The San Francisco call., 1897-05-21
It Will Probably Be Ef-
fected on Sugar-Beet
Lands.
Spreckels Assures the Committee
of His Willingness to
Cooperate.
Matters Will Probably Be in Shap
to Locate the First Colonists
Next Winter.

As the result of the conference held be-
tween Claus Spreckels, ex-Mayor EIlert
and Major Winchell of the Salvation
Army yesterday, at the Office of the sugar
King, one of the great industrial and
social problems IS in fair shape to be
solved In most sati sfactory manner in
this State. EN- pioyment will be provided
for all who are sincere in their assevera-
tons that they desire the opportunity to
earn an honest livelihood, and at the
same time great industry will be ex-
tended within the borders of the State.
The conference mentioned was brought
about as the result of the suggestion made
by Commander Booth Tucker of the Sal
vat1on Army, who is the father of the
idea OF colonizing the unemployed on un-
occupied lands, with the ultimate view of
allowing the colonists to become the
owners of the tracts upon which they may
be put to work.
While thousands of acres of grain and
fruit lands have been placed at the dis
posal OF the committee having the matter
In hand, they look with greatest favor on
the sugar-beet section OF the State as offer
Ing the best promise OF success. The
beet-sugar industry offers EN- ploy ment to
greater nun ber of men TO the specified
acreage than grain or fruit growing, and
there is no danger of fover-production.
As already told in THE CALL, confer
ence was arranged for between a sub-com-
mlttee of the citizens committee having
the colonization scheme in charge and
Claus Spreckels to ascertain if the latter
would cooperate in the matter. This con-
ference took place yesterday and was most
satisfactory to all concerned. Mr.. Spree
kels entered most heartily into the spirit
of the work and assured the committee,
comprising ex-Mayor EIlert and Major
Winchell, that he would do everything in
his power to aid them In colonizing num-
bers OF the unemployed on sugar beet
lands.
He offered to place at the disposal of the
committee sugar-beet land which he had
purchased recently, to see that the colo
nists were given the necessary instruc.
tions for the raising of oeets and agreed
to purchase the product at the regular
market price, which is 81 ton, and which
returns a handsome profit to the pro-
ducer.
This Is all that the committee desires,
and at the next Meeting of the ~ ain CON-
mittee report will be adopted on the re-
commendation of the sub-com mittee that
the colonization OF the unemployed be
first tried on beet-sugar land.
It will take all the time between now
and next winter to get the lands into
shape for the intending colonists. and in
the meantime the committee will devote
itself to raising the necessary fund for pro-
viding the colonisrs with implements,
shelter, provisions and clothes until they
have disposed OF their first crops. This, it
is estimated, will require about $25, 900.
How this amount is to be raised has not
yet been decided. 1t will probably be in
the shape of a loan, to be repaid ulti-
mately by the colonists out OF the profits
of their crops.
Should these plans be carried out San
Francisco will not again be con ironted
with the task OF providing employment
for the destitute and unemployed during
the winter season, as has been the case for
several years past.