The San Francisco call., 1897-08-11
TO RAISE
FUNDS FOR
COL0NISHS
Important Work Accom-
plished by the Finance
Committee.
Ill DEViDEN W fUfUIAh LVAAN.
The Details of the Proposed
Colony Thoroughly
Discussed.
THEY ANTICIPATE WIDE BENEFITS.
Major Winchell Addressed a Large
Body of the Intending
Settlers.
THEY ANTICIPATE WIDE BENEFITS.

Several erroneous ideas regarding the
work of the Citizens Colonization Com
mittee were dispelled at the meeting OF
the finance committee of that organiza-
tion yesterday.
1t was stfikingly brought out in the
course OF the informal discussion that
took place that it was not the purpose of
the committee to colonize the improvi-
dent or the incom petent, but simply TO
afford the industrious but unfortunate
with an opportunity to acquire home
and a competence by providing oil the
necessary materials and instructions 10
make successful farmers of them on small
tracts OF land.
The chairman announc ced that the object
OF the meeting was TO devise means for rails
ing the $25, 900 that was necessary to start
the proposed colony on the 700 acres of
sugar beet lands near Salinas that had
been placed at the disposal of the colon-
cation committee by Claus Spreckels.
1t was stated by the chairman that 1t
was proposed to raise the amount by
loans, which were 10 be asked of the phi
lanthropic. These loans were to bear in
ierest al 3 per cent and were 10 be secured
Tucker of the Salvation Army.
Rev. DIR. Voorsanger thought the Saliva
ton Army should not be made res ponsi-
bic for the financial feature Of the scheme.
His idea was to MAKE the loan a popular
one. He wanted to see shares sold at IS
each. so that every citizen could contrib
ute S. or $40 to the good work. He
pointed out that heretofore it had been a
regular ANNUAL tax on the people of San
Francisco 10 provide the unemployed
with work. Here, he exclaimed, was an
opportunity to permanently remove the
cause of this annual direct tax. He felt
sure he said, that every citizen who had
in the past contributed to the funds for
the unemployed would again put his
hands into his pocket for the same cause,
particularly when il might prove to be
the last time he would be called upon to
do so.
Mr.. Maxwell said that the proposed
colonization sche me meant lore than the
relief of the unemployed lnl OF the citl-
zens of San Francisco. He declared that
if the colony proved 10 be success it
would bring to California more people OF
a BILE class than anything that had
been heretofore tried. ALI previous at
tempts to coloniZe peonle in this State,
he continued, proved to be failures, be-
cause OF the lack OF one very i'm portant
thing-there was no one to instruct the
farming. This was 10 be supplied by the
Salvation Army management.
He Indignantly denied the charge that
had been made by some people that the
colonization scheme meant the encourage
ment of the INDECENT and incompetent
and to prove that this charge was a base
calumny he related a recent incident in
his own experience.
In an interview published in THE CALL,
Mr.. MaxwelPs views on the colonization
proposition were given. In the course of
this interview he expressed the opinion
that many man if given the opportunity
10 acquire home in the country would
gladly take advantage OF ii. He then
went into details as to how this oppor-
tunity might be offered. On reaGing the
interview in question, gentleman who
was working 1or wages near Santa Cruz
and earning Just bout enough 10 support
his family wrote 10 Mr.. Maxwell asking
him if he could find him an opportunity
10 work for a home. Mr.. Maxwell Just
happened to need a man on his own place
III the country at that time and wrote TO
the applicant that if he could furnish sat
isfactory reference he could find him a
place. t. reference proved highly satis-
factory, the man was given work, and,
after a months trial, was permanently en-
gagged. He is now paying off a home on
a tive-acre tract of land and will have it
he started 10 work.
1t is men OF this stamp. Mr.. Maxwell re-
marked, that 1t is intended to assist by the
colonization scheme. Ii the ject proves
successful it will not be long before all the
land in the State Will be in demand for
the same purpose.
Major Winchell confirmed what was
said by Mr.. Maxwell as 10 the character
OF the people who applied for mem bership
in the colony. He declared that the peo-
pie, as a rule, were not ind igent, and were
good class of citizens as could be
found anywhere in the United States.
THE idea of the colony as l understand
it, said Mr.. Maxwell, "ls to make every
man independent; 1t is to be q sor. of
farming sch ool."
At this point DR.. Voorsanger moved
that a committee of five be appointed by
Chairman Butler 10 interview leading Cit
izens for the purpose of raising the neces.
sary amount of money. The motion was
carried and the committee will be ap-
pointed to-day.
1t is the plan to get about $25, 900 SUBJ
scribed In the form of loans, but the con-
tributors will be called upon 10 paw only 40
per cent OF the amount they subscribe at
this time. The remainder will not be
needed for several months.
Last night at the Salvation Army Insti-
tute, at l58 New Montgomery street, Major
Wincheli addressed about $50 of those
who had made application to join the pro-
posed colony. He explained the plan in
detail and what was expected of each set
tier. Among those present were a num-
Der of ladies. After he concluded his re.
marks he invited those in attendance to
ask questions. They did so freely, and all
were satisfactorily answered by the major.