The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1909-08-26
MAKING A NEW ITALY,,
Big Southern Colony's Promoter
Tells of Work Done.
MAY BE KEY TO BIG PROBLEMS


of Making Use Of Idle Land-Life In
New Italian Settlement.
Convinced that there is still enough
good truck garden land still unoccu-
pied along the Atlantic seaboard to
support many thousands OF his coup-
trymen, Feice Ferrero, brother OF
William Ferrero. the Italian historian
and sociologist, recently returned TO
New York city after visit OF inyesti-
CATION and inspection to an expert
mental cooperative Ita Ian colony To-
Gated near Wilmington. n. C.
Mr.. Ferrero is certain that the exper-
iment has reached the point where 1t
may be designated as a success. and
he expects the general spreading OF
the news OF what 1t has done to turn
a wave Of Italian immigration south
ward. Heretofore this immigration
has headed westward. and its defiec
ton into the south is expected to bring
an end to a certain condition that has
existed I'm the south since the war.
An experimental Dutch colony. locat-
ed also In North Carolina. has so far
succeeded that group of fifty fami-
lies Is now being organized In Holland
to come over In the autumn 10 prepare
for next years seeding time.
With these combined immigration
movements away from the general
trend OF their progress across the
country. Mr.. Ferrero is convinced that
the south has seen the end of the day
when II may expect TO have the me
gro problem" as special sectional
difficulty and that from now on other
labor will invade the market hereto
fore so universally surrendered to the
Of the slaves.
Italian Government Interested.
Mr.. Ferrero. who talked freely of
conditions as he found them among
North Carolina Italians and of the
interest that he and his brother are
taking in seeing such of their country
men as like the life of farmers trans
planted where there will he an OPP
portunlty for them to develop. said:
There are many organizations in Italy
anxious to find good land. so that they
AN let their people know where best
% 60 Here in New York there is an
italian labor bureau in Lafayette street
maintained by the government II coll
ects information and gives the benefit of
Is investigation free to all inquiring Ital-
ans. 1t costs the government. | should
say. $4,000 a year to keep 1t up. This
bureau viii distribute at once copies OF
he repor, on the Carolina experiment
md will advise Italians what they may
expect to find II they settle
here.
The new movement. as Mr.. Ferrero
sees 1t. will affect the negro question.
he problem Of getting relief in the
.ongested centers of the big cities. the
question and the matter
# increasing the industrial wealth of
he south by turning many waste
treas into farming sections.
Greatly Attached to the Land.
When asked to state exactly In what |
condition be found the 300 colonists |
making up the experimental venture
4
land he spoke with much enthusiasm
They're raising the finest children you
,ver saw-much huskier and healthier /
han their half fed brothers and sisters |
n Italy. Italian peasants. such as these
,olonists were, are usually much attached |
o the land. With patch of land bit |
II meal to eat and a small sum tucked |
way In some corner OF the house such /
peasant would be happy. Only the most |
desperate could be induced to leave.
But here after three years OF work l |
ind a people whose daily diet includes
weet potatoes. a good assortment OF veg
tables and even chickens and beef Be |
ides this prosperity. their priest assures !
ne each family has something over so /
nut aside the product of the sales of the \
easons strawberry crop.
The colony has church and a school. I
md all of the younger children are
aught to speak English.
Most of the North Carolina Italians |
viii come over direct from Italy and VIII /
e Venetians and people now farming in |
he northern provinces.
Grape and Olive Crops Thriving.
One interesting experiment in North
carolina has been that of grape and
live culture. So far the chief crops
nut out Of St Helena. the name of the
talian colony, have been strawber-
les, potatoes. English beans and cab
ages. while crops of alfalfa, corn and
otton are being introduced.
Father Donati. the priest of the col
my. came from a grape and olive
aising family He has experimental
With both. has thriving prospect
ow and is planning to bring over the
MEMBERS of his family in the fall with
nough grapevines and young olive
rees to start large vineyard and
live grove.
Besides this new venture. Mr.. Ter
ero hopes TO interest a few scientific
armers IN the settlement so that the
easant farmers. who adopt new ideas
lowly. will have before them the In
piration OF model farms handled by
xperts in horticulture and agricul-
ure. These. Mr. Ferrero hopes, will
o for the Italian settlements what the
gricultural college experiment sta
ions have done for the western and
middle western states.
Besides their work on the farms. he
opes to see established in New York
mother branch of the movement-a
cooperative distributing system in