The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1898-04-02
THE SUNNY SIDE COLONY

abandonment OF the Sunny Sidt
: Colony project, concerning whicl
so many misapprehensions exist:
Editor Daily Picayune, New
Orleans, La.
Dear Sir-In your issue OF
March 23rd you published an ar
ticle headed Italians Return
From Sunny Side" Feeling con-
iident that you are not disposed
to misrepresent, | desire to call
your attention to very many er-
rors in the article alluded to and
to state the facts. 1t is false in
every respect that the "ColUnists"
have been mIstreated, oppressed
or threatened, unless the following
concessions mot contained in their
contracts) can be 50 regarded. The
free use of mules and agricultural
implements for the past two years,
Il physician at a salary of 81 800
per annum, medicine $500, priest
at u salary of 81, POO per annum,
school teachers $500, provisions for
same $500, steam railroad train
to carry children to and from
school, also to carry the "colonists"
to and from church and to the
store to get their rations, all paid
for by the company.
There is not one family of
"Genoese" on the place nor ever
has there been; they are Yeneuans
and Romans, mostly from the
mountains, and the principal and
real cause of their leaving is on
account of being unable to endure
the hot climate and malarious air
OF the bed of Chlcot Lake on which
the property is located. Before
leaving Italy they knew just what
they were to pay for the land as
their contracts were delivered TO
them there and they thereby be-
came land owners before they
left their native shores. 1t is re-
diculous to talk about land here
being as cheap rs land in Italy, |
and SO far as paying out any of |
their Indebtedness at once, they |
only promised to pay when the
crop was gathered and those who
were unable to pay out the com
pany carried them along until the
second year when all but fifteen
families out of 179 paid out and
bad balances ranging from $50 to
800, Their contract" clearly
stated they would have twenty
two years to pay the principal but
could anticipate payments it they
so desired. 1t is not true that
committee Of two were sent to
Rome" Nothing of the kind
occurred and us for making threats
md becoming disorderly, it is false
rs can be. A more orderly lot of
people never existed. The under
signed has been a year among
hem and never knew of row or
ight of any kind to occur. They
lad no notes or anything of the
Kind. They simply had their
contracts" and we're never asked
o pay anything not required there
n and not then if their crop did
Iot warrant it. The true cause of
heir leaving is their being unable
0 stand the climate and almost all {
o a family have only the kindest t
ceilings toward the officers who
re in charge anu have SO express
d themselves repeatedly. Fur d,
hermore, those who have gone |
way took all that belonged to /
lem without hindrance and not $
My that but were allowed the j,
rec use OF trains to move their
elongings. |
Talking of three-cent cotton" t
heir cotton sold from 3-8c to t.
l-Sc, as Messrs. j. NJ. Parker a
Co.., of New Orleans, will sub a
antiate, but as this is in keeping =
18th other misstatements, am II
d to believe your information
lme from seme disgruntled or
interpreter few
lving been employed and when Il
'und to be worthless adventur- -
s were dismissed from the SER :
ce. My object in noticing the v
'ticle in question at all, is not g
IT self-praise or any personal A
otive whatever, but simply as an h
It of justice to the heirs Of the !.
te Austin Corbin, who have done N
in their power In the expendi D
ire of large sums of money and 81
,ncessions to make a success of al
.e enterprise begun by the kind .,
,arted and benevolent deceased. ~
! am quite sure you will give ;f
is true statement the same J..
lblicity as the cause for it re- al
lived. for you nor any other a
urnal of the same importance, a!
at is so far-rcaching, cannot af- f,
rd to let such o gross misstaoe- =,
ent 90 uncontradicted when you Nv
.ve the facts before you, te
Respectfully,
ALBERT ALLEN,
eneral Manager SunnySide Com -
pany, Sunny Side, Arkansas. y