La Junta tribune., 1899-05-20
is A GREAT SUCCESS.
SALVATION ARMY COLONY.
csoDasdsr Boesh-racksrs Expsransas Ia
nriaginG People From Chicsgo to- Colo
rado Proves satisfaetory.

oTu. "IituS iToIu uoHs' Coiofuuo'
says:
out on the arid plains of Colorado,
on the Santa Fc railroad, Just across
the Kansas line. Commander Booth
Tucker OF the Salvation army, In n
small way. In solving the problem that
will perplex the next century even
more than II has the last. and his ef-
forts deserve the admiration and the
support OF everybody who is inter
csted In the welfare Of his fellow men.
This colony. which In the length and
breadth of the western country was
considered joke to start with. is
rev looked upon by the officials Of
the state of Colorado. by the officers
Of the counties In the Arkansas valley
and by NIL the people who come in
contact with them, us most success
ful and promising undertaking. The
land is in excellent shape for n crop
the coming year. and great results are
expected from 1t.
''On the 18th of last April" said W.
NJ. Wiley, manager OF the water com
pany at Holly. eighteen families ar
rived at what has since been named
Fort Amity.' The weather was hor-
vble. One OF the peculiar spells of
Weather to which the arid region is
subject overlook them Immediately
upon their arrival. and II rained con-
stantly for two weeks. The roads
were muddy and no houses were built.
Their home was in tents on the bald
prairie. and every obstacle presented
itself to these 'tenderfeet.'
ITO the amazement of the old set
tiers. not a moment of day was lost,
tSut through the rain and mud the ma
terial for the houses was constantly
hauled out to the site, and the bad
r.., ~
extent was this done that II was n
common remark OF the old and sue
cessful farmers I'm the country that
few Of them would have worked with
tse vigor and energy that these peo-
pie showed through such weather.
The confidence aroused by this ener-
gy has been cemented with time, until
to-day the old settlers OF the country
look on the Salvation Army colony
with the highest regard, and its Off
cars and members have been elected
by the surrounding farmers to offices
OF trust and prominence In their farm
ers' societies and institutes.
The section and half belonging to
the colony was divided into ten-acre
tracts and n family placed upon each
alternate tract. the land being sold
TO them at cost price, $3.50 an acre.
on eleven years time. No payment Is
expected the first year. The second
year nothing is expected but two
Years interest at the rate of 6 per
cent. The third year the regular in
stallments begin and cotinue for nine
years. although n colonist has the op-
tion Of anticipating his payments II
lie chooses to do so and getting
clear title to his home 1t il proposed
tb sell the vacant alternate tracts to
the people whose land adjoins them,
but 1t Is believed that ten acres IL
enough for an inexperienced farmer
TO begin with. All the expenses of
Ahe journey from Chicago, n consider
able part of the outfit, the tools, imple-
ments, the materials for the houses,
and, IN fact. all the capital invested In
the colony, was advanced by the Sal
walton Army, and is to be repaid In
installments. with 9 per cent. interest.
Commander BootliTucker does not be-
lieve In direct charity. He thinks it
diminishes self-respect ms well as self
reliance. The more you do for man
the less he will do for himself.
Upon each allotment n pretty one
Story frame cottage was built. The
work on the houses was all done by
the colonists, assisting each other. The
several carpenters directed the labors
Of their neighbors and in return re-
ttlNtu dSSiStuhCc HUH tueui.
I There is no neater group Of houses
in Colorado, and no more contented
community In the world. Nearly ev-
cry one has written to friends urging
them to Join the next colony that
comes out, and those l talked with
were enthusiastic over their success
and the pleasures they enjoy. 1t was
difficult for some of them to find words
to express their emotions Only one
has returned east, and he. James Hnr-
rington of Cleveland, was reluctantly
compelled to go because his mother.
an aged widow, wanted to spend her
iast days with him and was too Ill to
BE removed to Colorado. The children
especially have thrived, and you can
not find sturlier lot of little chaps
In nll the world than the pale-faced and
hungry urchins that left the alleys of
Chicago only a year ago.
In the center Of the village is a neat
and convenient school house. where
Miss Sadie Gunnison, daughter of n
Denver editor, who formerly lived In
Iowa, presides. and is teaching about
forty young ideas how to shoot. 1t is
a regular district school and Is said
to be the best in the county. She has a
piano In the school house, gives music
lessons to her pupils after school hours,
plays for the amusement Of their pa
rents during the long winter evenings,
acts as librarian in charge OF n fine
lot Of books that look as II they were
studiously read, and is a guide, conf
dante and friend to all the women in
the colony.
sThe school house Is used for religious
services every Sunday under the direc-
tion Of Colonel Holland, and occasional
preaching by n Methodist circuit
preacher who serves several congrega-
lions In this section. 1t Is also the
headquarters of the Farmers Insti-
tute. A Debating society meets every
two weeks and discusses the great
questions that are interesting the rest
OF the universe. and twice month