The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1914-12-05
ACTIVE OPERATIONS STARTED.

hGIIHE UpERAlI0no JlRKIED.
Movement to Bring Belgian Farmers
to Louisiana Put Under Way
chairmen Of Divisions Of Activity
Named at Committee Meeting.
New Orleans Times -Picayune
The new immigration movement,
with Belgian war refugees as the
first aim, has begun operations.
The executive committee had sew
eral meetings Tuesday and shaped the
initial endeavors. The Immigration
bureau OF the Association of Com
imerce and the various railroads en-
tering the state will be asked to
finance a preliminary campaign of
publicity. While the latter is go
ing on the finance committee viii
get in touch with organizations and
civic leaders throughout the state
with the view of forming sub-commit-
tees and building local sentiment.
It is hoped to have a branch of the
Louisiana Homes Association In
each parish, and through this me-
dunn not only to=ralse $4,000 with
out delay, but to make the state
wide work permanent
When the main fund begins to pile
up, Baton Rouge leading off with sew
eral thousand dollars, the idea is to
send a we'll equipped state accredited
representative to- England and Hol-
land to select and send over the
right kind of Belgians. Land viii be
listed, terms arranged, and the I'M
migrants established in colonies and
assisted to success. After that it
is expected there will be little trou-
bic in obtaining steady flow of
farmers to help build up Louisiana's s
agricultural prosperity.
NJ. L. Alexande Ter, the chairman, call
ed the first meeting of the general
committee to order Tuesday morn
ing in the rooms of the Association
of Commerce. He said the country
had been invited to Join the move
ment to attain larger immigration,
beginning with tire Belgian refugees
IN Europe. It was time to get down
to practical work On q, business basis.
It was not worth while to engage
IN the enterprise unless success was
intended and achieved. 1t must sue
eeed, he said, because it means q
great deal to the. state. It was de-
sired to get a class Of Intelligent,
thrifty and industrious persons who
would help cultivate the idle lands
of Louisiana The work likely would
devolve upon the shoulders OF few,
but Mr.. Alexander said there were a
sufficient number Of patriotic citizens
TO- take hold unseIfishly, cooperate
with the states department and
bring about results. Theoretical
propositions must be cut out, and
concrete plans dealt with. The first
question, h.. said, vas raising the
money needed. Next came the get
ting Of the irnrllg grants here, and,
later, that of the easier task Of
proper distribution.
ItdeVeIoped that out of the twenty
five appointed on the committee,
Matthew Warmer, Clarence Ellerbe
and n. Ne. Leach had declined to
serve, and these vacancies will be
filled. Gov Hall and the others ac-
eepted membership on the committee.
Justin f. Denechaud reported for
the committee to interview United
States Attorney Guion regarding the
immigration laws involved in the
plan. Judge Guion realized the inn
portance of the move, and was de-
sirous of cooperating. He could not
however, render any opinion on the
laws. The governments accredited
agent in the state would have to
pass upon any questions that arose.
and in case of disagreement the ap-
peals will be passed upon by the au-
thorities at Washington.
Secretary H. W. Nathan read 9
number of offers in connection with
the Belgian movement. r. J. McH-
benny asked for a dozen large fam
lies to raise truck for his canneries.
Justice O. @. Provosty is willing to
place five families upon his Pointe
Coupee plantation, providing houses,
implements, cows and stock, and
give them a chance to buy the land
IN ten years, at per cent interest.
G. G. Gaspard, Of the Bank of AYoy-
elles, chairman Of the state bankers
agricultural committee, said he would
urge the bankers of Louisiana to
get behind the movement. Belgian
Consul DeWaele reported that he had
received an offer from the Paradis
Land Company to place five to ten
families. Andrew Fugler of Plaque
mines offered to take half a dozen
families upon the terms suggested
by the committee. The Lemann Com
pany of DonaldsonVil1e presented a
proposition TO take half a dozen fam
lilies upon a preferred labor basis,
with opportunity TO buy land If they
found the outlook promising. Z. Nc.
Soniat and other planters Of the
South Louisiana immigration Associa
ton also advocated the plan OF first
settling the refugees upon q labor
basis, working the land under super
vision, with an option OF subsequent
purchase upon favorable terms.
M. B. TrezeVant and others dis
eussed= housing conditions until Chair
man Alexander advised the getting
away from the idea that elaborate
preparations are necessary. Comfort
able and clean homes would be suffi
Eeient, he said, and no elaborate in
yestment was necessary. The MAR
thing was providing small areas tt
cultivate, with aid until the farmers
can be self-supporting. More than {
hundred families had settled aroune
Alexandria, and were doing well
They started in with tWo-roon
houses, and had worked out theii
own needs. The terms should b