The Washington times., 1904-06-05
NEW COTTON FIELD
TO RIVAL SOUTH
! Southern Negroes to Colo
niZe the SOudan.
TRACT OF GREAT FERTILITY
Leigh Hunt, Korean Gold Miner. OBJ
tains British Help for Coloni-
zation Scheme.
TRACT OF GREAT FERTILITY

Leigh Hunt was once president Of the
Iowa Agricultural College; later he was
publisher of the Seattle Post-Intelli-
gencer," from which he amassed a for
tune and then lost II through no fault
or mismanagement OF his own He next
struck out for Korea and built up
still greater fortune in gold mining. with
which he returned to Seattle and paid
OF claims outstanding against him,
many of them not legal. Now, accord
ing to the Boston Transcript" he will
go TO New York. fresh from the Soudan.
where he has been working on colon
ization scheme. with a view to utilizing
the vast agricultural resources of that
country.
A couple Of years ago, Mr.. Hunt,
travelling for his health I'm Egypt, be-
came impressed strongly with the cot
ton-producing possibilities Of the Sou
dan and conceived the plan of interest
ing competent cotton growers and in
fiuential men of affairs in a plan for
putting to practical use some millions
Of acres of land lying along the upper
Nile
He had an interview with Booker T.
Washington as 70 the feasibility OF en-
barking a multitude of Southern
Negroes in the enterprise and making
It inducement for negroes to go TO
Africa Mr. Washington approved the
plan. believing that it contained great
possibilities for his race, and that many
negroes would be glad to avail them
selves Of the opportunity it offered.
To Dwarf American Plantations.
Mr.. Hunt was sufficiently encouraged
70 return to England and open negotia-
tons with the British government with
view TO obtaining concessions. From
private advices II is learned that these
negotiations have been successful and
that he has or is about to come into
possession, through purchase, OF an i'm
mense tract OF land in the Soudan. adj
jacent to the Nile. for the production OF
cotton on a scale dwar6ng that Of the
greatest old-tine American plantations.
Last fail Mr.. Hunt wrote a letter 10
George Z. Roberts, director Of the mint,
a close personal friend. setting forth
his project Mr.. Roberts gave the sub
stance of ibis letter to the press and it
was generally printed In the South. II
drew forth many letters Of inquiry on
the subject from q progressive class of
negroes, who are impressed with the
possibilities Of the scheme
~ might nave Uttu tADtEADO. the let
DER elected some adverse comment from
the Southern press. Naturally. South
oTn newspapers would not view with
enthusiasm a proposal involving the
establishment Of competition which
must in time deprive them OF a large
part of their foreign market and seri-
ously affect the price Of the staple pro-
duct Of the South.
Commercial Development-No Politics.
At the time Of the conference between
Mr.. Hunt and Mr.. Washington highly
Imaginative stories were printed, TO the
effect that Mr.. Washington was to be
made director general OF the scheme;
that new nation. as Il were was to
be established in the Soudan, and that
the negroes Of our South were 70 be-
transported almost en- masse 70 north
ern Africa.
on the contrary. the Soudan propo-
sition had as its primary object COM
mercial rather than political develop
ment. There is no thought Of depopu-
lating the South Of negroes or Of set
ting up a government on the Nile
1t is desired. however. to interest, per.
haps. a few hundred OF the more pro.
gressive colored adopts in the details
or cotton plcntiug. growing gathering
and ginning. and Inducements viii be
ouered these. Lapd will be sold to
them outright II desired OF seed will
Be furnished and cotton produced on
shares. IL is proposed by the company
70 place the cultivation Of the lands
In the hands Of Oversecrs thoroughly
experienced In every department Of the
work, and offer special advantages to
tie people actually performing the
labor.
Approximates Cotton Area of South.
The Soudan approximates I'm size the
great cotton area OF the South, and Is
covered with deposit" soil. the accum-
ulation from early days Of the over
flow Of the Nile, and extremely fertile
At present most Of this vast area Is
uncultivated. Formerly II was inhab.
tied by a nomadic people who prodded
about in the soil after the manner Ct
the ancients. but modern agriculture IS
unknown there. The British government
has been attracted 10 the Hunt enter
prise by its promise OF cheaper cotton.
Dir. Hunt, on his arrival IN New York
next month viii take I'D the matter Of
interesting Southern negroes in his plan
He stu retains his ownership in the
gold mines OF Korea which thus far
have not been seriously interfered with
BY the hostiiities between the japanese
and Russians. but the Soudan scheme
Tar eclipses the Korean in magnitude
and. II II proves 10 be what its pro-
rnOters confidently anticipate. II will
have a radical Influence the chief