Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-11-04
Our SUettish Colony.

OemOCratic papers III out ot"to' w hiA""
political capital outof the Swedish Col
ony enterprise, seemingly and only be-
cause republican administration iniated
and loslered the project. Some of our
farmers may have honest doubts about
the propriety OF encouraging emigration
from foreign land. by giving bouniies
which they may think should DO bcstow'
ed upon our own people, il upon any
body. But these are narrow views
which are not tenable. The practical
results of the experimental colony are
much in its favor. State aid is no longer
needed, AMI we have Colony thriving
in our midst and developing our hitherto
uncultivxted territory. To SHOW how the
enterprise is regarded abroad, we copy
from a leading editorial in the New York
Tribune, in which our COURSE IN en-.
couraging foreign emigration 10 our State
is cited rs worthy OF imitation. Alter
referring to The origin of the project. the
Tribune says:
"ln the northern wilderness of Maine.
the whole State OF Massachusetts might
have been set down without touching
civilization on its borders. Out oil tins
vast territory the fertile valley ci the
Aroostuok was selected A. tho site OF
colony The new settlers were obtained
by personal interviews and explanations;
Nr. Thomas went TO their homes IN
NorrIand and Jemptland; slept in their
houses. where nine persons 10 one sleep.
ing apartment is n lair average. and re-
cruiied picked colony oil so souls
every one oi them church members, and
bringing THEFT minister with them. They
were mostly farmers, though there were
some carpenters and blacssmiths among
them. Some OF them had been hunters
OF the cider duck. and ekcd out slender
addition TO the means OF lille by obtaining
the down from the nest; for that purpose
swinging themselves under the beeIling
cliffs OF the seacoast There was good
stuff in the little band Tor pioneers.
They settled July %, 1870, on Township
10. Range 3. and called it New Sweden.
at is not necessary 10 tell how they
burned a space in tbs woods, built their
log house, including II meeting house.
and constructed turnpike. They were
of good cheer. and the letters they wrote
home reflected il. Without further effort
in Sweden there vas u stream oi emi.ra-
lion to Maine established simply by the
representations vi the coloni.ls hero.
The settlement is 10000 acres. aud now
contains over 1000 souls The ashes
of the clearing enrich the land which is
naturally fertile. and three tons OF hay
and 80 bushels OF wheat to the aero are
not unusual crops Not moro than two
or three persons OF All that have come,
have gone back dissatisfied. Many OF the
later emigrants have. brought consider.
able sums ol money 10 buy laud, varying
from few hundred to five OF SIX thou
sand dollars.
This success OF this colony has been
principally due to the tact that It has been
made sell supporting 1t has cost The
Stale nothing but the salaries aud cNPrn.
ses OF the Commission, \ matter oi per.
hsps 5000 The emigrants paid Tor
their own passage. They received
each from The State one hundred acres,
conditional upon occupancy Tor five
years, building IA dwelling house. and
clearing fifteen acres, after which They
have u warranty deed with no ices orthcr
expense chargeable upon the land
Where they needed food. seed, and i'm
pigments, these were advanced 10 them
by the State agency and soon paid Tor
10y work OH the State highways. Beside
tho colony there are tour ~ live hundred
artisans that have been drawn in the
stream OF emigration. Who have settled
where they found employment IN cities
aud towns throughout the State; and The
servant girl question has new factor
towards its solution in an excellent class
oil house servants that are in demand
aud have found Situations throughout tue
coast cities Of New England. This year,
the colony being in all respects firmly
established. Slate supervision will entire
Is cease. and the Emigration Commits
sion be Iii banded
Whether any undertaking oil The
sor, could be so honestly, economically,
aud efficiently managed elsewhere than
in New England may be matter OF
doubt But there can ho little question
as TO the need vi similar enterprise
here. There is Il single county in our
State which. according 10 the last CEN
sCs, contained less than 5 600 inhabitants
in its 900, 900 acres, and where only
one forty seventh OF the land is under
cultivation"
Important Purchase OF THOROUGHBRED Stock Tor |
Keunebee County.