The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1913-02-22
DISCOURAGED HHoMEsEEKERs.

DISCOURAGED EHOMEsEEKERs.
Under the foregoing caption the
St. FrancisTil1e True Democrat of the
10Th ultlmo published the following
editorial:
"The Donaldsonyille Chief states
that nearly all the families of north
erners who settled on the Belle Hell
enc plantation two years ago have
returned to their former homes, hay-
ing failed to make go of their
agricultural operations here, proba-
bly, because of their entire ignorance
Of local conditions and lack of famil-
iarity with our methods of tilling the
soil The exodus took place within
the past month, and very few of the
colonists remain.
THUS a partial failure is regis
tered of what was hoped to be fine
object lesson of a large plantation
successfully cut up into small home
steads. 1t is a great pity, for such
a lesson is badly needed as both
guide and inspiration. 1t is to be
hoped sufficient number are stick
ing to form a nucleus for future ct
fogt.
''The Chief names ignorance Of To-
car conditions and OF southern meth
DDS of filling the soil as the proba-
BILE causes of dissatisfaction. but 1t
is far more likely that Impotence
with local conditions was a primary
cause. Most observers know that
the general shiftlessness of the peo-
pie is very irritating to the north
erner. The uncleanliness of the me-
groes, and other traits to which south
ern people have grown accustomed
are as horrid as leprosy to the
strangers. They usually speak with
like horror of the open houses, and
the lack of household conveniences.
These things all initiate against
the content of the newcomer, there's
fore all home people, who are truly
interested in the settlement here of
good white immigrants, should do all
in their power to make strangers
feel at home, explaining local Gus
toms, and in a word fitting the new
shoes 20 their feet. Standoffishness
will not do in such cases. The stran-
ger must be kept from getting home
SICK
There is much meat in what the
True Democrat says on this import
ant subject, and we may add that the
incident Of the seeming failure OF
these immigrants and their return to
their former homes should be treat
ed in an open and candid manner,
with q view Of ascertaining and, if
possible, curing the causes that
brought about the unfortunate occur
renee. It is far better to pursue
this course than to attempt to cover
the matter up or to ignore it, for
the complaints of a handful of dis
satisfied and discouraged immigrants
may do more harm to the movement
looking to the settlement and re-
clamation of the idle lands Of Lou
isiana than the testimonial of a
host of fortunate and satisfied new
Corners can counteraet
With reference Ito the particular
group Of persons who Abandoned their
home making venture at Belle Hell
enc, the statement is made that
| they were reali more spectators
tiaan genuine farIs1gFs: One Of them,
for instance. was railread eonduc-
tor, and all OF them probably came
here with the belief that the soil
of Louisiana would produce anything,
with very little cultivation, and that
ne knowledge Of scientific farming
was required in its tilling. Figura-
lively speaking, they looked for a
gold mine on each farm, to be I'M
covered by mere tickling of the
surface without laborious effort, and
naturally they were disillusioned.
As a matter Of fact, there is no
richer soil anywhere than is to be
found in this state, and ASCENSION is
in no respect behind the best Of
the other parishes in the quality OF
it's lands and the productiveness of
which they are capable under intelI-
gent and proper treatment. The
Payne Investment Company, who
sold the Belle Helene tracts to the
dissatisfied immigrants, are arrang-
ing to replace them with other west
ern farmers, and doubtless the ex-
perience gained in the deal with
the purchasers who abandoned their
holdings will enable all concerned to
aVoid the obstacles heretofore en-
countered
It is certainly to be hoped that the
sellers of the lands and the people
of the community generally will ex-
ert themselves to give the newcomers
q cordial welcome and to make
their surroundings congenial.
INCOME TAX AMENDMENT