The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1905-10-25
OzARKS FOR THE SWISS
A Scheme to Colonize Them
In Missouri.

Samuel A. Hughes of the Frisco
Railroad, Wine and Cheese Makers
VIII Come In Large Numbers-Re-
garded as Good COIOnists.
New Switzerland" may be the title
of the Ozark country in Missouri with
in five years If the Swiss government
keeps its promises made to Samuel A.
Hughes, general immigration agent of
the Frisco system, who returned re-
Gently from two months trip through
England, France, Switzerland and It
ally, says the st. Louis Post-Dispatch.
With him came a party of Swiss
farmers, who are to report back to
their government on the adaptabllity
of Ozark land for the vine and dairy
Industries. If this report is favorable
the bulk of Swiss emigration will be
turned to Missouri, and perhaps 80 per
cent of the $4,000 farmers who set out
yearly for the new world will come to
Missouri in North America rather than
to Argentine Republic in South Amer
lea.
Swiss farmers are the most desira-
BILE immigrants" said Mr.. Hughes, PRO
vided they are put IN a country that
resembles their native land. Some OF
the Alps are cultivated to their very
tops. the inhabitants going to lower
regions in winter, to move to upland
pastures in the early summer This
condition can be duplicated in the,
Ozarks and there we shall try to colo
nize the Swiss.
"Give them a few years and the
American Alps are assured. Travellers
through the Ozarks will then see the
chalet clinging to the top of cliffs,
around through which fiocks of goats
and cattle will reap the mountain
grass, to turn it into cheese III the
cottage factories.
"On the lower ranges grapes will be
grown and as the Swiss peasant is
born winemaker Missouri wine from
the Ozarks may one day be sold In
Europe.
Evansville, Howell county, has been
selected for the first settlers, and If
their verdict is favorable numerous
other towhs inhabited by thrifty Swiss
| will spring up in it's neighborhood.
| although averse to letting their peo-
| pie leave the country, the tide Of i'm
migration is too strong to be stopped
by government action, and it is pro-
| posed to direct the immigration into
! suitable fields rather than let the PEG
pie fall into the clutches of land sharks.
| I have the promise of immigration
| Commissioner Dryfus of the Swiss
| government that he will direct colonies
to the Ozark country If those already
here give favorable verdict.
| president Ruchet of the Swiss re-
| public is deeply interested, and when
| I saw him in Bern recently he said
/ that if the Ozark country and Missouri
| in general was up to my description OF
it he would personally see that desira-
| BILE emigrants were directed to it. Not
| only farmers, but manufacturers,
| cheesemakers and buttermakers and
| winemakers will be included in the
| Swiss settlers.
Zone man in Zurich has 100000
francs ready to put into creamery as
soon as the first settlers make their re-
! port.
| "As to the Italians, they, too, Will do
well in southern Missouri and northern
Arkansas, but they must have lead
! err. Their colony at Tontitown, under
the leadership of Father Bandine, has
turned timber land worth $15 an acre
into fruit and berry farms worth 500
an acre In seven years. Baron des
| Plances. who visited the colony year
ago. assured me that he had never seen
| a happier or more prosperous commu.
nifty.
1.-THE southwest has turned the flood
| of immigration from the north and
| Canada. and the country Immediately
tributary to st. Louis Us destined to
grow with as great strides as did Okla
homa in the boom days. 1t will be
lasting growth if peopled with desira-
| BILE farm settlers, as is now the plan"
|