The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-21
AUSTIN CORBlN'S COLONY.
COLLAPSE or Hrs PIAN TO SETTLE
ITALIANS IN ARKANSlS.

ITALIANS IN ARKANSAS.
A Frciect That was Iieeun with Every Preu,.
leo or Success and was BIasted by Iuls Death
Wis Plans for Bringing Over Italinus-
Prince nuspelt and other Italians Interested
HAMBURG. Ark. Jan. 12.-The COLONY of
Italians started two years ago by the late Aus
tin Corhin of New York at Sunnyside, Chicot
county. forty miles cast Of this place. is rapidly
going 10 pieces, Many of tho colonists have
already Jeff. and those yet remaining are pro-
pairing ito pull their freight" by early spring
II Is not likely that many Of the Italians will be
found at Sunnyside.
The collapse Of tho colony has been predicted
ever since tho tragic death Of Austin Corbin in
the New Hampshire hills in June, 1896. 1t was
in 1928 that he became virtual owner OF the
property. Up 10 that time the land, embracing
five plantations and comprising more than TO-.
600 acres, was owned by tho Calhoun Land
Company. John G. Calhoun. now a resident Of
New York. was President of the concern at a
salary of $500 a yoar. Tho stockholders be-
came dissatisfied with his administration there
was O suit in the United States court Mt Little
Rock, and Calhoun went out of office. Tho
trial brought out tho fact that the company
had issued bonds to the amount Of $500 600.
Bankers and capitalists in Amsterdam, Hol-
land, took the larger portion OF the bonds,
though MIR. Corbin himself held n large amount.
Tho affairs Of the company could not have been
mismanaged to any great extent. since 1t was
shown that the stockholders realized 6 per cent.
interest on their investment. After tho suit
there was a new President or manager at a
reduced salary. Later another manager took
charge. and finally q reorganization was ef-
fected under the name of tho Sunnyside Com.
pany, of which Mr.. Corbin held almost abso-
Lutte control.
At this time tho property was very valuable.
The land is situated for the most part on the
Mississippi River and a beautiful sheet Of water
called Lake Chicot forms n western boundary.
Tho Anchor line of steamers gives direct con.
~nection, via the Mississippi River, with New
Orleans, Memphis, and st. Louis. The land Is
very fertile, producing In favorable seasons as
much rs two bales Of cotton to the acre. Some
5000 acres are in cultivation. There are some
valuable improvements. including about eight
miles of railway, which runs from tho steam.
boat landing on the river to the uttermost edge
of Lake Chicot. But a good deal of money has
been wasted in improvements" For example,
the old fashioned and picturesque sixteen
room manor house, built on the main plantation
years ago, was torn down and replaced by a
tawdry Queen Anne cottage.
Austin Corbin conceived the idea OF ostab-
l Tbo pI,n a % s9ief tS s en lana tn1S ia Iop eols soHe { N sen a AND
twelve. acre tracts for a small cash payment,
with deferred payments extending over many
years. Prince Ruspoli, IN Italian noblenan.
who is an owner of a big block of the stock of
the sunnyside Company. favored the scheme
warmly, as did other Italians interested in the
concern. 1t is believed that il Mr.. Corbin's
colonization scheme could have been carried out
il would " mnly hTys ds wsx d., this bsd Part iart i SI Ind S' tbs
building of q railroad westward from Sunny
side via Hamburg to 2 point at or near the line
side would then have had not only q water
outlet but also railroad connection with the
best markets in this Southwestern country:
The proposed railroad was held out as q special
i%nducemcnt to the prospective colonists.
cal Inc Goioh shart i,p sehe 9 u re was sup pIhsmeo Of T MI.
ian peasants or small farmers living in the AL
pine region Of Italy had closed contrast to
ready to embark for this country. These peo-
pie purchased the land in 12h-aSro tracts At
pay 800 down and the payment of the balance
was to extend over 90 years at 3 per cent. in
t%erest. simultaneously with the sale of the
pushed. The sunnysido Company, sent attor;;
neys and agents along the line Of the proposed
Sunnyside to Hamburg. a distance Of forty
arre to confrib butte a a bonus of 10000 acres
of land and several hundred dollers In cash, TO-
gether with station grounds and right Of way, to
aid in the construction Of the road. Other
towns did likewise. The deeds for the lands
donated were all made to Austin Corbin, trus-
him for "the consideration Of tho building,
e9uipping, and putting In operation Of q iine
k kiEfs in 'eS Sh'SS' q Hr Ps1h% COUNT aii t th asm ased:
T HsTs Rlsee and in +, t Was A sbseya. Sdo thas th ssn wer Hs
to be turned over to Mr.. Corbin whenever the
work of actual construction Of the road was be.
gun. This was in the autumn and winter OF
1895 and the beginning Of 1896.
While all these operations, were under way
forty miles west of Sunnyside. and while the
country between that point and Hamburg was
excited over the advent of the railroad. affairs
At At sS snIf side We're T1,o,t going df go on easily Ey,d pn arri well.
and were settled on the land. The voyage
from Italy to this country had been unusually
board, and Immediately. after landing two or
three of the newcomers died. still, the colonists
quickly to the new conditions. They had lett
g s., Eagsfid I'd s sterile yirsu %sGu9 R1Sadin They Th found had fhf itft
snow and cold; they found here a land OF al
most perpetual summer. The Sunnyside Com
neat cottage, and the colonists were therefore
well housed from the outset. They appeared
ing. A Catholic priest was with them. and a
crucihN was to be seen on every, house. la.er
E o second sdI batch srrI Iifd 7d The Ds sSlGny p TSs " 11t.
look was still cheerful. though now and then a
note of discomfort was heard. The colonists
bies, but. owing 10 the lack Of facilities for Rapid
transportation, they could not do this, and we're
which few II any of them had any knowledge.
1t was explained to them that with the build
ing of n railroad westward from Sunnyside,
berries and other crops could he raised. Just
when the hopes Of the colonists in this regard
were highest fate intcrposed and shattered
them.
The news of tho death by accident of Austin
Corbin on June 4, 1896. came on these people
like a thunderbolt. OF course. the actual effect
was not felt for u few weeks. But when George
S. Edgell, MIR. Corbin's son-in-law. came on
from New York. his ovasive answers when
questioned as to the outcome OF the projects in
which Mr.. Corbin had been engaged, coupled
with the fact that MIR. Corbin had been a heavy
borrower, left little room for doubt. 1t, Is
said sometimes that one man is not missed, that
one life counts for nothing. As concerns the
sunnysido colony ny and its 9 rdeI I'm enterprises,
tin Corbin was the soul, the brains, the life. of
these ventures, and when he died no one took
his place,
First tho railway scheme was abandoned.
True, an effort was made toward its comp!c:
ton. The directors and some of the officers of
the road and also of the Spnnyside Company
held a conference with citizens of Hamburg
and other towns at Sunnysidc.. At this con.
ference the value of the various subsidies
-. - -a,,nt - I,ainnuu lilnlu To ln