The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-04-22
CATHOLIC COLONIZATION.

CATHOLIC COLONIZATION.
Catholic colonization was
very familiar cry in Minnesota
thirty-fve and thirty years ago.
To hear it re-echoed to-day is like
hearkening to re-awakened mu-
sic, which, though left a long time
dormant amid past oblivions, is
found when heard anew to have
lost nothing Of it's earliest sweet
ness and power of appeal to the
truest and best interests Of our
Catholic people.
In 1876 Archbishop Ireland
opened his first colonies, DeGraff
and Clontarf in Swift County.
These were in succeeding years
followed by the colonies Of Adrian
in Mobiles County, Graceville in
Big Stone, Avoca and Fu1da in
Murray, Minneota and Client in
Lyons. Those the golden days Of
colonization when lands were pro-
durable, either for fourteen dol
lars the quarter-section, under the
homestead law, or at most for
three or five dollars the acre from
railroad companies-lands the
most fertile the rains Of heaven
ever watered, awaiting only the
touch Of the plough and Of the
harrow to enrich the tiller, even
the most careless and most I'M
scientific. After ten years Of ar
duous labor the Archbishop desis-
ted from his colonization schemes
pressed as he was by multifarious
occupations brought to him in the
administration Of an ever-growing
diocese. A pity it is that he did
so desist-so much was being &C
complished through colonization
for the veal Of those who were
responding to the call, and no less
for the veal of the Church to
which so much profit was accru-
ing through the founding of many
fourishing Catholic communities
across the Western prairies of
Minnesota. We have heard often
that one Of the regrets of Arch
bishop Ireland has since been that
he did not, in spite Of all seeming
hindrances, make Of colonization
one Of his lifelong works.
The colonies founded by the
Archbishop prove beyond all
doubt that the scheme of settling
Catholic immigrants upon the land
and gathering them into compact
communities where churches and
schools are easily maintained is a
great and noble work, worthy of
all praise, whatever the aspect
temporal or spiritual, under which
the results are weighed. Success
most ample, most remunerative
crowned the scheme Of Catholic
colonization as organized and car.
ried out thirty-five and thirty
years ago. Witnesses to this are
the happy and prosperous homes
of the colonists, the rise in value
of land, itself fortune, the splen
did harvests rewarding the toilers
annual paintings, and, what is oil
priceless value, the social, educa
tional and religious advantages
coming from the grouping of Cath
olics into compact and well-popu
lated neigborhoods.
i Well, what was done years age
in Southern Minnesota, may bt
done to-day in the more Northern
parts Of the State. Conditions
confronting the colonists are some
what different; on the whole
however, quite encouraging. The
price paid for land is higher, bu+
higher also is the price received
i for the products of the soil. Mar
kets are nearer; farm work easier
| To-day the settler begins with full
information as to what crops ar,
!, best suited to soil and climate
| seldom he will be asked to cas-
his lot farther than five or si1