Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-31
Industry, Within a week after their arrival

industry. Within n week after their arrival,
''thc immigrants wrote a joint letter to
Sweden, declaring that the State of Maine
had kept its faith with them in every particu-
lar; that the land was fertile, the climate
pleasant, the people friendly, and advising
all their countrymen emigrating to America
to come to the New Sweden in Maine" This
letter was published in all the leading
journals in Sweden to influence emigration to
this State. The choppings were burned in
August, and in September sixteen acres were
sowed with rye and four with wheat. In
September twelve more settlers arrived from
Sweden, and in October twenty more came.
There have been three births and two mar.
riages in the colony. Divine service is held
every Sabbath by the Swedish pastor, and q
Sunday school has been started A lot of
fifty acres was reserved for public uses at the
cross roads in the centre of the settlement,
and there public building has been erected,
to be used for church, school house, general
rallying place, and storehouse. 1t belongs to
the State. The passage of the colony from
Sweden to Maine cost four thousand dollars,
every dollar of which was paid by the i'm
migrants themselves" They also brought
three thousand dollars in cash and six tons of
baggage. Nearly all the money expended for
the enterprise has been expended within the
limits of the State, and the houses and clear
ings, which are still State property, can be
sold to-day ''for enough to reimburse the
State for its entire outlay" No settler has
left the colony, none has been sick, and five
tickets have been bought and sent to Sweden
to bring others over. A letter is published
in the report directed to Mr.. Thomas from
Mississippi colony of Swedes, whose entire
expense of transportation was paid by Mis-
sssippi planters in which they complain of
the climate of Mississippi, and request to
be informed whether some of the families can
be received into the Maine settlement. In
November the Commissioner secured places
for such as desired TO hire out among the
farmers and lumbermen, gave them certif-
Gates of their lots and left them. The colony
| now numbers ia persons, of which SO are
men, 20 women and SO children. Seven
miles Of road have been cut through the
forests, $50 acres of wood have been felled,
100 acres hand-piled, burnt off and cleared
ready for a crop, 20 acres have been sowed,
and 26 dwelling-houses and one public build
ing have been erected. In addition to this
our State is well advertised in Sweden and
current of emigration started in this direction
which may yield valuable results. To keep
this stream flowing the Commissioner recon-
mends continuance of the liberal policy of
1870 to settlers, and the employment of an
agent in Sweden to advertise the inducements
the State offers to immigrants and generally
promote the interests of the enterprise.
Another agent is needed at New Sweden, and
the whole should be under the control of some
central Commission, resident in Maine. The
colony must be furnished with supplies until
next September, and with seed for next
spring. Something also must be done to
furnish roads. After the first crop is harvest
ed it is calculated the colony will be able to
take care of itself, and become a nucleus
for immigration which will be felt for good
in all parts of the State.