The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-07-22
Farm Colonies For Italians
as Check to tuberculosis

their own country win have to be
cared for by public or private tneti-
tutions In the United States. and few
reach the stage when they are unable
70 support themselves before they
have been In this country three years.
The expense 70 the country. win, with
the number or cases. increase at a fre-
mendous rate.
For emigrants from southern italy
the ideal solution is the establishment
of farming villages. where they could
be- gathered in groups and employed as
day laborers until they had gained
enough experience in new methods of
cultivation and had saved enough
money TO acquire small farms on their
own account.
Southern Italians who come to this
country. though they mainly come
from agricultural districts, have only
worked as day laborers on the estates,
and the attempt TO make them land
holders with small capital and lack-
ing experience can scarcely be suc-
cessful. Nor are they accustomed 20
the isolation of the life on the farm
and this is no doubt one Of the rea-
sons why they cannot be induced 70
leave the city. The United States
could furnish experts to instruct the
people in certain lines OF intensive
farming and the italian government
would no doubt be willing TO assist In
many ways not only In increasing the
number OF Italian emigrants ready 70
settle In such villages but In assist
ing them during the period OF adjust
ment, just as 1t morally and financially
assists in the camp schools carried on
by the Society for italian Emigrants.
But a number OF southern Italians
now settled In New York, and suffer-
ing from incipient tuberculosis, could
be restored to health and strength tn
their native climate. while they are
not In condition either to stand the
conditions they find in the city, or TO
face the rigor Of the northern winter
in the out of door work i'm the coun-
try. And these should as fast as pos
sible be enabled to return 10 italy and
take up their old pursuits there
On the other hand the agricultural
experiments conducted in the United
States have given results which would
prove invaluable TO the semi-arid
regions Of southern Italy and Ameri-
can methods I'm intensive farming,
dry farming, preserving and canning of
fruit might bring wealth TO many OF
our depopulated southern districts. IL
the returning emigrant were aided In
capital and instruction. 1t would be
highly beneficial to both countries IL
there could be concerted prompt and
efficient action In dealing with the
encouragement OF agricultural pur-
suits in the United States and in Italy.
The return of a considerable num-
Der Of Italians afflicted with tuher-
culosis might temporarily decrease the
immigration to this country, but this
should scarcely be regretted Etatis-
tics show that during the year 1910
the number of Italian immigrants in
the United States has reached the fig-
ure Of 1000. And Senator VillarI in
one of his articles points out, there are
In Italy $4,000 agents for the steam
ship companies artiicially fostering
emigration. This is to the lost of both
countries, for Italy cannot afford to
lose it's citizens In such numbers. and
New York, where the majority OF them
stop, is I'm no way ready to receive
them. The state and the country as
a whole will have to suffer from the
excessive congestion. and anything
that will. If only temporarily, check
immigration will in every way benefit
tho United states.