Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-24
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

be found for them. These families are
usually referred to as ''congests."
AS one might naturally infer. the adj
vent of these "congests" into localities
where they do not belong is not welcomed
by the local residents. On the contrary.
there is. a bitter and determined resistance
from every one, and particularly from that
class known as the 'landless.' which is
composed of the sons of farmers who are
ambitious to have farms and homes of
their own and cannot obtain them either
because there are none to be bought or
they unfortunately lack the price. In
stead of dividing up the big estates in
such localities among the "landless." who
consider themselves entitled to them by
the fact that they are natives OF the
community and their families have lived
there for generations and their ancestors
once owned them, the government COM
missioners are giving preference to CON
gests," which does not seem entirely
fair.
A Fierce Fight in Prospect.
To ignore the claims of the ''landless'
means fierce fight over every attempt
at migration. The cattle-driving that you
read of in the, newspapers is the latest
method Of persuading the landlords to
sell, and it is the "landless'' class-the
young farmers who want farms of their
own-who are guilty of these outrages,
and any one who remembers the terrible
passions which have been aroused over
the land question in Ireland can imagine
what will happen when "congeStS' from
other portions of the island are forcibly
brought into a community and placed
upon farms which the former owners have
been compelled to sell to the government
in order that these aliens may have a
home and be able to earn living.
What is called the congested districts
board was created in 1891 to improve the
conditions of life on the west coast where
the standard of living is at the lowest
point and the people were in a chronic
quality of the soil. This district con-
sists of the province of Connaught. the
counties of Donegal, Kerry and Clare and
the districts of Bantry. Castietown:
Cork The land in those localities is very
poor aud is estimated at an average value
of 80 cents an acre. while the farm lands
in the rest of Ireland have an average
value of $3.12 an acre.
The majority of the people live on small
plots. where they manage to raise few
potatoes and keep a few cows and sheep
Of WORKOUT breeds. which they drive
wherever they can find pasture. Most OF
them try to earn little more money by
going to other parts of Ireland to work
as. laborers for a portion of the year
or by fishing. gathering seaweed and
other home industries.
The act empowers the board to aid NIL
grafton to more hospitable countries, to
assist in the Improvement of livestock
and the breeding of horses, cattle. sheep.
donkeys and swine. to encourage poultry
farms, beehives, discriminating, lace
making, knitting and the manufacture of
carpets rugs and other things that can
be made at home and to encourage the
fishing industry by constructing piers,
harbors and furnishing boats and gear.
Not Disposed to Migrate.
A considerable sum Of money has al
ready been expended in this manner, and
a large number of people have had their
condition improved. But the work has
not gone on as rapidly as is desired In
the first place the ''congests' are not dis
posed to migrate and the commissioners
have not been able to find any part of
Ireland where they can support them
selves where farms can be obtained for
them. or where the people In the neigh
borhood are willing to receive them The
inducements are offered In the form OF
good farms and money to build comfort
able houses to make fences, plant hedges,
buy seed and tools and seedlings of fruit
trees at government expense The COM
missioners tell me that the attachment
of these poor people to their homes is
very strong, and that is true among all
human beings. The less a man has the
more he prizes it, and often the more
wretched the home, the stronger will the
owner cling to it. And the only way any
"congestS" can be persuaded to move has
been by organizing a considerable num-
Der of families of neighbors and placing
them as colony in the same neighbor-
hood
Another great difficulty has been found
in the refusal of the cattlemen who own
the only unoccupied and available farm
ing land to cut up their pastures.
In order to promote the movement from
the congested districts commission was
appointed in September. 1906 to make a
general inquiry into the subject and to
report recommendations. The commits
sion consisted OF:
A Commission of Inquiry.
The Earl of Dudley recently lord lieu
tenant of ireland and soon to be governor
general of Australia.
Sir Anthony mcdonnell, recently per-
manent under secretary for Ireland, and
the de facto ruler of the island for sew
eral years. He is usually credited with a
better knowledge and a ripper Judgment
concerning Irish affairs and conditions
than any other man.
Sir ]. c. r. Colomb, formerly an officer
in the British navy. recently member of
parliament and now an Irish landlord
with large estates.
Sir Francis Mowatt, for many years
permanent secretary of state for the
treasury at London.
Most Rev. Patrick O'Donnell. Bishop of
Dublin. treasurer of the United Irish
League. an active member of the nation
alists party and one of the ablest and
most influential politicians in Ireland.
Mr.. John Amman Bryce, brother of the
British ambassador at Washington. a
large manufacturer and influential finan-
cier, now a member of parliament.
Mr.. A. Sutherland, Scotch crofter, or
farmer. formerly member of parliament,
and several other gentlemen not SO well
known.
The commission was commanded to re-
port What areas. If any, outside the dis
to be dealt with as congested: what lands
to be dealt with as congested what lands
are most conveniently situated for the re-
lief Of congestion; what changes in law or
administration are needed for dealing