The San Francisco call., 1909-03-24
PATRIOTS NEPHEW
LAUNCHES PROJECT
Scheme Suggested for Colonizing
Lands in State With Poor
Italian Immigrants
Former Labor Commissioner in
Panama Presents Idea to
Promotion Committee

A far reaching scheme for estab-
lisning agricultural colonies of Italian
immigrants in the state of California
has been launched by Giuseppe Carl
baldi nephew of the famous patriot
of the same name. Garibaldi is at
present in San Francisco and was the
guest yesterday of the California
Promotion committee. His project has
not gone beyond the preliminary
stage, but he hopes within the next
few weeks to be able to make suffi-
cient headway to insure its success.
GaribaIdi will proceed on the theory
that it is better to help the immigrant
to help himself than to allow him to
shift for himself and thereby run the
risk of failure. The plans of the
young Italian do not call for big
commercial enterprise with large
profits, but rather for vast CO.
operative Undertaking with adequate
remuneration for those who lend their
financial support.
SERVED TWO GOVERNMENTS. -
1t was by chance that Garibaldi's
mind was turned toward the venture.
He had been sent to Panama as special
commissioner of the Italian govern
ment to investigate labor conditions
At the end of three months, he COM
pleted his mission, but was prevailed
upon by Colonel Goethals to remain
as labor commissioner for the canal
authorities He spent two years there
and left recently, intending to go to
China to join his brother, who is in
charge of important railroad construc-
tion there. He came to San Francisco
on his way to the orient. but was
charmed with the state and the peo-
,@Io ia nj
for thrifty Italian immigrants.
Garibaldi is a young man of hand
some features and athletic figure. BY
profession he is a civil engineer, but
has had a wide experience in COLOMBIA
ton matters in Australia and Argen-
tina for his government.
FINANCIAL AID NEEDED.
81 am surprised" he said, that the
state has never taken up the question
of colonization in a systematic man
ner. From what l can see. the need
of this state is larger Agricultural
community 1 believe this would
benefit every industry in California.
Every land is dependent upon its agri-
cultural development; and in California
there is much room for new farming
communities.
81 had not thought of this matter
until 1 travelled up the state, and then
/ decided to see If it were not possible
to arrange for new colonies The plan
1 have in view is somewhat different
from what.ha been the usual system.
1t is not a large money making enter
prise. but would be sufficiently at
traetive to insure a profitable return
on the investment.
"I have carried on these projects for
the Italian government in Argentina
and Australia, and am very hopeful
that they can be made successful here.
In case I find people willing to assist
financially shall go ahead, but if there
is no desire to do SO, of course l shall
have to let it drop.
PLAN FOR POOR FAMILIES.
MY idea would be to have COM
pany provide the land, the houses,
the necessary implements and seed to
the settlers. ] would try to arrange it
so that we could bring families who
were without funds. After they had
been provided with everything neces-
sary they could be assisted in their
farming by council which could de-
eide upon the crops to be grown. The
crops could be marketed either inde-
pendently or through the company pro-
noting the enterprise.
The company could also maintain a
store so that the settlers could obtain
work to be done on the farms the colo
nists could labor on roads and streets
and other work for the company. For
this they would be given credit toward
the purchase of their land. The sale of
their crops would also be credited to
them and in a few years they would
own their land. AS fast as one colony
had been placed on its feet another
could be established.
LOCATION NOT DECIDED
First of all, it would be necessary
to secure an advantageous location, so
that the question of transportation
would present no difficulties. I will
take the matter up with some Of your
people in a short time, and If they ia
vor the plan we will carry it out"
Garibaldi said that he had no special
locality in mind. as he had not yet been
able to look into the land situation He
will confer during the week with a