New-York tribune., 1901-03-20
MANY WANT SOUTHERN HOMES.
PLANTATIONS MEETS READY RESPONSE
FEW DETAILS OF THE PLAN

Applications have already come TO Superintend-
ent Blair OF the Outdoor Poor Department from
people who wish to accept the offer of the rich
Southern woman to transfer fifty poor families to
Southern plantation and give them oppor-
tunity work. The offer not made known by
Mr.. Blair until late Monday. but though not made
public till yesterday morning through the news
papers the superintendent received number OF
applications in his morning mail. When he reached
his office at Twenty -sxth-st. and the East River.
he found two men waiting there to apply to have
themselves and their wives taken to the South.
where they might find work and home.
Mr.. Blair said the offer de to him through
w H. Porter, jr- agent of the Plant system, to
whom the plan of the made known
She wished to provide work for fifty couples on
plantations near New-OrIeans and near Delta.
Miss They will have work enough TO enable them
to provide for themselves. Who the woman Is has
not been announced. and Mr.. Blair does not know
her identity.
Frederick Ryder. forty years old. of No 1os East
e-hundred-and- -thirteenth-st, was one of those
waiting for Mr. Blair yesterday morning. He said
he would like to accept the offer. He has wife and
three children He has tramped the city for work.
without being able get any, and would have
accepted anything by which he could have made
a living He would like to establish a home that
he could call home. He says he has been out
OF work long time Mark Gompertz. thirty
eight old of No. 1851 Thrd-ave.. said he has
not been at work all winter He thinks he could
succeed IL given a chance.
The aspect of the offer changed when Super
intendent Blair had talked with Mr. Porter Of the
Plant Line Mr.. Blair said afterward that he
could not get all the details he wanted from Mr..
Porter. and that he had decided not do anything
in the matter until ne the Southern woman
herself He said was led to believe from Mr.
Porter's language that the persons who go work
on the plantations expected to pay back a.
soon as they begin 10 clear little money for them
selves. He said a meeting would be arranged be-
tween the woman and himself in the future and
that then he could speak more definitely.
w H. Porter, jr., passenger agent of the Plant
system OF railways, said mis- office No. $50
Broadway. that he had had conference with
Superintendent Blair He said Mr.. Blair was gem
orally favoraby impressed with the scheme, but
the details which he had in position to give
were meagre he had decided await fuller In
formation and better guarantee before doing any
thing further in the matter. Mr.. Porter expected
be In receipt of such information by Saturday.
He said
received the offer of this generous woman
through Savannah office. 1 DO not know her
nah, and is reputed TO be rich. She is said 70 own
about fifteen plantations. OF these one is situated
at Delta Miss, and one on the MISSISSIPPI; near
reference to the latter The information IN my
possession at present is so meagre that l really
should not speak about the matter AS rar as Z
understand, the idea is settle fifty poor families
from this city the New-Orleans plantation
They would be furnished house, agricultural i'm
pements and enough land to provide them a living.
The work would be conducted a share basis. so
per go the worker and 80 per cent to the
owner II ought TO be a blessing TO any poor man
unable to provide living for himself and his fam
lily.
MIR. Porter said that the New-Orleans plantation
was not the lines of the Plant system directly,
but SO near that he could arrange for the trans;
portation of the families which the woman had
offered 10 provide for.