The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-10-21
READY TO START A COLONY
Plans for the Salvation Army's schcm,
In the Arkansas valley.


In the ArkansaS valley.
The colonization scheme proposed
| by the Commander Booth-Tucker o.
the Salvation Army has assumed tan.
gible shape, and its originator is san
euine of its practicabiity and ultimate
success. Ii was in order to consult
with General Booth about the schemt
that Commander Booth-Tucker made
his recent flying visit to London, an6
since his return he has been busy will
plans and estimates for the PROPOSED
colony.
To a Tribune reporter Commander
Booth-Tucker outlined the scheme. a.
lar as 1t has at present been formula..
ed. The place for the colony has al.
ready been practically determined
The commander Is receiving dozens OF
letters daily from land agents and otn.
ers all over the country, asking him tc
consider the advantages of their re.
spective localities, but it is almost Ger.
tain that the Arkansas valley in Colo.
rado will be the site of the first colony
A few weeks ago Mr.. Booth-Tucker, on
the invitation of the Santa Fe Rail.
road Company. inspected the country
land commissioner and the Industrial
commissioner OF the railroad. What
he saw caused him to believe that the
Arkansas valley would be the most
suitable place he could find. He de-
ciared that the climate was temperate,
the soil rich, and there was an abund-
ance of fertilizng water Capital hac
already provided irrigation works
and number of small colonies had
already been established, so that the
proposed colony would not be merely
an experiment. On small farms of
hve or ten acres families were already
subsisting comfortably, and the pur-
chase money, from $50 to 500 an acre.
had in some cases been paid in two
years.
Speaking of the terms under which
the colonists would rec i've the land
and of the class he desi, ed to assist.
Commander Booth-Tucker laid special
stress on the fact that flotsam and let
sam of society would not be encourage
ed 10 emigrate to the colony. nor would
the small capitalist 1t was the man
with wife and family, who was I'M
aDle 10 obtain living In the city.
whom II was desired to benefit. he said.
Many schemes to relieve the poor had
falled. the commander pointed out,
because the man as parted from his
family. In the proposed colony tho
wife and children would not only be
allowed but welcomed. Commander
Zoo; h-Tucker said, % he believed that
a man was more reliable and likely to
succeed when lie had his family with
10
would be admitted if he chose to obev
the rules OF the colony, but the man
without any capital at ell wss the one
whom 1t was desired to help.
1t is proposed to give each family a
ten-acre plat of lard. The first colo
nists TO 60 out VIII he those acquaint-
cd with agriculture or mechanics. For
the others schools Of agriculture will
be established. The colonists will buy
their farms gradually, and will be
helped by village bank, after the
style of those Ia Germany. The bank
will receive $500 on account of each
family, and will advance money to nav
the first years expenses, if the colo
nists shows himself capable. The col
onists will be transported free and will
receive plain huts to i've in until they
can Lu.ld cottages.
Commander Booth-Tucker believes
that for $5,0O0,00O 10000 families can
he established on 100000 acres of land. |
and that the colony will become SELF !
supporting in a few years. He said |,
that General Booth gave the scheme |
his hearty approval, and many rich |
men in this country had already prom {
ised to aid the coiony.-New York Tri-
bune.