St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-29
Alexander Russell Webb Is
Here Securing Options
Upon Land.
About 100000 to Be Ex-
pended for the Initial
Colony.
Something Like 5000 Of the
East Indians Expected
Here in Five Years.

| ago embraced the religion of Mohammed
| and who represents the Mohammedans
in the United States, has returned to this
| country for other reasons than those he
| has already stated. His dignified pre-
| sentation of the tenets of his new re-
| ligion has attracted much attention.
| Many will now be surprised who have
| heard him say only that his mission
here is the propagation OF that re-
| lgion to learn that lie is also
| the agent of rich worshipers of
'Mohammedanism In an interview
today MIR. Webb confirmed this state
ment. while regretting that it must be-
| come public before certain negotiations
| with land owners had been completed.
Mr.. Webb states that large number of
Mohammedans are planning to emigrate
from India to the United States, and
that they will
Probably Form Colonies
in several of the Southern states. For
some weeks past Mr.. Webb has been
communicating with large property
holders in the South, notably in Georgia
and Florida. he declares that he is
| acting under the authority of many Of
the most prominent and wealthy Mo-
| hammedans in India in obtaining prices
OH large tracts of Southern land. lie
has secured figures Oh large strips
| OF land, and has already re-
ported these prices to a syndicate
of Mohammedans, who are, from
religious and financial motives, interest
ed in the movement. Mr.. Webb has no
doubt that colonies will actually be
established. During his life among the
MohammedanS he has found. he says,
that they are extravaganza admirers OF
the United States, and the majority
would, he thinks, be glad to become
| American citizens. Many Mohamme-
dams have told him that they have long
| cherished the idea of emigrating to this
country, but that they have hesitated
because there is no established colony
here. 1t has been easy for the people
| of almost every other nation to take
| passage to America because churches
and colonies of the same race are already
here with welcome and
LImitIess Information
to give the newcomers abundant means
| of earning a livelihood. India, while
numbering among its population many
millions more than the United States,
| is only one-quarter of the size Of this
country. This fact, in connection with
| the burdenSome government under
which MohammedanS live, and the facts
| of the superior rights guaranteed by our
constitution, forms the principal reas OH
why the Mohammedans have determined
largely to leave their country. The
idea of the Weather and more
prominent Mohammedans was, said
Mr.~Webb, to form In every town
and city of the United States
circles to study the Mohammedan
religion. The primary purpose is not.
however, to seek converts, but to soften
the preiudices of Christians in America
against the great religion of the Indies.
| Already three of these circles have been
established, two i'll New York city and
one in Woodbridge. n. j. Charters
have been applied for by these societies,
and it is believed that many more cir
cles will shortly be in operation. There
! seemed to be such q fair and honorable
reception already accorded to that re-
| ligion that the colonization plans have
| been fastened, and the contemplated
purchase of land is simply the taking of
Time by the Forelock.
II am in negotiation" he said, with
| responsible men for the purchase OF
large tracts of land in Jacksonville,
| Pensacola and Augusta, and in Ala
bama. The sellers understand the pur-
pose to which the land will be put, and
say that the neighbors will probably
offer no objections whatever. have SO
reported to the syndicate for which
am acting. The rich men in the move
ment have already pledged themselves
to assist financially in the purchase OF
land. That is to say, they will advance
the money on longtime notes. Amer
leans will not find the Mohamme-
dams to be beggars or char
ity seekers, but. on the con-
trary, valuable workmenin many indus
tries. Our plans have gone so far as
| the preparation of plans for the laying
out of towns and farms. | have secured
for such purposes an option of $4,000
acteS in Georgia and in several other
tracts equally as large. You may be
|
Earn Their Own Living
in America. They will depend prin-
cipalIy upon the products of the soil.
For that reason estimates are being Sc
cured on only rich and fertile lands.
Committees will be sent from India to
inspect the land here, and then bargains
will be closed.
THE immigrants will. of course. pur-
chase all their farming implements,
cattle and other necessities here, and
they ought to make thoroughly good
citizens. You may say that another
syndicate of MohammedanS are nego-
tiatiug to run lineof steamers between
Bombay and New Orleans. In this way
the transportation of Mohammedans to
the United States will DE greatly facili-
itated. AS an earnest of our good in
tentions and of the final standing that
Mohammedans hope to attain in this
country, may add that the syndicate
has leased the buildings in this city.
Here they have determined to maintain
their headquarters in this country, and
here will be the bureau of dissemina-
ton.
The Number Indefinite.
at is, of course, impossible to say at
this time how many Mohammedans will
| come mere at HFSb, DuI L Ieel assured
that after the first company of 600 or
1000 has been here short time, an
other company of about the same num-
Der will come. | believe that within
five years there will be about 5000 ac
tive, able-bodied Mussulmen settled in
the first colony. My impression is that
the first company Will come by the
first steamer sent OIL the new line
from Bombay to New York. 1t is diff
| cult at this time to fix definite
date for the arrival of the first colony,
| but | think that Will be settled imme
| diately after the land is purchased. The
actual expenditures for lands for the
first colony will be about 100000, but.
of course, there will be other large sums
spent for all kinds of supplies and the
| neeessaries of life"
Mr. Webb said, IL conclusion, that he
would not be the I n Il purchaser OF the
lands. The negotiations will be com
pleted by committees representing the