Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-05
NO.. 5.

understand, the approval of a large portion
of the friends of temperance. 1 can see no
valid objection to its adoption.
A better execution of some Of our criminal
laws, and especially that against the sale Of
| intoxicating drinks, would, in my judgment,
| relieve the State from some of its heaviest
burdens, and promote the good order and the
general welfare of the people. / therefore
recommend that you enquire whether any
further legislation is necessary to secure these
results, and take such action in the premises
as the facts ELECTED by the inquiry and the
| interests of the State demand.
IMMIGRATION.
Our surest source of wealth is in our citi-
zens. We hope to retain in the future a lar
ger portion OF our young men than in the
past by creating greater demand for their
services, but many will leave for other fields
of effort and usefulness. TO supply in some
degree this loss to the State, and to aid in the
development of our internal resources, wise
system OF immigration is of paramount ini-
portance. The success of the enterprise estab-
fishing colony of Swedes in this State has
exceeded the most sanguine expectations Of
its friends. The results thus far may be
briefly stated as follows: One thousand
Swedes, five hundred of whom are working
men, have come to the State, bringing with
them S4o,oUO in money; two hundred lots,
equal to twenty thousand acres, have been
taken up; two thousand acres of trees have
been felled. and five hundred cleared; eighty
very substantial and comfortable timber
houses and seventeen log barns have been
built; twelve hundred bushels of wheat, one
thousand bushels of barley, eight hundred
bushels of rye and oats. and five thousand
bushels of potatoes, have been raised; twen-
ty- five miles of road have been cut out, two
miles turnpiked, and several bridges built;
fifteen horses, thirty-four cows, and two or
three pairs of oxen, have been purchased, and
are now owned by the colonists.
The immigrants are intelligent, temperate,
and industrious, and appear to possess the
elements essential to good citizenship.
The amount of supplies furnished the col
onists by the State, to December l, 1871, is
S9,925.l3 of which 81, ,239 90 have been paid,
leaving balance due the State, to be paid in
labor on the roads when it shall be called for.
of 81, ,6S7.13.
A school of about seventy children and an
evening school for adults, in both of which
the English language is exclusively taught,
are in successful operation.
The establishment of this COLONY has given
an impetus to business, and materially in
creased the value of real estate in that part
of the State, and attracted an unusually large
number of Americans, who have settled in
that vicinity during the year. The fact that
only twenty OF these immigrants have left the
State, while about forty Swedes have come
from other States to settle with their country
men here, and that all appear contented and
happy, tends to remove the fears entertained
by some that they will in a few years become
discouraged and leave the State.
Your attention is called to the request of
the Commissioner to be reimbursed for ex-
penditures incurred for supplies, part of
which have been distributed to the coloAists,
but large portion Of which are now on hand,
1t having been necessary to obtain and trans
port them before the close of water communi-
cation to Tobique. The necessity for this ex-
penditure becomes apparent when it is under
stood that, instead of five hundred immigrants
which were expected when the last appropria-
ton was made, nearly twice that number have
come, thus compelling the Commissioner to
furnish more supplies or send many of the
immigrants away. Immigrants coming to
the colony in the spring or summer are of
course obliged to wait until year from the
next autumn before they can raise and har-
vest ctop. Some have means to live upon
during this time others have not, and must
have an opportunity to exchange their labor
for necessary supplies. But few can do this
outside of the colony, and attend to telling
the trees, clearing the land, and raising
crop. The road which has been com
menced and on which it is proposed to en-
ploy the labor of these who receive aid from
the State, is TO extend through some of the
best settling lands of the State, and consti-
tutes part of what must eventually become
an important public thoroughfare. In the
opinion of the Commissioner, the letters
which the immigrants are constantly sending
TO their friends in the old world, added to the
interest that has already been awakened
there, will be sufficient to ensure the contin-
uance of immigration in as large numbers as
We can care for; so that the expense of an
agent and advertising in Sweden can be dis
pensed with. You will, presume, find it
necessary to retain the services of the Com
missioner during the next year. l recon-
mend that the law be so amended as to fur
nish lands TO the citizens of our own and
other States, who may desire to avail them
selves of the opportunity, on the same terms
allowed the Swedes.
DEAF MUTEs.
We should have no claim to be called .
Christian people, If our sympathes were not
drawn towards that unfortunate class Of our
citizens, who are oblivious to the sweet music
of nature, speech and song, and doomed to
perpetual silence. Though we may not be
able to unstop the deaf ear, or give power to
the paralyzed or defective organs of speech,
yet science and persevering efforts are able
to bridge the seemingly impossible gulf that
separates these people from their fellows and
impart no small amount of practical knowl-
edge, and moral and religious culture
We are now supporting in the American
Asylum at Hartford, Connecticut, fifty
pupils, at a cost Of $1,000 each per annum.
A careful examination into the affairs of the
institution, including the discipline and in
struction of the pupils, both in the school
room and work shops, confirms my former
opinion that it is under efficient management.
1t is claimed that Notwithstanding their depri-
vation of hearing and speech, a less number
of those who have been educated in this in
stituton failed to support themselves by their
own exertions, than of those who, with these
faculties unimpared, graduate from other
institutions of learning, while instances of
their being convicted OF crime, are seldom, if
ever, known. This is accounted for by the
fact that they are all taught to do something.
As this institution has the benefit of fund
the annual income of which amounts to $780,
900 or more, and as we are only called upon
= ~.