The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-15
Unique Experiment Made at
Shelby Springs
FARM ON LARGE SCALE
immigrants We're Brought Direct From
Northern Italy and Federal Ex-
pcrts Are Watching Expert
menf With Interest
BY WALTER HARPER


sists of four men and one woman, the
wife of one of the laborers. Another OF
the men is married and his wife will fol-
low from her home in northern Italy in a
few weeks The other two men are sin
gle.
The colony was founded about two
weeks ago by ". ]. Lloyd, who up to re-
Gently was connected with the geological
department of the United States govern
ment.
The immigrants were secured through
the labor information office for Italians
at New York city, and the information
branch of the department of commerce
and labor at Washington. The men were
carefully selected. and are said to be Of
the very best type of northern Italian
farmers.
The agricultural and labor departments
at Washington are taking an active in
terest in the experiment, and a special
man from the government departments
| will be assigned to observe and assist in
the establishment of the colony
The experiment means much TO the ag-
ricultural and industrial interests of Ala
bama. and will no doubt be watched with
interest by the people of this state.
Only about one-third of the area of Ala
bama is now under cultivation. and the
greater part of that is done indfferently
This condition is chargeable to lack of
agricultural population. inferiority of
available labor and lack of skill Ala
bama fails far short of producing the food
crops demanded for home consumption.
No state in the union affords a better OPP
portunity for agricultural development
While doing some special work for the
geological department Mr.. Lloyd was
greatly impressed with the fertility of soil,
climate and other advantages in Ala
! bama, as well as the Indifferent manner in
which The lands are cultivated. He saw
something of the great demand for food
supplies that are not produced in the state
and determined to make some experiments
with skilled immigration labor.
He leased the Shelby Springs property,
comprising 1860 acres of land large por-
ton being suitable for cultivation, and
applied to the italian immigration office
at New York for men. He had personal
friends in the departments at Washington
| who gladly assisted in the matter.
Reach Shelby Springs
The five Italians referred to above left
New York March % and reached Shelby
| Springs few days later. Everything was
| ready for their reception and letters to
the New York office from the men them
selves indicate that they are more than
pleased with their reception and the pros
poets for the future.
More men would have been secured but
fnY~ ant hat H.
late and Mr.. Lloyd decided not to at
tempt too large venture this year 1t
| is his intention to increase the size of
| the colony next year and from year to
year If the venture proves success, and
he feels that it will
Mr.. Lloyd has leased the property for
period of 20 years and will make a
thorough test of the enterprise He
contracted to pay the men $40 per month.
together with all expenses. Transporta-
ton from New York to Shelby Springs
was advanced and this is to be paid
back by the lahorers. The woman in
| the party is also to be paid 500 per
month. She Is assigned to the duty of
cooking and washing for the men.
Mr. Lloyd has allowed them garden
spots which they may cultivate as they
please for their own use. They are al
lowed chickens and other domestic ami
1
May buy Farms
These people will be allowed, when they
are able to do So or are so inclined to
buy homes of their own and go it indie
pendently.
According to the labor information Of
| flee for Italians this is the first venture
of the kind for Italians in Alabama, and
this office is watching the enterprise
with peculiar interest. 1t is considered
4 Nr+o ,,t
nucleus for a large movement of high
class Italian farmers to the fertile lands
and congenial climate of Alabama.
The enterprise has the hearty indorse-
ment of the Italian consular officials at
Washington, New York and Mobile.
The names of the new citizens of Ala
bama are Rinaldo Rosario and wife, Sal
vatore Trapani, Enrico Perrotti, Luigi
Trapani and Ferdinando Friore.
The first named speaks English with
tolerable distinotness, while the others
speak no English but are all highly intel
ligent and come recommended as first
class farmers with good Italian educa-
/ ton. They know the art of charcoal
burning and one man In the bunch la
said to be an expert cheesemakar.
| Mr.. Lloyd Talks
| Mr. Lloyd, who was in Birmingham yes
terday on his way to Washington and
1 NEW 1Olh, sdiu.
| II am very much encouraged over the
prospect for successful colonization Of
| high-class Italian farmers in Alabama
have taken much pains to select the
| best men available and propose to do
everything possible to make them con-
| tented. happy and prosperous.
| Alabama has wonderful agricultural
| advantages and as l view it only needs
| intelligent and .perseyering work to make
| it one of the greatest agricultural states
| in the union. ] am convinced that the
best class OF Italian farmers are the
men that are needed to develop the farms
of the state. The climate is congenial
| to these people and the lands are very
productive of the very crops with which
they are familiar.
1--WE will cultivate about 200 acres this
year in vegetables, fruits, grain and 9TH
| er food crops. OF course we do not ex-
pect to make a great showing the first
year but when we get all our plans
perfected and the farm in good working
order we expect to do something of
real value,
II have good set Of men. They seem
eager to learn American ways and our
language. They are peaceshle and indus
trious and | am sure will make good
citizens. They will be followed by others
of their countrymen as soon as success
seems assured
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