The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-28
DEBS' TENNESSEE COLONY.
Colonel Hinton Tells of the Outlook
$4,000 Acres


Washington, d. c., Oct 2S.-On Mon
day morning Colonel Richard j. Hin
ton, chairman of the Colonization COM
mission of Eugene v. Debs' scheme of
Social Democracy, will afIix his sigma
ture to papers which viii transfer to
the commission $50 600 acres of land in
Cumberland and Fentress counties,
Tennessee. Col. Hinton left today for
Chicago for this purpose.
The Tennessee colony will be the
first organized by the Social Democra-
Cyl said Col. Hinton. Next year it is
the purpose to open similar colonies in
Idaho and Washington. Indeed, it is
my intention, While in the west to con-
clude arrangements for the colonies in
those states as well as for that in Ten
nessee.
Tennessee cost $1,750;0OG. Taa Ken
lucky Trust company supplied the COM
mission with money with which the
purchase was made, the company ac-
cepting the commissions bond for ST.,
600 coo.
This will leave US a margin of $780,
600 with which to inaugurate the colo
ny. One-ha1f of our land is covered
with excellent timber and is valued at
$40 an acre. The great tract also in
cludes what is perhaps the largest I'M
developed coal acreage in the United
States.
1.-The land also contains iron ore, he
MATTE and potter's clay in abundance.
The greater part of the tract is admir-
ably adapted TO agriculture. An aDunQ-
ance of corn can be raised and enough
wheat to meet the demands of the col
Ony. Much of it, too, is fine land for
fruit culture. There is no doubt that
it will easily sustain 10000 people.
1.-The land which will come into our
possession formally on Monday includes
several oil well locations; indeed, some
of the wells are now flowing; a railway
franchise for a line connecting Nash
vile and Knoxville, and giving the for
mer city direct connection with New
Orleans; nine miles of narrow gauge
railroad; a big saw mill; a considerable
amount of fine cut timber, three large
farms under cultivation and several
houses and other improvements
'COlonists for the settlement are now
being organized among the coal and
iron workers of northern Alabama. A
small body of picked men will soon be
on the ground to prepare shelter for the
colonists, and to provide means for sup
port.
march from Birmingham to the reser-
walton. By early summer next year we
shall have 1000 families located. A
corps of experts will leave Washington
in a few days to make a thorough ex-
animation of the property. The corps
will comprise an architect, a builder, an
agricultural editor and practical far
n1er, an economic chemist, a DOtan1St
and a geologist. All the resources Of
the territory we have acquired will be
carefully noted, so that complete and
accurate information may be given to
the public.
AFTER the coIonists are fairly started
they will control themselves. The colo
nists will choose their own administra-
tive officers. and every man will be the
equal of every other. The men who will
form the colony at the start believe
that such a movement. is their only sal
walton. 1t is not expected, therefore,
that there will be the least difficulty in
maintaining discipline among them. E1V-
cry man will be expected to do his duty
and his labor will have the reward to
which it is justly entitled. No idlers
will be tolerated in the community. Any
man who is willing to work will be
warmly welcomed Those who are not
will be informed that they are not
wanted among us"