New-York tribune., 1909-05-03
HAS LAND FOR COLONY
I'm FEDEN GETS OPTION
on 1900 ACRES.
Ready to Establish Cooperative
Community in North Carolina
on the Cane Fear RiCer.

F-A5erick van Eeden, of Amsterdam. Holland.
,s ready to launch the first Of his cooperative
colonies. With ". 7. Hoggson. OF this city, and
tugh MacRae OF Wilmington y. c. an option
., II oo0 acres Of land on the Cape Fear River,
nssr Wilmington, has been obtained. with ten
.stive option on 11.Go0 acres more. or thirty
6vs SQUARE miles in all. II is the intention 10
make the beginning in agriculture, and then
gradually work up until everything that civ
nized people may require can be produced and
manufactured In a few days a meeting will be
held. at which fifty trustees will be chosen, and
f-o-, their number a board Of directors will be
,nno:nted All Of these viii be investors, and
viii take q more or less active part in the man
sEenent Of the enterprise.
Az exclusively told in The Tribune, Mr. van
Ee5en returned to this country late in the
winter Of this year for the express purpose of
furthering his scheme. outlined here last year
A tentative capital Of S1.000,000 was decided
upou BY him as the amount necessary for be-
ginning, and while that may be the amount
fixed upon at a meeting to be held in a short
time If the large sUm is not subscribed at once
the capital will be made heIf. or 100000 Mr..
VET Eeden will not incorporate for moro than is
.ctuslIy subscribed. and he has been assured OF
100000.
Mr. van Eeden on his return to this city from
Holland went on lecture tour after a con-
.ultation with MI Hoggson. who. while he was
s9sv communicated with others. and began TO
pIan for active work. Recently, on Nh van
Eeden's return from the West, he and Mr..
Hoggson went to Wilmington and met Mr.. Mac
Rae. banker in that city, who viii take an in
terest in the colony With him they made
thorough survey of the country around VIII
unington, and decided that the colony should he
placed there Other sections had been con-
sidered but IN North Carolina the conditions
we're found more nearly 10 meet the require
nents.
At Wilmington the land is exceptionally rich.
Mr van Eeden said. and the rail and water IA
cilities are exceTent The property fronts on
the broad reaches Of the river. which is. in fact,
harbor from the city TO the sea 1t is be
ueved that II viii be possible to cultivate
oysters in the waters, and these viii be an
added source Of profit 10 the colony. On the
return journey Nj van Eeden and Alr- Hoggson
visited President Taft. Secretary Hagel and
Secretary Wilson. Mr.. van Eeden said;
We had q most satisfactory audience with
the President and with Secretaries Nagel and
Wilson We found much interest in our plans
end received much encourd cement. We were
the guests al luncheon of Mr.. Loudon, the Min
lister Of the Netherlands who likewise showed
his appreciation and sympathy. Within
short tine We hope to he able to give full
announcement Of the plan. with further details
about the directors. trustees, capital and initial
proceedings
we have decided that our beginning must he
in agriculture, as II Is the basis OF enterprise
We shall choose q manager Of general and tech
nical skill and knowledge TO take care Of our
work. The transportation facilities at viii
mington are very good: the land is rich and the
climate equable We will be able to reacn all
markets without difficulty"
According 10 Mr.. Eeden's plans, every
person employed viii have a financial interest
in the colony. stock to be issued 10 all. This
stock viii not be negotiable. and when per-
son wishes 10 withdraw his interest will be pur-
chased by the company al par The medical
end educational needs Of the colony viii form
one OF the initial parts Of the project The
fifty persons 10 be chosen as trustees are all
men Of means and, in the main. Of practical
business experience.