The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-09-01
The Deer Greek Farmers Club
DISCUSSES IMMIGRATION.
Industrious Families Wanted to Occupy
Vacant Houses and Farms Commission
err stump's Offer to Provide Twenty or
Thirty Families.

Industrious Families Wanted to Occupy
Vacant Houses and Farms-CO
er stump's Offer to Provide Twenty or
Thirty Families.
Reported for The Egis.
Mr. r. Harris Archer entertained the Deer
Creek Farmers Club at his home, Paradise
Paradise is one of the oldest farms on the
Creek and has many memories intensely inter-
the old priest who lived there years ago of his
fondness of apple jack; of his odd ways and
life. The crossing over the Creek at the foot
of the hill gets its name from this old priest,
being called Priest Ford"
Mr.. Archer occupies the old house, which is
situated on the summit of a hill, commanding
fine views on all sides.
The club was called to order by the President,
Mr.. ID. c. Wharton Smith, and Messrs. Robert
F. Hanna, William b. Hopkins and James +.
the farm. They reported favorably, comment
ing especially on u fine lot of pigs and also on
some fine Jersey cows, which combine size
with the other desirable qualities found i'll this
breed. The members of the club went out to
a point just north of Mr.. Archers house, which
commands a view of Deer Creek Valley and
the country towards Darlington.
The club then took up the discussion of the
question previously appointed, namely, Immi
grafton. Mr.. 5. A. Williams stated that Hon.
had made definite offer to send 15 or 20 fami-
lies to Hartford county, if wanted.
X. Harris Archer opened the discussion by
reference to the great importance of the SUBJ
ject and the necessity of doing something to
help the male and female labor. Col. Stump
ought to be aided in his efforts by appointing
some one to take names of persons having
empty houses and wanting tenants. He had
noticed that the colored population have gone
to the cities. We need labor and We want class
of people with a few dollars There is much
cheap land that could be bought. He proposed
that stock company be organized to buy land
and sell it to these immigrants on long time,
ham hnr 10
thought forest land could be bought for $40
an acre. They could dig good living out of
of the county they would lower the rate of
taxation. He wanted colony of 200 families.
Thomas Lochary would give the labor over
new 1 labor He said there is plenty of idle
labor. 1t should first be employed, before i'm
porting foreign labor.
house, but approved of colony. Had no expert
ence with German labor. There are thrifty
Germans in the Forest. Cheap land is a great
James F. KenIy thinks the Germans are salts
factory laborers. They live within their in
comes and seem to go right along. They are
good and faithful tenants soon learn the lam
guage and do their work well.
Samuel NJ. Lee was in favor of increased
population and lower taxes: Our county will
stand twice the population it has.
Robert F. Hanna thought that we ought to
get men with families, otherwise they would
not be satisfied.
Rev. c. d. Wilson approved of the plan, but
thought provision ought to be made for men
coming with 5000 or $500 each.
Dr. j. w. S. Norris thought that it would be
the only thing to save the county. Farms are
not the same they were years ago. Small
farms are best, as ON large farms there is much
waste land. York and other Pennsylvania
counties illustrate this fact.
John Moores did not approve of putting the
laborers right down in the woods. No land
fit for them could be gotten, as has been said,
for SIS per acre. The Hartford Furnace prop
erty had been improved by selling land to men
in return for clearing SO many acres. Mr..
Moores prefers the Irish, but likes the Scotch
and English, and does not think q few French
would be a disadvantage. MIR. Moores did not
| think that Big Woods land could be bought for
William B. Hopkins said that help in the
house is very important. The scarcity of labor
was very preceptible. The negroes have left.
Irish are as good as anybody.
s. A. Williams said that labor and help are
needed. The scheme of buying land is specula-
tive and hence Objectionable. 1t would be
cut t. tbe al by
accepting Mr.. Stump's offer, and each member
| taking family. That would convert talk to
action. Mr.. Williams cited an example which
| had come under his notice. DR.. l. X. Trim
| BILE, of Baltimore, had gotten one German
| family. They brought others and 1t was good
two families they would induce Others to come.
Mr.. Williams gave as an example of the bene-
| fits of the movement, the Immigration OF 1910,
when large number of Irish came here as
| laborers and help. Hartford Furnace was es-
tabIished then. These men saved and bought
| farms. Mr.. Williams thought the section
around Cooptown, Black Horse and Jarretts-
vile owed its prosperity, in great degree, to
| its German population. Heopposed the colon
| ization scheme but believes in taking W hat we
could get and that right away.
John b. Wysong said it could be easily done
by appointing man to look after it. There
is great scarcity of labor. He liked the idea
of each immigrant buying u small piece of
land. The benefit to the county is incalculable
and unappreciated by most of the people
throughout the community; He did not think
the colony scheme practicable. 1t would be a
good plan for the club to have man in Bel Air
to receive applications, so that Col. stump
would know how many to provide dount Of
the need of both male and female labor. He
| thought that the Germans were honest, indus
| trious, reliable and faithful workers. He does
not, however, approve of the colonization
scheme.
John Webster had tried Germans and thinks
| them far superior to other labor. They are
little troublesome until they acquire the
| language but they readily learn it. He has
| a German at present that he would not trade
| for all the labor in the county; - -.
Jacob X. Stephenson likes the Germans but
thinks they should have companions They
like company and will go long distances for
| associates. They are good imitators before
| they learn the language.
George L. Van Bibber thought that before
we got Immigrants we should positively deter
| that drove others off, would drive off new
| laborers There must be something wrong or
| labor would not be leaving. Either low wages
1 or no employment. The same difficulties would
| confront new laborers. The colonization
| scheme would only do for waste land.
| Judge o. ]. Norris thought that we should
| offer these immigrants some inducement to
| come They want to benefit themselves, not
| u.s. Western States send commissioners to
| Europe to solicit immigrants. Land must be
| cheap. They come for the free country and
labor for themselves. Our State and county
have never been advertised like other States.
| namely, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Georgia.
| Edward Moores agreed with what had been
| said and approved the scheme of each member
/ taking a family.
VIM, d. Lee said we want purchasers for our
idle farms We have sPldendtd county, and
| the fact that our county is second to none in
the world. and it seemed wrong that land was
SO cheap and taxes so high.
W. d. Coale finds great trouble in getting
1 help on his farm. good deal of this may be
| explained by the fact that the hands go where
they can work ten hours per day. He finds
the Germans especially good. He has to go to
the city to get labor. Germans are sober, i'll
dustrious and do not go to camp meeting every
| Sunday.
| President Smith closed the discussion by say
ing that it had been decided that we wanted
the help. Now we have IL golden opportunity
| to get it. We know by experience that these
men make good hands and good citizens. He
| proposed taking the names of members of the
| club who would take a family. Six members
| said they would each take one family three
| wanted cooks and one German man.
On motion of Mr.. Williams a committee OF
of three members was appointed to report at the
next meeting; said committee to receive appli-
| cations CT citizens of the county who have
| vacant tenant houses and who want help
and to report to Col. Stump us to the advisable
ity of bringing II or Is families here.
| The club then complimented itself on the
I successful operation of the new road plan.
| Mr.. John Moores thought we ought to caution
the road supervisors against building expen.
| sive and new bridges these hard times. People
| who live near bridges and new roads should
bear the expense.
The next meeting will be held at the residence
| of Mr.. James w. Hanna, on Saturday, Sept
%. Subject to be discussed 1.-The Economy OF
| Feeding Wheat to stock at the present prices =
each member to give his idea as to the best way
| of feeding it.