#WHA2020 | The Santa Fe New Mexican October 1, 1903 pg1
An Exclusive Negro Settlement to be Located in Southern Part of Chave County
A town and settlement exclusively for negroes are being organized in the southern part of Chaves county, within the artesian belt, some few miles from Pecos valley railroad. The promoters of this settlement expect to settle 10,000 people at one time, so as to avoid the enactment of a special law by Congress, debarring anyone but colored settlers from certain townships.
The settlement promoters style themselves the Blackdom Townsite company, and May 1, 1904 has been decided upon as the opening day. The officers of the company which is capitalized at $10,000, are F. M. Boyer, A.M., president; Rev. I. N. Jones, vice president: Professor D. G. Keys, secretary, and Burrell Dickerson, treasurer, The address of President Boyer in Dexter, N. M.
While artesian wells are to form the basin of the water supply for the town site, the company expects to operate a large number of irrigation pumps. With pumping system in charge of expert machinists and engineers.
The president of the company has written to the secretary of the bureau of immigration asking for 500 or more of the Chaves county pamphlets. He also wished information regarding pumping systems, and the pumps best adapted to irrigation in New Mexico.
The company is also desires of securing concessions from the railroads on which their colonist will have to travel. Most of the colonists will come from the South and bring with them cattle and swine. A tanning factory is also to be erected on the Blackdom townsite.
