The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-12

of Polk county, represents compar-
ativcly recent method OF populatlng
TN Old community with foreigners. In
1t the real estate agent and the advcr-
| tisement play CONSPICUOUS part. The
development OF a new locality by di-
rect Immigration from abroad is not
attempted. but foretgntrs all over the
United States are urged TO purchase
earns given UP by America In this
| instance the plans has worked we'll
and there are IN the the locality IS
bohemian families. all of whom own
farms averaging 100 acres or more In
AREA. They are raising large crops OF
corn. hay and wheat besides poultry
and live stock. The Industry of this
settlement presents one solution of the
abandoned form problem. changing a
| non-productive community into one of
wealth and prosperity.
Origin md DEVELOPMENT of Community.
The census OF 1900 gave the total
! population OF the county as 23.255 and
! the total foreign born as l59. or less
! than Z per cent. of the entire populu-
ton; of this number five were from
Bohemia. II this census had been made
three years later the results would
have been very different. In 1901 the
| hrst Bohemian came to the locality,
| attracted there by advertisements that
| he had read In the Bohemian news
| papers and the printed matter and ad-
vertlsing circulars. written In Bohemian
and scattered broadcast by an activ.
real estate agent of Bolivar. Missouri
Nincy per cent of the present settlers
| We're farming in other States when
they read of the agricultural oppor-
tunities and cheap lands in Polk county
and were induced after somo cores
! pondenc to sell their farms and come
to Missouri The severe climate in
Iowa. Nebraska. and Wisconsin, and
| the Dakotas was factor In bringing
the immigrants to Missouri, where the
winters are somewhat milder. 4 few
have come in more recently from
Europe. The majority of those in the
| locality came with money. Some
brought as much as $4,000 and wera
able TO pay cash for their farms. Others
| could only pay $1,000 or $4,000 cash
and gave notes for the balance at q
| per cent. The greater number bought
well-improved farms. and their notes
| bearing 8 per cent. are considered good
security. Every mouth new families
negotiate for farms, and there are
/ constant additions being made 10 the
/ colony. Occasionally one becomes dis
satisfied after coming here and S Ills
his place. moving to another locality.
Crops Raised.
and has a fair percentage of lonm, tn.
water supply is abundant and the eli
mate is mild. with long summers and
short winters, allowing ample time
| for chops to mature. Corn, hay, and
wheat are the principal grains raise
Each Bohemian has his own garden,
which supplies his table with vegc-
tables the greater part Of The year.
With excellent opportunity to produce
&c
raising live stock Many Bohem!ans
| raise horses and mules for the trade
as well as cattle, and yarge quantities
OF poultry and dairy products are
also sold. Taken as II whole the Be-
| heminns arc making a very substan-
tial living, some of the farmers selling
$4,000 worth OF products during the
! year.
The Bohemians apparently work
| harder and spend more time cuitivat-
ing their crops ana caring .or tho
land than do the native farmers. The
houses are frome structures. Many
are neatly painted and comfortably
furnished. Where one or two children
are working in the cities, the nouscs
are likely 10 he better furnished than
| when the entire family remains q.
/ home. In the city the children have
! opportunity to see the style the fur
niture. and the manner of living pre-
vailinS among Americans, and when
at home on visit are apt TO inspire
their parents with desire Tor i'm
provement In this way the standard
of living is raised to some exteat.
| Tn women and children in some in
! stances work in the field. 1t IL diff
cult to persuade the girls TO enter
domestic service. as they usually pre-
fer to remain on the farm The Bo-
hemians have little social intercourse
with the natives. They live very econ
omicaliy and spend less for food and
| clothins than the natove farmers. be-
ing willing TO forego pleasure and com
tort in order TO own land.
Ownership of Farms.
| All the Bohemians own their farms
( Seventy flee per cent of the farm ,rs
/ have discharged their indebtness and
| the. remainder hava small amounts to
pay. hut it seems probable that their
| farms Will be free from debt in a short
| period. In all cases the BonAm;ans
| have cleared more land than did their
American predecessors. The barns and
buildings have been repaired and the
real estate in this community has in
creased in value generally since the
arrival OF the Bohemians. In 1901 land
was selling from SIS to $50 per acre.
but now very little land can be pur-
| age price of land is from S35 to SIS
per acre. The Immigrants have a
Roman Ca tholic churcn and school the
| greatest number OF these Dohem,ans
being Catholics. They attend services
!