The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-08
WEALTHY COLONISTS.
The Character Of People Who Will
Make California Their Home.

WASHINGTON. July 7.-United States
Consul Walter E. Gardner, at Rotterdam.
sends the following interesting report to
the State Department on emigration to
this Government. 1t is important in itself
and significant as indicating the kind of
people California will receive from uol-
land:
To-day there sailed from this port by the
Netherlands COmpany's steamship Spaarn-
dam Il colony of siXty-tive Hollanders who
are to make for themselves new homes in
California. These have been preceded by
a smaller colony which sailed from Rotter-
dam in the autumn of last year. They will
be followed by another colony, partly made
up, to sail IN September next, and doubt
less, also, by other future colOniSts. Quite
unlike most emlgrantS from continental
ports to America, these people are COM
paratively wealthy. They sail for New
ork as trst-class cabin passengers. They
travel westward from New York by
specially chartered Pullman cars. Each
adult male aud each of several adult
females in the colony leaving to-day has
already made cash investments ranging
from 5000 (the lowest q $4,000 Ghe
kighesO, in partial payment for lands,
houses, barns, furniture. agricultural I'M
plements, horses and cattle. OF which the
buyers will assume Immediate ownership
upon arrival at their destination. Among
tie various household effects certified
through this office are pianos, libraries,
paintings silverwaro and other certain evil
dences of moderate wealth.
THE movement had its origin with the
Holland-California Land Company, incor-
pOrated under the laws OF the State of Cali
fornla. Included in the official board of
the company are some Of the strong busi-
ness men of Rotterdam, while its Vice
President and California managing direc-
fpV - A Nt-rvt Of 60 ha
company is the owner Of an abundantly
irrigated area of land in Merced County,
Cal, which is divided into twenty-acre
tracts. Many are already under cultiva-
ton, the products being alfalfa, grape
vines and fruit orchards. These cultivated
lands are sold to the Dutch immigrants at
S175 per acre, and prior To the arrival of the
new owners, each equipped, as above indi-
Gated and according to the plans previously
agreed upon, with ali the paraphernalia of
complete, prosperous country home. The
city and center of this new Holland Of
the New World is to be called "Rotter-
dam," and among other Characteristic
features is a representative Dutch dairy.
Teachers are employed by the company
to Instruct the c0lOnists in such modifica-
tions of Holland agricultural methods as
climate and other conditions IN California
render necessary, and a company hotel has
been, or is about to be. opened for young
colUuiStS without families.
The enterprise thus briefly outlined has
attained among the ultra-conSeryative
Dutch considerable and widespread popu-
larity. For example, the Netherlands cities
and villages contributing members to the
colony sailing to-day are Rotterdam, Dord-
recht, Git rerdam, Amsterdam, Delft Bus
sum, The Hague, Nymegau, Arabian, Oos-
terbeck and GOuda.
Irrespective of the business merit or lack
of It in this company's scheme there is no
question whatever that these Dutch emf
grants to Merced County, California, are
physically, materially, mentally and moral
ly strikingly superior class.
Growing out of the movement above re-
pOrted, and related to it, is TO be noted
the recent organization of the Holland Cali
fornia Trading Company, which now has
depot in this city exclusively for the sale in
Holland of California fruit and wines.