The Meeker herald., 1897-09-25
THE RESCUE COLONY.
FIVE HUNDRED FAMILIES CON-
iN0x
CessssAs osRsessA - tbs Ass& Desirable
Lsesttoa In tbs Entirs Cssasrys

Cesss.As ssssessa - tbs Asss Desirable
Lsastioa IN tbs Entirs CssasRy.
Denver. Sept. 19.-The determination
Of Booth-Tueker to establish the first
Of the Salvation Army rescue colonies
In Colorado is looked upon by friends
Of the organization rs a strong point
for this state. says the Denver News.
The original plan Of the head Of the Sal
Walton Army In America was to locate
the first colony In California. The
terms on which subscriptions have
been made to the movement require
that California shall not be overlook ed
In making land selections for colonies,
but after the commander visited the
valley OF the Arkansas and was shown
the natural advantages possessed by
the region, Its unrivaled climate and
the nearness OF the markets for such
| products us colonists would raise In the
early years of their experience. he de
cided In favor of the Colorado PROPOSE
ton. 1t was Colorado against Callfor-
mia, and Colorado won.
]. A. Davis, Industrial commissioner
Of the Santa Fe railway, is one of the
persons who has been largely instru-
mental in influencing BoOth-Tucker In
state with Mrs. Tucker next week,
leaving Chicago next Monday evening.
II is the intention to spend several days
IN the Arkansas valley, and Comman-
\ der Tucker will join the party to make
one more trip through the valley before
the site Is finally named. A special
committee OF experts in agriculture
Will assist in making the selection.
State Representative j. II. Crowley OF
Rocky Ford is one Of the members of
the committee. No man in southern
colorado is better acquainted with the
advantages of the valley of the Arkan-
sas than Mr.. Crowley. He carried of
second prize at the State Fair this week
TOR the best collection of fruits.
The committee will begin its journey
lof inspection at the state line and will
Itravel as far as Pueblo, stopping at the
principal points and making a visit TO
he different tracts offered for the col
my. 1t is proposed to begin the move
nent with colony of 500 families
rom the crowded tenement districts of
New York City. Many Of the colonists
will know nothing of farming, and
superintendent will have general
.harge, who is fully Informed as to
he possibilities Of agriculture in the
'alley. He IL to be a practical man
Ind will be assisted by subordinates.
Who will teach the colonists the use of
arm implements and the details of
arming. 1t has been decided TO To-
ate each family upon ten acres of land
md no more. A total. of 5000 acres
viii be required for the colony. II the
and fs in the form OF parallelogram
he entire tract may be one mile wide
nd eight miles long, the total area be-
Ing about eight square miles. The
loney for the cash purchase Of the land
,as been subscribed and the head of
ach family win be expected to pay for
he ten acres allotted to himself and
Jamlly ~ promptly AZ circumstances
win permit. Colonists will be charged
interest ON deferred payments at the
rate Of three Per cent, ana they will be
AneoafAGed 70 makS sm1n payments II
short intervals Of time, payments being
received ~ low as fifty cents or 81 q
week. The Salvation Army assumes
the responsibility Of returning to the per-
sons advancing the money to establish
the colony, the principal with interest
At the rate named.
C0lonists will be encouraged to be
self-reliant. although at the outset It
may be necessary to advance even the
food and clothes for many of the fami-
lies. 1t is the intention to select fami-
lies willing to work and ambitious to
advance from the condition of the
slums. Lumber will be supplied for
houses and an effort will be made to
have the colonists all comfortably
housed before cold weather sets in. The
men will be expected to do most of the
work in erecting the houses.
The Arkansas valley colony Ia re-
gartied by philanthropists as one OF the
most important steps toward the amel
ioratIon of the ills of the unfortunate
classes of society that the nineteenth
century has brought forth. The extent
TO which the movement may be carried
depends entirely upon the success of
the Booth-Tucker plan. which has re-
ceiyed the Endorsement of some of the
deepest thinkers of this continent and
Europe. Commander Booth-Tucker is
this week In California looking into
several offers of colony sites. He leaves
for this state next Monday and is ex-
pected to speak in Coliseum hall next
Thursday evening. 1t is reported that
he will endeavor to introduce what is
known as the Railfelsen loan system
In the colony. This is a system of CO.
operative borrowing by the association.
Big Exports, Small Imports.