Phoenix tribune., 1921-11-19
NEGROES ESTABLISH
COLONY in Lower
CALIFORNIA, AYERS

Encenada, Lower Calf, Nov. 49,
A Negro state in this section of Lower
California is among the probabilities
of the near future. At least this is
the prediction of group of enterpris-
ing Colored men who recently organ
ized The Lower California Mexican
Land and Development Company.
Twenty-one thousand eight hundred
acres of land have been purchased by
this company near here. It is a rich,
dark soil land highly suitable for agri-
cultural purposes and the climate is
the most salubrious in the western
hemisphere. In fact, according to the
best known authorities In this section
this Negro company has been more
than fortunate in the selection of the
site they have made for their project
No winter, an average temperature Of
not more than 79 degrees the year
round, make the proposed colony an
ideal proposition from the very start
The scheme as announced by Hugh
f. Macbeth. well known Negro at
torney. is to place at least 200 fam
lilies Of Industrious Negroes on big
block Of agricultural land below the
border and permit them to acquire
possession of their farms on long
term payments.
The company was incorporated for
$250,000 and Mr. McBeth states that
virtually the entire issue of stock was
taken up by wealthy Negroes in this
city. The colonization company has
already sent several families to Little
Liberia" he says, and an active cam
paign for colonists will be made dur
ing the next six months.
The colony lies sixty-eight miles
south of San Diego, thirty-seven miles
northeast of here and five miles in
land from the coast 1t is believed
that 70 per cent of the tract is irri-
gable. 1t is flanked by mountains of
the coast range.
This tract of farm land was pur-
chased by Los Angeles Negroes in
1918 and since that time has been
used largely for wheat growing. Com
plete soil and water tests have been
made and the company is now ready
to break the land up into units of
forty acres ad multiples thereof for
the benefit of homeseekers.
In the opinion of Mr. Troy, who
heads the company, the oil outlook is
quite as promising as the agricultural
future of the district in question. He
declares that wells of good water
can be secured at depth of from six
to twenty feet, and that the supply
seems inexhaustible. The lands lie
alongside the Mexican highway lead.
ing to San Diego Roads are not good
but the company hopes to improv,
them when colonists arrive in larg,
numbers. aTREE
The land is too near the coast fol
good cotton culture. The best re.
suits will be secured by growing liv,
stock and such crops as walnuts, de
ciduous and citrus fruits, alfalfa, pc
tatoes and melons. ~
Next spring, officers of the com
pany, with several prominent Mexi
cans from this section will make a
tour of the United States, visiting
many cities, where wealthy Negroe
reside, to lay the facts before then
and secure their moral and financia
support for the undertaking
1T is not our purpose to establish
this colony as a retreat for poverty
stricken Negroes" says Mr.. Macbeth
"The country is raw and undevelopeC
and it will take cracker jack farmers
to bring out the best that is in it
but there are wonderful possibilities
hidden there for the man who has {
little livestock and little MACHINERY
and great deal of determination.
Probably as many as fifty Negr
families viii go from southern Cal
fornia to the colony, but our presen
aim is to go into the southern state
and take from there to Mexico tn
best Colored farmers the South ha
produced.
Mr. Macbeth thinks the Negr
colony OF Lower California will serv
as an entering wedge for the whit
man in Mexico. He holds the opinion
that as the Negro gains foothold ther
and proves his value as a citizen, tn
Mexican will be more friendly t
American capital, That's why ar
giving my best efforts to this colon
cation plan. 1t appeals to me as bein
q wonderful opportunity for Colore
MANILA