The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-02-13
FRENCH CANADIANS WISH TO COLONIZE.
They Are Seeking a Location In South
Carolina and Want Information as to
3. Land and Other Things.
(The State. }

day which showed very plainly the
necessity for an industrial and immi-
grafton department in the State.
During the day the Rev. Fathers
A. j. Provost and A Beyrube of Fall
River, Mass, the former native
French Canadian who is in charge of
churches having over 10000 French
Canadians in their membership, ar.
rived in the city accompanied by
Bishop Northrop. 1t seems that two
years ago Bishop Northrop while on
a visi; to Fall River, New Bedford
and adjacent manufacturing towns,
seeing the dense population, told
Father Provost about the great
amount of undeveloped land in
South Carolina. Father Provost be-
came Interested and gradually
large number of the people have
been saving up something with which
to come to such colony and get
start. Feeling that tho time was
ripe Father Provost came to Charles
ton and Informed Bishop Northrop
that his people we're ready to enter
upon the establishment Of colony
and that he had come to look at the
country, secure Information rs to in
dustrial and social conditions, and
get facts about the cost Of such tracts
of land as would be needed. The
bishop brought the gentleman on to
Columbia, believing that such infor
nation rs was wanted could be best
gathered here. arrangements we're
made with Gov. Hayward, Secretary
of State CAN'T and Secretary Watson
of the Columbia Chamber of Com
merce for conference in the gov
ernor's Office at D. m. At this con.
ference Father Provost explained at
length his plan, told how the people
had saved up their money for the
purpose and indicated that it was
desired to keep the colony in as com
pact form as possible He said that
they would want at least 10000
acres of general agricultural lands,
suitable for all kinds of farming.
Already they are in touch with Mr..
nj. v Richards, land and industrial
agent of the Southern railway, who
will meet them on Friday and aid
them in securing a proper location.
Gov. Hayward assured the visitors
that such colony would be heartily
welcomed to South Carolina and has
undertaken to give Father Provost
all the aid possible in the collection
OF the information he desires to carry
to his people. He wishes to make
them such report that they can get
together, select committee from
their number and send such commit
tee to select the final location Of the
colony.
The secretary of the local chamber
OF commerce gave the gentlemen
such Information as he possessed and
has undertaken to collect full infor.
nation as to character Of lands,
qualities of the soils, industrial char
acteristics, etc, Of certain sections Of
the State, together with maps, etc.,
for Father Provost to carry back to
his people.
Last evening representative Of
the chamber OF commerce possessing
accurate information us to certain
very desirable lands called upon the
visitors and gave them the benefit Of
their knowledge. If the proper loca.
tion can be secured, the land being
available at reasonable figures, it is
almost certain that tho colony will
be formed and Sonth Carolina will
have several thousand very desirable
new inhabitants, coming almost en-
tirely in families.
The gentlemen will remain in Co.
lumbia today and will then go back
to Charleston. Father Provost may
return here little later. He hopes
to get things in shape so that the
committee referred to can come down
early in April.
Any landowners in the State hav
ing large tracts for sale at reasonable
figures may send the information
and prices to the secretary Of the