The age-herald., 1897-11-07
NEGRO COLONY ORGANIZED.
Town For CoIored People to Be
 Built
MRS. RAYS PHILAN THROPY
The Movement Has the Enlargement of Pres- dent Smith, of the Louisville k Nashville,
 and Many Prominent People.
to The AgsIIIeeald.

 Special to The galIIeaeld.
 Decatur, Nov. 6.-The Cedar-Lake ne- gro colony was formally opened this afternoon. Application was made for charter and a provisional city govern ment was elected. Several hundred me- groes were present from this and ad- joining counties.
 Booker T. Washington at the last mo- ment sent word that he could not attend owing to important business, but sent hearty sympathy and cooperation in the movement. He promised to be present at the next meeting of the board of trustees There are 367 acres of fine land compris- ing the site of the colony. on which splendid crops of wheat and tobacco are produced. A letter was rad from Pres idsnt Smith, of the Louisville and Nash wills, promising his full aid and support, and agreeing to build depot and side tracks and to give all necessary shipping concessions The promoters are fully confident of it's success. The negroes sesm to be in earnest over the move- ment.
 The site of the colony is three and a half miles from Decatur. Tt is we'll To- cated, watered and timbered. Very little noise has been made over the project by Mrs. Ray and her coadjutors, but they have worked quietly and detsrmin- edly.
 The gathering today was the occasion of the formal opening of the colony,
 . H. 1.,. -Ia.. ,,f prominent people from abroad and the Decaturs, who take an interest in the work
 The cerCmony of formally opening the colony was made more impressive by the reading of an address by Mrs Ray, in which she dedicated the colony to the upbuilding of the negro ralce through self education and sndeavor. The ob- jects, aims, workings and future of the colony are best set forth by Mrs. Ray herself.
 In private interview Mrs. Ray said: "This negro colony is not a business speculat ation by any means. It is simply plan for harmoniziug the race problem. began it three years ago because I was stranger and could not see, unmoved, fhe terrible conGequs nces that had come to both the whites and blacks by pro- miscuous intercourse without any one to control Last April I had a number of wealthy people here from the east vis- iting me, and we had a large gathering at Cedar Lake. I then named the city Cedar Lalqa,' and presented a gift to the colony of lands for churches and schools, and since then an allowance has been made out of the public school fund No help slpport the school
 Gen. Joe Wheeler alslped me greatly in obtaining postoffice for the colony, and in my honor the district is to named Ray Mr Smith, president eff he Louis vile and Nashville railway, has prom ised a depot and all necessary conces- sions for shipping. As soon as there are 140 inhabited houses the colony will re- ceiVs charter and elect it's own mayor and city officers. A large firm in the east have taken a contract to erect 20,000-spfndle co,ton mill, and another party has promised a cigar factory.
 ''The plan is to colonize the most intel ligent and progressive negroes in city of their own, encourage them to build shops and factories of their own, and instead of fighting for recognition in the factories and shops of the whites, let them grow cotton and tobacco and manufacture it themselves, and compete in the worlds markets.
 q have made a donation of $1000O, conditionally on their getting together and building and operating their facto- ries.
 Many other ladies, whose names I am not permitted to mention, have taken the greatest interest in the matter. Sev- eral wealhy colored men have taken up the matter. one of them being George E. Jackson, of Nashville. .
 T may say that this is not money speculation in any sense of the term. It is simply my little way of doing some good in the world.
 ''On my recent visit to Nashville, had long talk with Gov. Taylor, and he gave me assurances that the move ment would have his firm support, and that a similar movement would be be- gun in Tennessee. Mrs. Wills. Mrs. Marr and Mrs. Henry Weber. ladies of the Centennial committee, gave me their assurance of sympathy and support.
 Thomas J-Lipton, the English mill