The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-19

cite. Lavaca. Austin, Burleson and
Williamson. The land in that region
!s slowly bang purchased. and a few
Bohemlans have moved westward into
the panhandle region OF tAe State, set
Ting in the county Of Scurry. The
Texas Pacific Railroad passes within
ten miles OF the southern boundary OF
the county. but these Bob emians hava
left the railroad and shifted north
ward TO the middle OF the county, set
Ting In the towns OF HerInieISh and
Pyron. In this way they are settling
In new country, preparing the land and
following the customs established by
their forefathers ii:ty years ago. a
few Bohemians are found IN the ex-
colony or settlement has. set bean
established.
size of Farms.
The farms owned b the Hc.emlans
vary in size from forty to 1000 acres
the average, however. being about 100
acres. For the most par: they are
cotton farmers. situated on some OF
the best cotton lands in the state. As
n rule, too, they have their own vege-
table gardens, which supply their per-
sonal wants. and WHEN there is an
them into the towns for sale.
a large part o. the Bohemians In
Texas own their farms, and of that
number the great majority have their
property free from debt. Many of
them came without sufficient funds TO
purchase land Immediately on their
arrival. but good localities, favorable
crops and ability for hard work, for
which the bohemian families are noted.
insured the early success of the set
tiers.
Housing Facilities.
The FIRST Houses Of the earlier set
Tiers We're usually two room buildings
made OF hewn logs with tho cracks
cemented and the whole building
whitewashcd insida and out. Prosper
lty and the ipcrtnse1ii the size OF fam-
lies led 10 the erection or large frame
dwellings, some two stories high. cou-
tanning six or eight rooms. These
were painted ana comfortably fur
nisaed. With the Development of the
house came corresponding improve
m;nt of land, an enlargement OF tn,
area tiilablc. and increase in the live
stock kept on the farm. AS the towns
have grown. banks have been estab-
lished, and the Bohemians have aided
them by depositing their earnings and
buying shares. Some Bohemians have
entered mercantile pursuits. erecting
small stores and handling wide va
riety of commodities
Progress and Amc rlcnnizatIon.
The Bohemian communities arc pros.
porous Socially the Bohemian does
not assimilate with the native popula
ton as readily as docs the German
hut as farmer he cxemplihes the
qualities of industry and Intelligence
and perseverance that have been uni
formally associated with the German
landowners. lie is quick to utilize
modern methods of agriculture and
improvements in machinery, and his
progress to the economic and social
level OF the native farmer Is much
more rapid than is the advancement
of tho Pole and other Slav races. The
success attained by the Bohemian has
been the result almost exclusively OF
intelligent and persistent cultivation
of the soil. There has been little out
sire employment or development OF
supplementary industries. Situated In
the midst of rich farming lands, as
most OF the Bohemians in Texas are
the opportunities for Industrial en-
ployment are small. In the cotton gins
only a few extra hands are employed
and those generally a. time when
the Bohemians are busiest. Tho rail-
roads usually employ negroes at track
repairing and construction work. oc-