The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-05-22
RANlARDS FOR
DtLTA PLANTATIONS.
Result OF Business League Work In
Securing immigration.

Secretary Sterling received the letter
which Is published below from a Missis-
sippian who is now at Panama. This Ia
an opportunity for the planters OF Le-
fore county to secure class OF labor
which is not only reliable but people
who will make good citizens.
Those who are in a position to either
sell or rent land to the Spaniards are
requested to take the matter up with
the Business League who are pushing
this work.
Empire Canal Zone, Panama,
May ilth, 1908.
MIR. II. W. Sterling, Secretary Green
wood Business League, Greenwood,
Miss.
Dear SIr:I received your letter and
the descriptive booklet last boat and
will try to explain to you what 1t Is
that wish to do In tho hope that your
organization, or some OF It's members
may be able to assist ne:
The Canal Commission has brought
several thousand laborers from tho
north OF Spain here; they are excellent
workers, the Commission paying them
just twice what they pay negoes for the
same class of work and considering
them cheaper at that price. They are
polite, pleasant and cheerful and it Ia
very seldom that any of them are ac-
cused Of crime. They do not like the
Spanish government, saying that the
poor are taxed TO death to support the
army and the office holders, and the
still larger army Of idle friars and
priests. Few Of them would never re-
turn to Spain II they had anywhere else
to go. 1t seems TO me that these people
and even more, their children would
make very valuable citizens for Missis-
sippi. The majority Of them have done
agricultural work all their lives
though not cotton raising. Most of
them have little money and would be
glad to get an opportunity to purchase
farms on an installment plan.
II could find some land owner who
would be willing to sell them farms Of
twenty acres each with work animal
and the absolutely necessary farm i'm
plements for not more than $1,000, pay
ments to be 800 down and nine 500,
81 notes at one year intervals, believe
! could get good many to try 1t.
Some Of the more cautious might prefer
to rent on the share system for a year
In order to find out more about their
chances, and it would be well to arrange
things 80 they could do 80.
The greatest good that could posi-
bly, happen to Mississippi would be
some change that would make 1t re-
spectacle 10 the Delta counties for
white man to till the ground with his
own hands and these people would GER
tainly make things start in that direc-
tion.
One thing is essential in any propo-
sition for them, there must be
white school near enough for their
children to attend. Their greatest
complaint against Spain is that there
are not schools provided for their chill
dren. OF course should expect to re-
ceive commission on all sales on
which sufficient payments were made to
make the mortgage good security,
which think would be about the fourth
payment. II there is no individual who
cares to go In to this, perhaps your
League could organize a small corpo-
ration; In such event would be glad to
take such stock as can.
Hoping to hear from you soon, re-
main,
Very respectfully yours,
HOMER BRETT,
Empire Canal Zone, Panama.