The San Francisco call., 1896-02-22
A COLONY OF CATHOLI les,
AuStrians Under Father Jeram
Begin to Settle in Cali
fornia.
EDEN VALLEY Is THEIR HOME.
Ambitious Scheme for a Settlement
in Mendocino County Put Into
Execution.
EDEN VALLEY Is THEIR HOME.

The first actual work in the establish
ment of a Catholic colony in California
was commenced yesterday in Mendocino
County, when about forty colonists settled
upon a beautiful tract in Eden Valley and
prepared their future homes for occu-
pancy.
About 10000 acres of valley and mount
ain land have been secured fo- the new
colony in Eden Valley, about forty miles
north from Ukiah and in the Round Val
ley district. There Father Jeram has
begun work which has been the aim of
his life-a colony of Austrian Catholics
with their church, school and meeting
hall. The site was selected on account of
its typographical character and climate,
because it consists of valley and mountain
and an atmosphere closely resem bling
those of the colonists' native place in
Europe.
Father Jeram was the procurator of
Arch bishop Ireland of St. Paul. He is a
Catholic priest, born in Austria, and has
been in the United States for seveal
years. ana through his experience under
Archbishop Ireland he became familiar
with the immigration work done through
out the Northwest. Il
While comparatively young man
Father Jeram is a deep scholar who has
accomplished much. He has written and
published a grammar for his people that
they may become proficient in English,
and this is the only grammar of that kind
in existence. In addition to his numerous
duties he Is employing his spare moments
on an Engiish-Slavonian dictionary, and
is now more than half way through the
alphabet. He has been in California for
some months looking for tract for
colony for his people in the United States
and Europe who wish to live in a commu
nifty in California.
This is his own idea and is a thoroughly
unselfsh one for the benefit of his coun-
trymen, SO they may make good living
and be together in the home of their adop-
tion. This means in future years the
bringing to the colony OF quite number
OF their brethren from Europe.
Forty members of the new settlement
left San Francisco Thursday for Eden
/ Valley: eleven of them mad been living
in California, the rest having come from
the East. Their home has been called the
California-Slavonian colony and their first
settlement Jeramville. More colonists are
expected to arrive here from different
points in the East just as soon as the col
ony is ready for them. The colony is said
to be in sound financial condition. Its
mem bers have among them men of various
trades, who can build houses and other
structures and perform all The work re-
quired on q ranch. A large part of the
work of the colony will consist of stock
raising, dalrylng, ETC., in which these peo-
pie are experts. They are industrious.
thrifty and ambitious of success in their
new field.
AS the colonists arrive in this City they
will be met by Father Jeram, who will
take them before the Archbishop, and his
Grace will give them his blessing. After
this they will go to Eden Valley, and there
find Catholic church and their country
men for neighbors.
There will be no rush of people to the
colony, as colonists will be received only
as homes can be prepared for them and
the colony take care of the newcomers.
Those now in Eden Valley will begin at
once to build proper houses, farm build
ings, stores and Catholic church.