The San Francisco call., 1897-03-07
ALLOTMENT PLAN
FOR UNEMPL DYED
Major Winchell of the Sal
vation Army Ex-
plains 1t.
District and Special Committees
Do Some Rustling in
the Rain.
Mayor Phelan Will Shortly Inter.
view Mr.. Sutro Regarding the
Right-cf. Way Deed.

Major W. W. Winchell, the superinten-
dent of the Salvation Army social depart
ment, has been very busy during the last
few weeks perfecting the details of the
army allotment colonization scheme, by
means OF which, 1t is expected, permanent
relief and a respectable livelihood will
ultimately be assured to the surplus popu-
Iation of this and other California cities.
Commander Booth-Tucker will be here
from the 18th to the 3D. said the major
yesterday, land on Monday, the 22d inst,
will address meeting at the Chamber of
Commerce and explain the details of the
scheme.
1.-The following evening he will address
an open social meeting at Metropolitan
Hall upon the same subject. He is just
now in Chicago on business connected
with the allotment plan, and will proceed
hence to Texas to inspect some unoccupied
lands. which may prove suitable for a
colony. The citizens of Detroit have Just
donated the armyl $50, 600 worth of prop
erty to be devoted to the colonization
project. This is the most magnificent gift
we have received since the introduction Of
the army into the United States.
In order to put the allotment scheme
into operation, which we hope to do next
fail, certain prelim mnaries will have to be
undertaken. The plan | have adopted is
this:
II have made arrangements with large
landowners IN Sonona and Contra Costa
counties to put large force of men to
work at once clearing extensive tracts of
thickly wooded land. | have a house al
ready on the Sonoma tract suitably fur
nlshed and capable Of accom- modating 100
men. The price of their board will be
taken out in lumber, which the army
guarantees to sell in the fall and realize
sufficient to pay tie men 81 so cord, and
perhaps more. Ten men can cut ten
cords of wood a day, which means 81 so
per man day. The army will supply a
superintendent ana g cook.
~ expect to send out my first batch of
fifteen or twenty men on Tuesday, and in
the meantime | am selecting the mos.
worthy and capable among the unem-
ployeu.
"When the summer comes L shall have
no difficulty in finding additional work for
a large number on ranches, harvesting,
gathering fruit, etc. The farmers anu
orchardists whom l have interviewed
assure me that they will always give
American labor the preference, especially
if the army will make itslf responsible
for the good behavior of the men.
"All this leads up to our colonization
put into operation next fall The army
already owns 300 acre farm in Contra
Costa County and / am considering other
offers of extensive tracls suita bic for such
purposes one in particular OF 1900 acres
III Tehama County.
Now, with proper economy, propor-
ton, at least, of the men, who meanwhile
have been engaged in clearing these
wooded lands already referred to, should
easily have $3.50 or $500 to their creuit by
next summer. and propose to offer them
If they are agreea ble-ten acres of land
and so much lum Der in lieu of cash pay
ment The unpaid balance can be made
good in five years at low rate of interest.
l believe that house can be put up for
less than 500, If we have the lumber and
services of capable master carpenter.
One hundred and fifty dollars, therefore,
would be ample to enable a family 10
make start of this kind. and with ordi-
nary good management the cost of the
land should be entirely betrayed in a
year.
"The army, OF course will provide
proper instruction and supervision until
the colonists have paid for their holdings
and are sufficiently advanced to dispense
with both. We will also establish bank