The morning times., 1897-01-03
CoLONISTS FOR ARKANSAS.
Lot of Immigrants Arrive to Take
Up Land on the Corbin Tract.

Up Land on the Corbin Tract.
NeU York EUening Sun.
Seventy-nine families, consisting of 391
persons, who arrived yesterday in the
steeraSe OF the Hamburg American steam
ship Kaiser Wilhelm IL, We're housed and
, fed by the Immigration bureau on Ellis
Island last night. They hail from northern
Italy and are en- route TO Sunnyside, Chico
county, Ark, where they expect To become
possesSurs of valuable farms. They are
the second and last detachment of immi-
grants who are to assist ia carrying out
the big colonization scheme started by the
late Austin Corbin.
The Immigration authorities agreed YES
terday tnat no cleaner healthier or more
prosperous lot of aliens had ever before
landed at the island, and the head of the
families We're plentifully supplied with
funds, each possessing a sum in the neigh
borhoOd OF $500, an unusually large amount
for an immigrant from any country. Aside
from that, they had paid their own fares
from their homes in Italy to their destina-
tion in America.
Not one ufthe entire number was detained
for any cause. and Commissioner Senner
expressed himself as highly pleased at the
agreement made by the late Mr.. Corbin
with the State Department at Washington
had been adhered to. They formed nearly
the entire steerage passenger list, there
being but seventy eight other immigrants
arriving on the Kaiser Wilhelm II. The
Arkansas travellers were quickly segre-
gated and placed in a room by themselves.
Before they were taken To the Island yes
terday afternoon Commissioner Senner Of
ficially notified his force OF employees of
their expected arrival, and in n short ad
dress outlined the scheme which Mr.. Cor
bin had originated and which had thus far
been successfully carried out
He said that according to the agreement
with the department at Washington the
immigrants Were not TO be received rs CON
tract laborers, but in all other respects they
must be treated as ordinary immigrants and
meet the requirements Of the iIumigratiu
laws in every particular, failing which
they should be detained. The commits
sioner then Went on to outline the scheme.
He said that Mr. Corbin had selected for
the purpose ., 600 acres OF the most fertile
and productive land in Arkansas, situated
in Chico county. IL was divided into farms,
there being about 200 on the entire area.
Each colunist upon his arrival was TO get
possession OF a farm Accompanying the
land he was to have mules, a COW, acri-
cultural implements, furniture and pro-
visions enough to last two weeks. These
necessities would thoroughly establish the
new tenant, and upon his own energies
depended his future success.
All must be paid for in twenty years in
yearly instalments out of the products of
the crops. 1t was intended to raise prin-
cipally cotton.
The first lot to be brought over arrived
just year ago this month and consisted of
100 families, 900 persons in all. Commits
sioner Senner said that he had learned
that the venture was eminently successful.
As a result OF their years labors they had
been enabled not only to meet the annual
payment demanded by the company, but
had saved enough besides To keep them
comfortably during the ensuing year.
Prof. Aldrini, who was formerly the
representative OF the Italian government
at Ellis Island, but resigned his office To
manage Mr.. Corbin's colonization scheme,
was at the Island yesterday to receive his
countryInen and seethatth We're properly
cared for. The steamship was expected
earlier and he had hoped to start the new
settlers Oh their journey West yesterday,
but as they did not arrive in time it was
necessary to keep them at the island over
night. Commissioner Senner gave orders
that they should have separate quarters in
one Of the new buildings and receive the
best OF treatment.
These immigrants come from the town of
Toscana, in the north OF Italy, and are far
superior In intelligence, appearance and
thriftto the ge immigrant from south
ern Italy.
They We're happy lot after Prof. Aldrini
had explained to them briefly the cause of
the delay at Ellis Island, and that they
would be well provided for. on the passage
across they had merry time On Christ
mas day they We're treated to n more elab-
crate dinner than is usually served in the
steerageby the company. They showedtheir
appreciation by coming on deck land enter
tanning the cabin passengers with the
songs, dances and games of their native
country.