number
along with the treasurer. When the
ground was paid for it was divided up
among the investors in proportion to the
amount each contributed. Some got one
acre and others i've, ten and fifteen acres.
Inc treasurer was allowed two acres for
his services. One acre in the middle of
the tract was reserved for a church, and
place OF worship has been built. The un-
cleared portion was all cleared and now
the whole tract is under cultivation.
Each member of the pool has put up on
nls plat snug cabin. During the sum-
mer they raise corn, potatoes and plant
for the market. In winter they fsh and
catch oysters. The cooperative scheme
worked out splendidly and the settlement
is prospecting.
Some years ago large colony Of negroes
came to the mainland from st. Gather
ines Island to earn better living. The
greater part we're eX-slaves OF the Valid
burg estate and their children, and the
cOlOnists above mentioned are some of
these. Many settled about the seaport
cities because the cities afforded them
ready and convenient markets for their
truck and oysters. IL Is an everyday oc-
currence in the winter to see the women
trudging along the public roads carrying
pals and buckets of Oysters.