The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-04-01

Seattle, March 81. An Afro Ameri-
can colony In the state Of Washington
that will In time number $4,000 or co.
900 souls is the dream Of Samuel Bur-
dette OF this city. 1t is not altogether
dream, either, for the first settlers
have already taken up their land In
the eastern part OF the KIickitat county,
where 1t is proposed to locate the col
ony. Here. IL Mr.. Burdette's scheme
goes through, some seven townships
viii eventually be occupied by colored
farmers. A town will be built but the
community will be primarily an agri-
cultural one, and the inhabitants will
depend principally ON the fertility Of
the soil for their prosperity.
The scheme has been a pet one of
Mr.. Burdett for years. AS long ago
as 1898 he organized fraternal body
boasting the title of the Ancient Order
of the Sons and Daughters of Ham,
but 1t was a failure. Four years ago
he organized a fraternal benefit in
surance society called the information
al Council of the World, and 1t is this
that has taken the initiative in the col
onization project. A few years ago
similar project was undertaken, con-
templating q settlement near Pasco,
with a town to be known as Blazing
Star. This was allowed to drop, after
surveys had been made, because ac-
cording to Mr.. Burdette the soil could
rot be cultivated without irrigation,
and irrigation was impracticable.
Now the International Council has
had surveys made of the tracts in
Klickitat county, the project has been
exploited all over the south, and the
first immigrants have arrived. Mr..
Burdette says, it is bound to be sue
cess, and predicts glorious future
for the new colony.
The land lies in the easternmost cor
ner of the county, along the Columbia
river. 1t Is government territory, and
the scheme is for each settler to take
up a homestead. 1t is to be primarily
colored colony, but Mr.. Burdette
says no obstacle will be put in the way
of whites who wish to take up land
there. Seeds win be obtained from
the government. and the first crops
will be put in this spring. Some Of
the settlers are now on the ground and
others will go in a few weeks. Mr..
Burdette himself will join the colony
about July. In explaining his project
yesterday, he said:
We simply want to establish a COM
munity where us colored folks can
live. where we can make our homes
and turn out useful and good citizens.
| sent out circular letters all over the
south explaining the scheme and ! got
| Il, 200 answers. Down south they
have got colored folks to burn-and
they burn them. over here We want
to make a. place for them where they
can live and be good. If they're not
good. we won't burn em, but We'll slap
'em in Jail and give 'em a fair trial.
The south is suffering from an over
production of colored folks, just like
in Arkansas they suffer from an over
production of hogs. Now down there
when they have too many hogs they
Just herd 'em all together, tie knots
in their tails and shut 'em up In q
field. The ones that crawl through
the fence they let go. The ones that
get caught by the Knots in their tails
they keep. Now they can't do that
with the black man, so we are going TO
make a place for him in Washington.
Most of the settlers will come from
Missouri, Tennessee and North Caro-
lima. We won't have any shiftless,
good -for-nothings. Any man to come
must show us that he is able to sus-