The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-01-17
COL0NIESINNEW JERSEY
JEWISH REFUGEES ARE REoEEMlNe
THE WILD LANDS.

State Geologlst Kummen, who has
been consulting with Governor Voor-
hees for some time on the matter Of
redeemlng New Jersey forest lands.
will send out In a short time bulletins
on forestry, so that the people viii be
brought to see the possibilities Of the
States woodlands and make more
than a half-million acres cleared and
prosperous land.
Some time ago n movement. looking
In the same direction, was placed on
foot to have the State own the forest
lands New Jersey Is at present about
half wilderness, the wilds Of the south.
ern part Of the State making up this
great percentage. The possibilities Of
this unculuvated section We're recog-
nized years ago by Russian and Polish
Jews, who established colonies there.
There Is a circle in the South Jersey
pine lands, touching points in Cumber-
land, Salem and Cape May counties
that are experimental, and, in the
main, successful colonies. Such are
Alliance, Rosenhayn, Carmel and
Woodbine, Baron de Hrschs we'll
known community.
Alliance, in Salem County, was at
one time in the eyes of benevolent peo-
pie of both America and Europe, and
it's establishment was hailed as a So
luton Of an international problem.
The prosecuted Jews of Russia were
fleeing by shiploads and throwing
themselves upon the mercies Of other
nations, particularly England. Eng
land, to relieve herself, sent them to
America. The problem of their dis
osal in this country became a philan-
thropic question. This section had the
advantage Of being close to the mar
kets of New York and Philadelphia.
Land was very low, acreage enough
for whole city being purchasable
for the price of single city lot Soon
the wilderness was made to blossom.
Vineland was transformed from
woodland hamlet into a pretty city,
attracting buyers from all parts of the
country, with successful foreign colo
MES surrounding it. Hammontown
had evolved out Of a dense woodland
into q big tract of small fruit farms.
Egg H0rbor became a prosperous Ger
man town. With these successful eX-
periments in view, the Hebrew Aid
Society was induced by a Vineland
agent, who at that time was an emf
grant commissioner, to purchase a
tract which became Alliance. 1t was
in a corner Of Salem County, and the
nearest trading point was Vineland.
The tract purchased was some dis
lance from the New Jersey Southern
Railroad, and six miles from the
West Jersey road. A road was cut
through the woods, q large square
opening made, and a coarse barracks
erected. The plot Of 1000 acres was
later split into fifteen-acre lots, and
smah cabins erected, at a cost of $3.50,
to be paid for in twenty years, without
interest.
In spite Of these charitable plans
there soon came signs of discomfort
Across the country ten miles or Sc
there was an older colony known as
Estelle, in Atlantic County. It's inhab.
| itants possessed some means.
Creating farms in the wilderness
did not appeal to the inhabitants OF
Estelle. and many of them started out
as peddlers. Soon Estelle became q
! deserted village, and the fate of the
older colony had a demoralizing eff
| feet upon Alliance. The people Of tine
latter settlement began to grow dissat
isfed and wearied the Hebrew Aid So
ciety beyond patience by opportunities
for money to start up in business, Oh
for working their little farms. The
Aid Society, to get rid of the annoy
ance, gave the colony over to the AL
lance Land Trust.
The families that remained were pa
tient and industrious. They raised
fruit, some of them realizing from
$500 to $500 a year. In winter they
made garments for New York con
Germs. Some of them started the max
ing of cigars and cigarettes. The cot
tages were enlarged, an English public
school was started, and a synagogue
organized. Many prospered to the eX
tent of giving their children advanced
educations. In course Of time severa
large industries located at Alliance
The town gradually extended toward
the railroad, and now stretches alonl
6. single street three miles to Norma
the nearest railroad point
Rosenhayn, another of the Hebrew
settlements, was started about tn
same time as Alliance. 1t was direct
ly on the line Of the New Jerse!
Southern Railroad midway between
Bridgeton and Vineland. The New