1908 - Virginia Lands for Colonies

[NW Mailing List]

I'm guessing that "Dispertanta" is invented spelling, as they say in the 
schools now-a-days, for Disputanta.

Sam Putney

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Sent: Monday, March 03, 2008 10:43 PM
Subject: 1908 - Virginia Lands for Colonies



> Roanoke Times - March 3, 1908

>

> VIRGINIA LANDS FOR COLONIES

>

> People From All Parts of the World Settling on the N. & W. Railway

>

>   The following dispatch has been sent out from South Boston, Va., which 

> indicates that the Norfolk and Western is doing much work in the way of 

> colonization:

>   "Messrs. W. D. Hill and R. Holt Easely, real estate agents of this 

> place, sold 5,500 acres of land in North Carolina to a syndicate of 

> Western New York men a few days ago for the sum of $41,000. The purchase 

> will at once be divided into small tracts for colonization, and as the 

> land is especially adapted to trucking purposes, no doubt it will be thus 

> used.

>   "Messrs. Easley and Hill spend a great deal of their time in the North 

> on this class of work, and other colonization work in the South. Mr. Hill 

> reports the sale of farm lands from his South Boston (home) office since 

> the 1st of January, 1908, amounting to $100,000."

>   Relative to the above Mr. F. H. LaBaume, agent of the Agricultural and 

> Industrial Department of the Norfolk & Western was seen by a Time reporter 

> and learned that not only at South Boston, but in other places, the same 

> plan is being pursued and with wonder results.

>   At Waverly on a tract of three thousand acres, known as "Oakdale," about 

> forty settlers are already installed in new homes. The settlers came from 

> all parts of the United States.

>   The policy has been to construct there or four room cottages on several 

> acres of land which are sold to actual settlers for $50 cash and the 

> balance is paid for as it is made on the farms.

>   At Dispertanta, on the Norfolk & Western, is a colony of Russian Jews, 

> who settled there something over a year ago. It is known as the "Yale 

> Colony" and they have 2,000 acres of land. These Jews came here direct 

> from Russia, and were entirely ignorant of the customs of this country. 

> They have their schools and house of worship and are developing into good 

> citizens.

>   At Ford, near Petersburg, is another colony which is begin settled by 

> Chicago Germans. They have about 3,000 acres in this colony. Four or five 

> of these small farms were sold to settlers during the past week. Following 

> is a letter written to Mr. LaBaume by a Connecticut settler under date of 

> November 15, 1907. It speaks for itself:

>   "Dear Sir - I thought I would write you these few lines and let you know 

> how well pleased we are with our little farm in Oakdale. We came here in 

> April this year and bought Farm No 42 right in the heart of the woods and 

> had to clear a way to build my house, which is now about completed. Have 

> sold my timber for just what I paid for the farm; so you see my place 

> hasn't cost us anything. We have between 50 and 60 head of chickens and 

> Pekin ducks, 2 pigs, 1 horse and incubator. Will build a brooder house 

> this fall, 26x10 feet, with cellar 10 feet square on one end. The climate 

> is fine and I have gained about 15 pounds since I came here and our health 

> is excellent. One doesn't have to call the doctor every few days here, 

> like we did in the North. More than twenty-five families here now and 

> there hasn't been a doctor on the tract this year. Don't forget to come 

> and see us next time you are in Waverly and we will try and make it 

> pleasant for you."

>

> -----------------------------------

>

> - Ron Davis, Roger Link

>

>

>

>

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