The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-12-10
THE DESERT A-BLOOM.
Arid Wastes Converted Into critic Fields
By Refugees from Alsace-L0-
raine-The Labors Of
Poor Family.


In two miles of the Union depot may
be seen a little farm that speaks
stronger than words Of what can be
done on Georgia lands. A few years
ago this land had gone to waste. Ruts
made it unsightly and its owner was
moving with all his energy to sell and
set off to Texas. About this time there
came to Atlanta family of French
people to work in the factory. This
French family hailed from the little
village called Natziller, Alsace-Lor-
raine. When the war was raging be-
tween Napoleon III. and tho Germans
these people refuged from Alsace-Lor-
raine and took their abode in Paris.
When the war was ended and Alsace-
Lorraine fell under the government Of
the Germans these people preferred to
come to America than to return to their
conquered homes. They landed in
New York city on Nay 10, 1881, with
only IS cents in their pockets, q house
full Of small children and in a strange
land. A visit to their home out West
Hunter street, just two miles, and
look at their surroundings will impress
you of what may be accomplished in
Georgia.
1t has been just II years since the old
man Bernard purchased this seven
acre lot. It was considered too poor to
sprout peas at that time, and rough,
red and unsightly. but when look up
on it now feel sorry for the fool "Geor-
gia cracker" who sold it for a song
and spent the money moving to Texas.
grapes for a number of years, the Bern
ards are rich, good dwellings,, barn and
wine cellar 9Ox11o feet, three stories
high and full of wine.
AS have stated, these people were
refugees from Alsace-Lorraine during
the Franco-German war. When they
landed in New York they were seen by
an agent of the Atlanta cotton factory
and made a trade to come to Atlanta.
They sold everything they had to
get to Atlanta, and there was not one
Of them that could speak word of
English. But they could work, and the
whole family went at it, and they went
to planning to save to buy a few acres.
BY the aid of Gov. Bullock and the firm
of Elsas, May & Co., old man Bernard
was enabled to buy this seven-acre
tract, and he at once moved upon it and
began planting grapes and improving
the land. The children were kept in
the factories for few years while the
old folks stayed at home and tended
the farm.
For three years spades and grubbing
hoes were all they used to do the work
that our folks performed with the plow.
Pretty soon, though, the little farm be-
gan to bloom and blossom and the ruts
begantopassa away. They gotth cow
and pigs, they saved and stinted till !
pretty soon they had more cows and /
more pigs. A barn was built, and every |
sprig of grass and every weed was cured |
and put in that barn. Then their grapes |
began to bear, and they ceased to raise
vegetables, but planted moro vines and |
attended to their grapes. Good dwell |
ings were soon built and fine wine eel |
lar, and so they have progressed till |
prosperity and comfort crops out on all |
their surroundings, and to-day they |
rate their place as being worth as much |
for the growing Of grapes as the lands
of France or any other country. Any
how, their place is q thing of beauty
and their success should encourage US
all to be satisfied. All over Georgia are
evidences Of the generosity of the old
hills. They will yield freely of many
fruits if we give them the chance. Start |
in any direction from Atlanta and once
IN awhile you will run across a farm
which has been given chance, and It is
by these farms that Georgia should be
rated. Close to where live Switzer-
land gentleman grows as fine clover
and grain as can lie grown in any coun-
try. AS a sample of his farming, he
makes so bushels of oats per acre, while
the native cracker" brags on eight |
and ten bushels. Near Decatur Col.
Crockett and George Ramspeck have
as fine as those of the French
people, and Mr.. Rsmspeck raised this
year thousands of bushels of Irish po-
tatoes among his vines. When 1 say
thousands of bushels, it sounds mighty
big, but thousands it is. He has about
10 acres in vines, and for several years
has grown potatoes among them. Con-
vinced that it was no injury to the
grapes to raise the potatoes, he planted
the whole 40 acres this year. and thou
sands of bushels is the result. All we
have to do is to give the land of Georgia
the same showing that the lands OF
other countries rcceive and they will
respond with as generous yield as any,