Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-11-12
THRIFTY JAP COLONIES
State of Texas Has Several and
Processes to Like Nipponite
Settlers
RICE GROWING CHIEF WORK

Homo Style of Culture Introduced With
Great Success-WeII Supplied With
Money For Their Operations-Turn-
inu TO Fruit Now.-Soout Talk of War.
Unlike California, Texas is glad to
have Japanese within its borders, says
a special dispatch from Webster, Tex
to the Philadelphia Record. 1t has
half dozen colonies Of the little
brown men now. all SO industrious and
peaceful that they are considered good
citizens. Through them oriental ele-
ments are being brought into the agrl-
cultural methods of the state.
The principal colonies are at Deep
water, Webster. Wharton and Victoria,
and in all there are probably 500 Japs
in the state. A number of Japanese
rice farmers are also located along the
line Of the Southern Pacific between
Houston and Beaumont. They are
adopts at growing rice and other farm
products. At Deepwater the japanese
method of transplanting rice has been
followed for the last two years with
the greatest success and profit.
The rice harvesting season Is now IN
progress, and the scene In the Jap
anese colonies Is an animated one
from early morning until late III the
evening. They conduct the harvesting
work on the cooperative plan, much
the same as wheat harvesting is car
ried on in the middle states of the
north. All the Japanese farmers IN
the colony Join forces and help thrash
the crops on the different farms. The
Japanese make holiday out OF the
work. They appear to get much en-
joyment out Of everything they do.
A noticeable thing about the Jap
anese in Texas is that they never lose
sight of their patriotism for their ma
tive country. The Japanese flag al
ways occupies position OF honor
upon every farm. 1t may be seen ny
ing upon the thrashing machines While
the rice thrashlng work Is In progress
1t is frequently planted upon some ele-
waited spot in the field, where 1t Is IN
constant view Of the little brown men
while they are working. The jap
anese colonists In Texas have many
thousands of acres in rice this year
The yield will be heavy and the profits
from the crop large.
The home life Of the Webster ana
Deepwater colonists is very similar TO
that which they lead In Japan. They
attend strictly to their own affairs ana
seem to be more interested In their
farm work than in anything else. Inc
older colonies have succeeded SO wen
that the establishment of number OF
others is contemplated. A number OF
japanese bought several thousand
acres Of land near Wharton last spring
and established colony Of fifty Japa-
nese thereon. They rapidly developed
the virgin land into the most attractive
rice farms in the state. They had more
than 5000 acres in rice this year. They
were amply supplied with money from
the start with which to carry out their
plans, and extensive and costly Inn
provements have been made, including
an up to date system Of irrigating ca
nails aud bitches, comfortable resi-
dences, barns and rice warehouses.
They used traction engines as the mo-
tive power in breaking up the land.
The cultivation and harvesting of the
rice crop were done with the most
modern farm implements: Their In
dustrious and law abiding ways won
for them the respect Of the people of
that section.
A farming company was organized
last spring, with capital stock OF
100000, for the purpose Of establish
ing colony of Japanese near Victoria.
The company is composed Of Japanese.
The colony will harvest large crop
Of rice this year.
Some of the Japanese farmers are
introducing native fruits and vegeta-
bles into Texas. Y. Myuma, who has
large farm near Fannette, planted a
patch of his ground in Japanese mel
ons this summer as an experiment.
The melons thrived wonderfully, and
he now, has an abundant harvest OF
them. The melons have been placed
In the markets at Houston and Beau
mont. They attract much attention
by their peculiar appearance. They
are more on the order of cantaloupe
as to size and taste, but no one would
iudno thoYn tn no either a watermelon
or a cantaloupe by their appearance.
Mr.. Myuma claims that this section
is we'll adapted to raising many kinds
Of Japanese fruits and vegetables.
These Texas Japs are not worried
over the possibilities of war between
the United States and their native
country. When one Of them can be
induced to talk on the subject at all he
boots at the suggestion of war. O.
Takayama, who is at the head Of the
Japanese colony at Deepwater, five
miles from Webster, made this propo-
sition when questioned as to the war
prospects:
.If war Is declared between my
country and the United States at any
time within the next ten years l Will
suffer my head to be delivered to you
on platter"
Mr.. Takayama is in constant CORE
spondence with high officials Of the
Japanese government and is in close
touch with the political situation in
that country. 1t was through his eff