Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-14
of the good things prepared for the
n nionio in thu

of the good things prepared for the
intended picnic in the woods.
1t rained-it pOured-but the new
colony had it's first Fourth of July
and its members learned why the day
is celebrated by all Americans, and
what they can expect in this country
by becoming good and loyal citizens
of His Excellency, Uncle Sam.
The Founder Present.
President A. w. Rich of the Mil
waukee branch of the Jewish
Agricultural Aid association, who
purchased a large tract of land in
Wood county and established the
colony less than eight months ago,
made trip Monday evening to Arpin,
to enjoy with the colonistS their first
Fourth as an established colony. In
speaking of his visit, Mr.. Rich says:
"The people in our colony and other
residents of Arpin had prepared for a
Fourth of July celebration, because
they knew 1T was the great national
day in the United States. Elaborate
preparations had been made in the
woods; a speaker was engaged. But
the rain! Well, l never saw such
weather in July before, and if any
thing, guess it was worse than in
Milwaukee. Consequently, the out
door demonstration was abandoned,
but in the Presbyterian church the
programme was carried out and
enjoyed.
Houses to be Built.
"While at Arpin, I made arrange
mentS for the erection of houses for
the farmers. I went to Marshfield
and saw former Gov. w. H. Upham,
whom 1 found to be greatly interested
in our work. Upon his own motion,
he agreed to make a special figure on
all the lumber we will need, and by
August l, the work will begin. We
will employ two or three men of
experience to superintend the build
ing, and our farmers will do the plain
work themselves.
Crops Hampered by Rain.
lowing to the almost continual
rains, the work of planting and the
growing crops has been greatly
hampered. In many cases, second
planting was necessary, and it is not
yet certain just how they will com e
out. La new land, heavy rains pre-
vent work to a greater degree than
lands that have been worked over
before, where there is more drainage.
But our people ar all hopeful, enter
priSing, and in ahe best of health.
Men and women who went there with
aShen faces, because of prlvation and
foul air in clost city quarters. are
today rosy faced, robust people, and
there was not a case of sickness in the
colony when was there. Three
healthy boy babies have been born
since the colony was started, and all
the members are doing we'll.
Great Results Possible.
II may confess that with every
visit to Arpin feel more and more
thoroughly convinced that the project
of aiding any man, who has the
strength and the will to live on a farm.
is the greatest philanthropy that can
be undertaken by any one or by apy
1t is understood that
with my plan, each of these men is
enable in ten years time to pay back
every dollar invested for him, with
interest at per cent.
"Now. if Mr.. Rockefeller, or any
other rich man, would be of the same
opinion, and would invest onc-half of
the amount in similar effort that is
now being given by such men to purely
educational institutions, 1 think in
the end twenty times the number of
people could be made happy and self
supporting as though the same
amount was invested in endowments
of colleges.
II was particularly pleased with the
kind words spoken by people living
near our settlers, and the efforts of
these neighbors to help the colonists.
Each family has about three acres of
ground under cultivation, and they
are caring for the same splendidly.
Such effort is bound to win, I am
well pleased with our undertaking,
and feel that we have made no mis-
takes, and within two or three years
our Arpint settlement will serve as a
model of the most practical and
beneticent relief for the congested
districts of large cities, no matter of
what class of people they NAV he com.