THE CONQUEST OF ARID AMERICA 



the stockholders' meetings should be frequent and largely 

 attended, resembling a town-meeting in New England. 

 The colonists should advise about all their affairs, and 

 exercise control in everything which does not affect 

 the security of the founding capital. After the prelim- 

 inary period of development is passed and the loans 

 paid off, they will, of course, have absolute control of 

 everything. But before this stage is reached they will 

 have served a good apprenticeship under competent and 

 sympathetic leaders, and have gradually grown up to 

 the full size of their opportunities and responsibilities. 

 Their town-meetings will furnish a parliamentary train- 

 ing of no mean value, especially to the young, as has 

 been the case in New England. All should serve upon 

 committees, and so gain personal familiarity with every 

 phase of the colony business. These committees should 

 be very numerous, and members should be rotated, so as 

 to give them experience upon each. 



Who shall estimate the future influence in the life of 

 America and the world of a generation reared under such 

 conditions and in the midst of such surroundings ? 



