The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-04-07
SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION.

4 measure has Just passed through the Lceisla-
turc which believe will tavorably affect the high
es interests of the State for all coming time III pro-
Nides for board of immigration, consisting OF the
Governor. Secretary of State and Land Agent for
the printing in the Scandinavian language OF IN
formation regard to the public lands of this State
that open for settlement, and the distribution OF
sitch documents in Sweden, Norway and adjacent
countries; the appointment OF an agent who shall
visit those countries during the present year get
up a colony of good material, accompany them to
America and see them settled in one Of the vacant
townships of Aroostook county.
Scandinavia is a large peninsula III the north OF
Europe, embracing the two countries OF sweden
and Norway, living i'll the same latitude as Alaska,
Labrador and Southern Greenland, having climate
m,ler and more uniform than that of Labrador and
Greenland, but drier and warmer summers and
colder winters than at Sitka. III area it is nine
times large as the State of Maine; its population
is about five millions, mostly gathered i'll the
sourthern portion where alone is the climate fav or
able for agriculture. The neighboring country OF
Denmark, half the size of Maine, is peopled by two
or three millions of the race, passing. with the
Swedcs and Norwegian under the general term OF
"ScanlinaNans."
Within a few years the Swedes and Norwegians
have been coming to America in large and increas-
ing numbers. Twenty thousand come each year.
They find here Il mider climate and more fertile
soil than in their native land, and, what they value
more than all, table land is so cheap that every
may have home ana a farm OF his own.
These people are neither idlers nor adventures,
but will set sturdily to work. They have been
taught to eNtort living from Il cold soil beneath n
torbdling sky. The virtues of industry and iru-
gality arc in their native country necessities and
they have become thoroughly instied into the
man that they never laid side, but with the
honesty, Intelligence and law-abiding disposition
for which these people are everywhere noted, rem
der the scandinavians the best OF citizens.
1t is deemed essential to establish a colony as il
nucleu, around which to gather immigrants of the
nationality. they come, year after year. to
our shores. They now nearly all goto the West.
They do not know that there is, so near their land
ing place, rich country Aroostook where
land may be had at cheaper rate than in the west,
and where farm produce will bring better price,
If told of the existence of such place they would
still prefer To follow their kindred to the West; but
once establish colony and this objection Is remov-
ed 1t would then be easy to induce immigrants
arriving at Portland or Boston to settle near the
colony in AroOstook. The letters of the cOlonlsts
10 their friends at home would be the best of adver
tslng documents. That such would be the practi-
cal working of the project is shown by the working
Of accidental colonies in other States. At Bridge
water, Mass, (as was stated on the floor of the
House Of Representatives. several families of Sean
Clinavians settled a few years ago. and have drawn
Others of their collntrymen about them, until they
now number four thousand.
The success of this enterprise-and we have no
misgving> as to that-will add largely to the popu
lation and material wealth of the State. This is
sufficient to insure the approval of most persons
who believe in success probable. Yet there a
better reason why we should encourage the immi-
grafton Of Scandinayians-a reason connected with
the social and moral well-being of the State. 1t
can hardly be doubted that all except the very poor
est of our wild lands will at some future time be
peopcd, and it is quite probable that this population
will come from Europe and will occupy these lands
before ollr own natural increase is turned from its
present Westward tendency OF vast concern to us
is the character OF this future opulation-Whether
it shall be industrious idle peaceablc or rfcious,
Intelligent or stupid, honest or llnavish. Ma inc
Farmer.