Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-02-11
THE FoREIGs POPULATION OF
MAINE


4 correspondent Of the Boston Jo1n-a,sE
writes from Maine concerning the report Of
the special commission appointed to aseer-
tain what measures, if any should be adopted
BY that State to encourage settlements IL
the unpeopled townships; the commission
made an extended tour Of observation
through the county Of Aroosteok, where
nearly all the important townships Of
Maine are situated
Some time since the cultivation Of wheat
nearly ceased in Aroostook on account Of
the ravsges of the Heevil Two years ago
an experimental crop Of wheat was grown.
Il turned out wen Last year double the
quantity was sowed, with IKE good result,
and this year sufficient wheat has been har-
vested to feed the entire county.
The dwelIers in the fertile valley Of The
ST. John-refugees from Acadia-are igno-
rant and peculiar, but stin are interesting
people. Driven from their homes by the
conqueripg Brton, they we're wise enough
to select for their place Of exile the very
garden Of Maine
The farms Of these settlers run in narrow
strips from river to road, and to the bills
beyond 10 this way a farm a miIe long Is
frequently but few rods in width. The
dwellings are chiefly built on the main road,
and the commission drove for fifty miles
from the eastern boundary Of the State
through an almost continuous village.
The houses are nearly all wooden and Of
uniform pattern. low studded, With con
cave roof and projecting caves. Indoors,
the spinning and loom occupy an hon
orable position, and here the mixed wool Of
white and black focks is made into home
spun gray clothing A hole burrowed into
the nearlst hillside serves for cellar
structure Of small stones aad mud in the
doOr-yard Is their oven, and water is heated
in a large pot slung over pole By the brook
side.
The Language Of the Madawaskans ia
French, their mother tongue OF the men,
very few speak English well; many can
hold broken conversation in our tongue,
but most Of them, together with the women
aud children, speak almost exclusively
French. In some localities scarcely an Eng
/ lish word is uttered OF understood Even
the town records are often kept in French
At Grant Isle, while the commission were
examining the books Of the town clerk, it
was impossible to prevent smile, IN ascer-
tanning that there had been voted the past
year for school purposes the sum Of 'de,ar
cent piastres, certainly an unusual kind Of
money with which to educate children in
Yankee land
Travelling south from Fort Rent, along
/ the West Aroostook road, houses and clear
iDgs become less and less frequent; and after
the plantations of WaIlsgrass and Eagle
Lake are passed it is an almost unbroken
solitude till the settlement about Portage
Lake is reached In fact, nearly all the set
/ tied part Of Afoostook Is along the eastern
and northern boundary Of the State, and Is
in shape ike a scythe laid upon the ground:
/ the eastern tier Of townships is the handle,
and the valley Of the St John the blade.
| Inside this imaginary scythe is a vast IN
peopled country, larger than the State Of
Massachusetts,, whose virgin soii awaits the
real scythe and plough Of the settler.
The commission then discuss the question
Of scandinavian emigration, which they con
tend naturally flows to US They say the
climate Of Maine, especially of Aroostook,
is much ike that Of Sweden and Norway.