The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-22
NEW swift sRLAND.
What Pluck and Energy Can Accom-
plish in the Piedmont Region.
From the Gainesva'e (GaJ Sun.


From the GainesvtIie (Ga.J Sun.
This, as is generally known in this section,
is a ssttl ment OF Swiss emigrants made in
the lower part Of Habersham county. and
near the Atlanta and Charlotte Airline
railroad. a few years ago, under the direc-
ton and management of Mr.. and Mrs
Beiderman
Our friecd, Mr.. Peter McDermed of this
city, resolved last week to visit this inter-
esting community. and on his return he
accorded the Eagle an interview, which
viii no doubt prove to be interesting read
ing 10 great many.
We give Mr.. McDermsd's account Of his
impI essions Of these people, their opera
tons, surroundings, future prospects, etc,
as nearly in his own words as we can. He
said:
left the train at Cornelia- Procuring
conveyance from my friend, Mr.. Grant,
and pressing him into service as a cOmpan-
ion, L started for New Switzerland via Mt.
Airy.
My object in going was to see how the
Swiss Of that section managed their grape
vines, and to endeavor TO get one Of them
TO trim and set out some for me at my
place here.
found from fifteen to twenty families
located about Cornelia, Mt. Airy and Swift
about their struggles for the first few years.
How they would get wrong kind Of grape
and make a failure with it. But they had
pluck and strong, willing arms, and instead
of giving up, they patiently kept on until
they secured a grape that suited them-our
well known Concord. They pronounce it
far superior to any Of the one hundred or
more kinds tested by them.
Small tracts of land, well titled, appeared
to be their aim, and thought 1t was good
school they learned at. Everything is con-
| Quoted on a most thorough and economical
| plan. One feature particularly observed,
| and that was this, they all had coed COM
Portable barns for their stock. Some keep
ing their cows housed all the time, claiming
| it to be the cheapest and best method.
Mr.. g. Steiner and Mr.. John Traber were
gathering grapes and making wine when
was there They have good cellars under
| their houses, Containing large watts and
presses. They showed us taeir good cheer
and hospitality by setting before us goblets
| filled with as fine wine as any one need wish
| for. l learned that an acre Of land in vines,
| five to six years old, under their manages
| ment, producing an average crop, yields at
low figure. 400 or 500 gallons of wine,
which they sell readily at 81 gallon.
| There is not gallon Of last years wine to
be found for sale among them, as all of il
| has been disposed of.
l looked acre SIS the road and saw a cotton
| patch, and l could not help thinking of the
difference between $500 and $500 dollars to
the acre in grapes, and the pitiful amount
| that poor toiler would get from his acre or
| two ofcotton. So concluded would take
little more wine in nine, as friend Steiner
was passing it around.
len or fifteen years ago lands in this sec
| ton could be bought for 81 so to IS an acre.
| To-day you cannot induce a Swiss family to
sell at all, and lands on this high, poor
looking ridge, under their culture, Will
bring S25 to 500 an acre. The Swiss have
fifty-four acres in vines, in plats ranging
from twelve to two acres each