The San Francisco call., 1905-01-01
AMERICAN
AIDS POOR
OF BRITAIN
Empties Warehouses;
JOS. FelS Buys
Land So Men
May Labor.

LONDON, Dec. 31.-Joseph Fs
Philadelphia, a manufacturer. w ose
wares are almost as widely advertised
in America and England as Sir
Thomas Lipton's are, has the satisfac-
ton now Of seeing a big move forward
for a scheme he proposed some time
ago to various conservative British Of
ficials. who looked upon the idea at
first as revolutionary.
When Fels came to London q few
years ago many OF the English poor
houses were overcrowded with able
bodied paupers. who wanted work and
couldn't get 1t. The Board of Guard
ians had particularly anxious time of
1t. Charity was appealed to in vain to
relieve the distress, but continued de-
preston of trade at the docks and in
general industry always kept the work.
house full. Will Crooks. a member Of
Parliament who came from the work
house, tried various schemes to get rid
of the surplus able bodied in the insti-
tutions without much success.
Then Fels came on the scene and
suggested that those who were able to
work be sent on to the land. He Of
fered the land, but the Local Govern
ment Board, which Is the executive au-
thority in the administration of the
poor law, could not see the practical
bility of the scheme. However. Will
Crooks and one or two others kept peg
ging aw~~ at the department. until at
last it gave permission to test the
scheme.
Fels bought hundred acre farm for
$10,625 and placed 1t at the disposal Of
the Board of Guardians free of rent for
three wears, with permission to pur-
chase before or at the end of that time.
He asked no consideration for the use
of his money. but If the guardians are
unable to complete the purchase at the
time stipulated the farm will revert to
Fels in a vastly improved condition.
He has made similar offers to other
Boards of Guardians throughout Eng
land, and says that he is ready to find
any amount of capital for identical
enterprises sanctioned by the Local
Government Board.
He recently offered to buy 1000 acres
of land for the board, wherewith to
test on larger scale the plan now in
operation, and after considerable hesi-
tation the offer has now been accepted
and Fels is looking around for the
land.
This millionaire American socialist
says he is not animated by either busi-
ness or phhanthropic motives. OF
course, if the farms revert to him his
investments would yield a handsome
return through the enhanced value of
the land consequent on the improve
ments made by the workhouse men.
In any case he is now recognized as
a public benefactor.
Sumpner's farm of one hundred
acres, which was acquired by Fe1s. Is
situated IN the heart of picturesque
Essex, about forty miles from London.
and here 100 men, young and old. from
a congested workhouse, are back on
the land with spades and .pickaxes.
The farm is miles away from the near
est village, and even It's water supply
is three miles distant The construc-
ton of reservoir became, therefore.
a matter Of immediate necessity, ana
in this work large proportion Of the
men are now employed. The erection
OF laundries and living quarters is in
progress 1t is estimated that this will
cost $4,000, which will be defrayed by
the Guardians.
The first object of the colony will be
to make portion of the land yield
sufficient vegetables to satisfy the de-
mands Of the poorhouse