Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-23
The Swedish Colony In Maine.

The board of immigration, created by the
last legislature, consisting of the Governor
Secretary of State and Land Agent, have
had the general oversight of the settlement
of the Swedish colonists in Aroostook
county, but the special duties, and in fact
most of the labor connected with the immi-
grafton, have been performed by the Commits
sioner. w. w. Thomas, Esq, of Portland,
who will make his report to the board. We
have been granted the privilege of examining
a few pages of the forthcoming report, and
have gathered from it f W facts of interest.
On the 23d day Of July, 1870, the frs, Swed
ish colony settled in the wilderness of North
ern Aroostook, numberiDg50 persons. In
less than year the population was doubled,
and on the first day Of January last the pop
ulaticn of New Sweden amounted to ia, men
women and children. Two hundred acres of
land had been partially cleared, 20 comforta-
Bile timber houses erected for the homes OF
the people, and large frame building erected
called "the capital" The prosperity of the
colony has been as fully marked the past
year. The total Swedish immigration for the
year is about 800, making total population
at present of over 1000 souls. These immi-
grants are not paupers that come to our
shores to become the recipients of the States
charity. They have paid their passage to this
country, and brought with them clothing.
tents, various household goods, and at least
$4,000 in hard money. And one-haf of
these Swedes are hard listed laboring men,
and as the computed value of man to the
State averages $1,000 it will be seen that
Maine has added by their coming $500, 700 o
the wealth of its population, recompensing
the State a great many times for all the ex-
pense she has incurred in behalf of these inn
migrants.
The State has given the coonists start in
= supplying them with food and necessary ag-
ricultural implements, which has enabled
them to get along until the harvesting of their
first crops. For these favors the Swedes have
made roads and other works for the public
benefit. In short the Swede seems disposed
to give back in labor all that the State ad-
vanced him on his coming. On the first of
the present month the Swedes had reimbursed
to the State $2,23s, in labor and crops, for
supplies advanced, remaining indebted to the
State in the sum of S7,6s7 IL, which will be
fully paid in cash, crops or labor, whenever
demanded or thought best by the proper au-
thorities.
As the colonists are now abundantly able
to take care of themselves, they are of
IN
money. During the past year the crops have
yielded we'll, making the experiment of farm
ing with them an assured fact. Three thous-
and bushels of grain have been threshed out,
1900 bushels of which were wheat, and 5000
bushels of potatoes have been harvested.
The colony has fairly outgrown the original
limits Of the New Sweden settlement, and
Scandinavians are taking unto themselves
homes in the adjoining town of Lyndon, and
the plantations of Woodland and Perham.
Each lot contains 100 acres and as there are
200 of these lots, 20, 900 acres of land are
taken up; 1000 acres of these are felled, 500
acres cleared, and 50 houses and IL barns built.
There are 204 men in the colony, ll2 women
and 237 children, making total of 553. When
we remember that where these people live
was an unbroken forest in June 1870, we have
an idea of the work that has been done. And
this population has been reaching out for new
territory, new forests to level, new soil to
subdue. The colony, so to speak, is the
nursery of the vast outlying agricultural re-
gon, furnishing farm hands and mechanics
to those who may be in need of help. There
are at least 900 Swedes employed in the State
outside of the immediate limits of New Swe-
den. To provide room for all new corners,
the Commissioner suggests that the State
lands in townships and No. s, Range 5. w.
E. L. S., be lotted for Swedish settlement.
Township No. 10, Range 5, W. f. L. S.,
granted by the State to the E. 6 N. A. Rail
way Co., lies contiguous to New Sweden, and