SLAVS ON SOUTHERN FARMS. 11 



With hardly an exception, the Polish colonies in the United States 

 exhibit indications of progress. There is a noticeable improvement 

 in the general appearance of the farms owned by Poles of second and 

 third generations when contrasted with those of their parents. The 

 tillage on the former places is more careful, the dwellings are often 

 well constructed, comfortable homes, while the barns are big, sub- 

 stantial structures. Fine herds of cattle are common, and evidence 

 of thrift and prosperity are to be seen on all sides. 



It is claimed by some authorities that the Polish agricultural 

 communities in the United States are progressing as rapidly as the 

 colonies of any of the other distinctly foreign groups and can be 

 favorably compared with Bohemian, German, Swedish, and Swiss 

 settlements. 



POLES ON FARMS IN TEXAS. 



Polish farmers have settled in all parts of Texas, although the 

 principal and better-known colonies are located in Falls, Fayette, 

 Grimes, Karnes, Robertson, Washington, and Wilson Counties. 

 Karnes County includes Panna Marya, the oldest permanent Polish 

 colony in the United States. Here they are chiefly cotton farmers. 

 About one half own their farms, while the other half rent the land 

 thev till under the "cropper" system. 



They usually produce a much larger yield of cotton per acre than 

 the average native Texan. This is possible, first, because the Poles 

 work in the fields themselves, while the native Americans generally 

 employ negroes to do their work; and, second, because the Polish 

 women and children work with the men in the fields, thereby more 

 than doubling the labor force without an increased labor expense. 



Homes of the Poles in Texas are neat and are often comfortably 

 furnished. They mingle with other races very little and seldom inter- 

 marry, but maintain a rather high moral standard, and local mer- 

 chants testify to their honesty. They are fairly temperate and, as a 

 rule, adhere to the Roman Catholic Church. In nearly every town 

 where there are sufficient number of Poles to support a church will be 

 found a resident priest and a parochial school and a well-organized 

 congregation. Few Polish children are found in the public schools, 

 although the majority of them usually remain on the farm. 



Wherever Poles have located on farms in Texas it is reported that 

 they have benefited the community by their thrift and integrity and 

 that they are desirable settlers. 



SLOVAK FARMERS IN ARKANSAS. 



Another interesting Slavish colony in the South is found at Slovak- 

 town, Ark. This colony is the product of a land company organized 

 in Pittsburgh about 1S94, winch undertook to influence the migration 

 westward of Slovak coal miners in Pennsylvania. 



Located 12 miles from the nearest railroad on the open prairies, the 

 place has no natural advantages for settlers. On the whole, however, 

 this colony has done remarkably well. In some instances, during the 

 early years of the colony, the men were forced to return east and work 

 a part of the year in the mines in order to support their families and 

 to secure the necessary funds for the improvement of their farms. 



