CATHOLIC COLONISATION IN THE WEST.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume X, Issue 510, 19 January 1883, Page 9

CATHOLIC COLONISATION IN THE WEST.

In New York City recently, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, of which Rev. Father Edwards is pistor, Bishop Spalding, of Peoria, 111., and Bishop Fitzgerald, of Arkansas, spoke concerning the labours of the Irish Catholic Colonisation Society out West, in the States of Minnesota, Nebraska, and elsewhere. In the States of Minnesota and Nebraska, according to Bishop Spalding, the society has been eminently successful, and bids fair to establish in other Western States, colonies composed of families from many of the Eastern cities. Bishop Spalding described the society as a stock company having a capital of 100,000 dols., and among its directors are several bishops as well as Catholic laymen. While its scheme of operations is of a benevolent nature, it is not one of charity. It does not help beggars, but seeks to aid those who are endeavouring to help themselves. The society, which has been organised only a few years, purchased land in the Nebraska and Minnesota, and, dividing it into farms of varying size, has held out inducements to Catholic families living in the large cities to settle on them. About ten colonies have been established in Minnesota, composed of about three thousand families. The society has in this way established agricultural villages, having churches and priests and schools. The lands are taken by the settlers, according to their means, and liberal terms are given them by the society. The result has been that the poor families taken from the crowded cities, have increased both in prosperity and morality. The society makes no attempt to encourage emigration from Europe, but confines it labours to the colonisation of those living in Eastern cities. Recently, Bishop Spalding received reports from priests attached to the Minnesota colonies, speaking in most satisfactory terms about the yield of the crops. Bishop Fitzgerald related the fact of the recent establishment by the society of a colony in Arkansas, between Fort Smith and Little Bock Railroad, -which is aiding the society in the enterprise and lending the use of its lands for the purpose. The society, he said, is now at work extending this colony. There is some trouble to induce northerns to emigrate south and south west, but in time this will be overcome and people will better understand that in the matter of soil and climate the south and southwest present very favourable conditions for colonisation. Cotton, grain and fruit can be easily raised, and as many as two crops of potatoes in the year. In Wheeler County, Nebraska, a colony has been established by Boston citizens in connection with the society. Among those who listened to the addresses by the Bishop was Mr. E. H. Hall of London, who was instrumental in sending out to this country from England sixteen thousand colonists.