Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-23
AMERICAN SCHEME A SUCCESS.
Satisfactory Results From "Unenlploy-
ed Colonies" in England

From Staff Correspondent.
LONDON, April 12-There seems to be no
doubt about the success of the various
unemployed colonies" which the British
local government board is establishing with
the aid of Joseph Fels of Philadelphia.
An opportunity was given newspaper men
this week to visit the most important of
these "colonies''-at Hollesley bay on the
seacoast in Strickland all that was seen
there bore evidence to. the value of the
American socialists idea. That idea is, of
course, to give the unemployed who at pres
ent are crowding the London poorhouses
a chance to earn their keep by agricul-
tural work in the country. With this OBJ
ject Mr.. Fels is acquiring derelict farms all
over the country, and turning them over,
rent free for three years, to the local gov
eminent board The first he acquired was
Sumpner farm of 100 acres, in Essex. which
cost the American manufacturer s10,625 and
is now in the hands of the Poplar board
of guardians.
The men from the London warehouses;
are sent to these farms, and set to work
at retaining them Single men get only
their board and wages-married men.
besides being found" paid 1915
week, but are allowed only sixpence-12
cents-a week for themselves, the balance
being sent to their wives in London. The
farms which the men are reclaiming-under
the direction of practical agriculturalists-
Will, OF course, increase greatly in value
when they become productive once more.
At the end of three years they will be
purchasable by the Observation-Disclosures
they will revert to Mr.. Fels, who makes
no pretenSe that his offer to the local gov
ernment board is wholly philanthropic.
The Hollesley colony" visited the other
day, is said to be typical of the rest. 1t COM
prlses 300 acres, and on these are now
working 10 men, who, five weeks ago, were
numbered with the horde of unemployed in
London. Dockers. carpenters and brick
layers, for the most, by trade, they were
found doube-digging the ground and SOW
Ing rows OF potatoes, onions and asparagus
At the end of every month they are al
lowed to go to London and look for work
at their own trade. If they fail to find il
In the course of time there is a good chance
for them in the country at their new call
ng-agricutural labor being in demand
At Hollesley farm it is said that the ''un-
employed laborerS" are not recognizable as
the same beings as when they came from
London slums. Then they were wild eyed
and half starved. Now, weIl-fed the unmis-
taxable glow of health is on their faces
During their first few days. said one of
the oyerseers, the men seem simply to
no stint, and one batch of men actually ate
forty loaves fewer in their second week
than in their first"
They are all contented. too, and CRATE
full for the chance given them.
OF course, these unemployed colonies do
not pay-but the authorities expect to get
some Of their money back by making the
farms supply the vegetables for the work.
houses under their control. On all sides
the experiment is pronounced a success
and it is worth noticing that Mr. Fels' of
fer to buy up dereIict land for reclamation
country where there are able-bodied pau
pers who are willing to work