The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-25
FARM COLONIES.
Gen. Booths scheme as Practiced in Hol-
land and Germany.

Isl James Gazettel
Attention has lately been drawn to the
question of farm colonies as a means of
converting the homeless vagabonds of our
streets into useful laborers, For light
upon the subject it is necessary for us to
turn to the continent.
The system of farm colonies has been
known in Holland since 1918 They have,
however, undergone much mobilization in
the last forty years; and it will, perhaps
be sufficient for our purpose to consider
them as they exist at the present time.
They are now divided into two classes
the free and the beggar colonies. The
former are purely philanthropic institu-
tiOns. They were brought into existence
at times of special distress with view of
finding employment for respectable and
competent laborers. On their lands per-
manent homes and constant work are pro-
vided for whole families We NAV, how
ever, remark that they do not afford much
assistance in dealing with current dist ess,
seeing that not more than hall dozen
new families can be admitted each year
into the colonies; and it may also be
noted that, in spite of years OF residence,
the cOlonists have never become really
self-supportlng.
The beggar colonies are more analogous
to the training labor colonies which we
are asked to promote. The two most i'm
portant institutions of this class in exist
ence in Holland are those at Veehuizen
and Ommerschaus, which in 1866 con-
tanned 1920 and 400 inmates respectively.
These colonies are supported by the state,
and are occupied, for the most part, by
beggars and drunkards committed to them
for definite periods at the instance of the
police authorities. Destitute persons,
however, are also admitted on their own
application (UreiwiHigersJ. The colonists
are trained and occupied in farm work and
other industries and they receive small
wages for their labor; they have every
opportunity afforded them of exchanging
life OF vagrancy and cadging for one of
honest work. The results, however, in
this direction are very slight. Most of the
inmates on their discharge return TO their
former occupations; ieadmissions are the
rule rather than the exception; and of
1888 persons who were in the colonies in
December, 1885, 420 only were there for
the first time, while forty-three had been
admitted fifteen times or more. In view
of these facts Englishmen would scarcely
regard such labor colonies as good in
vestment for their philanthropic capital.
When Sir John Mcneil visited the Dutch
colonies in 1853 he reported to the board
OF supervision for the relief of the poor in
Scotland that it took fifteen colonists to do
the work OF one day laboreK II Dutch
man was made coionist and kept pau
per at the rate of G6 los a year, the cost of
treating Scotchman in the same way
would be GS lOs. a year. or more than
twice the actual cost OF maintaining pau
per In Scotland without the pretence of
letting him earn his living.
The German work mems colonies are
still in the experimental stage; but as
they have been in existence for some eight
years the experience which they afford is
well worth the consideration OF all who
advocate the introduction OF a similar sys-
tenn into this country. the colony at
Wilhemsdorf was founded in 1882, and in
1887 it provided accommodation for 300
men. BY 1886 sixtee n others Exclusive o!
branch colonies) had been opened in
Prussia alone. The admission to these
settlements is entirely voluntary. After a
short period of residence the inmates re-
ceive some small remuneration for their
work; and in this way any laborer, who,
through mishap or his own fault, has been
reduced to restitution, has an opportunity
of earning a character and also of saving a
, sum of money sufficient to provide him
self with clothes and the tools required
for his calling. The average stay OF each
colonist is ninety~eight days. These Ger
man colonies. in their constitution, resem.
Bile the institutions which are suggested
for our adoption in England much more