The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-05-24
OzARKS FOR THE SWISS
A Scheme to Colonize Them
In Missouri.
FARMERS WILL BE FIRST SETTLERS

Ef Their Verdict Is Favorable, Says
Samuel A. Hughes of the Frisco
Railroad, Wine and Cheese Makers
VIII Come In Large MEMBERSHIPS
@arded as Good ColOnists.
New Switzerland may be the title
sf 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 a two months trip through
England, France, Switzerland and It
ely, says the st. Louis Post-Dispatch-
With him came a party Of Swiss
farmers, who are to report back to
their government on the adaptability
of Ozark land for the vine and dairy
industries. If this report is favorable
the bulk Of Swiss emigration will be
'urned 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
'tSwiss farmers are the most desira-
v1ded they are put in country that
resembles their native land. Some Of
the Alps are cultivated to their very
tops, the inha bitants 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.
ffGiye 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 focks Of goats
and cattle will reap the mountain
grass, to turn it into cheese in the
cottage factories.
Con the lower ranges grapes will be
grown, and as the Swiss peasant is a
born winemaker Missouri wine from
the Ozarks may one day be sold in
Europe.
stBransville, Howell county, has been
selected for the first settlers, and if
their verdict is favorable numerous
other towns inhabited by thrifty Swiss
will spring up in it's neighborhood
although averse to letting their peo-
pie leave the country, the tide Of Inn
migration is too strong to be stopped
by government action, and 1t Is pro-
posed to direct the immigration into
suitable fields rather than let the, peo-
pie fall into the clutches of land sharks
I have the promise of Immigration
Commissioner Dryfus Of tie Swiss
government that he will direct colonies
70 the Ozark country If those already
here give a favorable verdict
president Ruchet Of the Swiss re-
public Is deeply interested, and when
I saw him ia Bern recently he said
hat if the Ozark country and Missouri
in general was up to my description of
1t he would personally see that desira-
ole emigrants were directed to 1t. Not
only farmers, but manufacturers,
cheesemakers and buttermakers and
VIII OC AAC1uOCO AZ tlC
Swiss settlers.
Cone man in Zurich has 100000
francs ready to put into a creamery as
soon as the first settlers make their re-
port
CAS- to the Italians, they, too, will do
we'll In southern Missouri and northern
Arkansas, but they must have lead
er, Their colony at TCntitown, under
the leadership Of Father Bandine, has
turned timber land worth S15 an acre
into fruit and berry farms worth 500
an acre in seven years. Baron des
Piances, who visited the colony year
ago, assured me that he had never seen
q happier OF more prosperous commu-
atty.
~The southwest has turned the food
of immigration from the north and
Canada, and the country Immediately
tributary to st. Louis is destined to
grow with as great strides as did Okla
bona In the boom days. 1t will be a
lasting growth IL peopled with desira-
Die farm settlers, as is now the plan."