The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-07-26
ICELANDIC EMIGRATION.
RETURN OF THE IcELANDIc COMMISSION FROM
srrKA TO SAN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FACTS

sITKA TO SAN FRANcIsco-RTEREsTNo FACTS
AND FIGURES
BY the arrival OF the steamer California from
etka &C San Francisco on the 10th inst. an Alta
CaH'ornld representative Is placed in possession
Oh the following particulars OF the visit OF the Ice
iandic commissioners to sItka TO inquire INTO the
expectancy OF Icelandic emiRration:-
Inc commission originally consisted or three
tS,einnuers J0nn Olaisson, Olaf Olalsson and Paul
lated. John Olafsson IL well KNOWN. bofh m Ice
Land ana 10 MS countrymen In Amerlca as a Jour
nhilst oi repute. Prlor to 1873 he EDITED the
Betdui, weekly paper, published az the capital
OF Iceland; out, In consequence OF advocating
DANISH authorities, lie was banished. He then came
W the United states, aud, alter u tour through
lceanders localed In Wisconsin, At present ne
Is engaged as editor or the NorlceOlan ana CORE
sponas %ltn various s,lS papers IN lcespa ana by
irymen IN the proposed scheme or emigration
OIaI Oalssen is practical farmer. anu Paul
BJornssun, The third and youngest Commissioners
Is young man OF good parts, good family ana no
particular occupation. Among their countrymen
The Commissioners are esteemed as representa-
tive men, ana their report for or against the pro-
posed scheme will nave decided enect.
ON the Representations made 10 the United
States government by John OlaIsson. who acted
as Secretary o1 the Icelandic Emigration society
IN Wisconsin, tine sloop-oFwar portsmouth was
placed at the disposal OF the Commission, and on
the 18TH OF last september she sailed Win the
three Commissioners. Alter MI uneventiui pas
toner. aud put Bjornsson and MS companions
ashore. me climate anq soil, however, pleased
mouth weighed anchor, and two days after
sighted ST. Paul's. Alter an exploration OF the
Island the commissioners were satisfied that they
had found
THE Ell DORADO OF THEIR IMAGINATION.
st. Paups contaius an abundance or grazing
lands and SUFFICIENT tracts or tlllable land 10 an
swer their every need. 1t was formerly occupied
by the Russlans, but upon the sale oil Alaska 10
the United STATES the Russian set for the most
Dart vacated their homes. In CONSEQUENCES OF Luis
migration numbers OF buildings, eligible for dwell
lnRs were lett unoccupied and whlcn the Com
mlssioners thought might be utilized py their
countrymen, should they conclude to emigrate to
Alaska. Tho climate oil 81. Pauls, though cold, Is
not too variable. and Is tempered by the warm cur
rent rom the Japanese Seas which sweeps past
this island and up the coast. The island abounds
In teatnered game aud the waters literally TEEN
with nsn. Two tribes oil Indlans-the Aeuts ana
Koyukeens-occupy the island, but tney are not
hosule 10 white settlers.
The Commissioners were SO well pleased with
the prospect that John Oafsson, concluding that
he had found the lcelandic paradise oil his hopes,
sought no Iurtner but look passage on the Por U.s.
mouth and returned 10 san Francisco while his
companions remained 10 acquant themselves
win the manners OF the Inhabitants ana make
preparations for the reception OF their country
men, who were expected AT once TO dock toward
Alaska. A winters residence In their dopted
country, however, has apparently not increased
the enthusiasm OF the TWO commissioners and
from the tenor OF their conversation 1t Is more
than doubtful whether they Will indorse the
favorable report made to the lcelandc Emlgra-
Society Dy their journalistic colleague on his
THE POVERTY OF THE IcELANDERs
IL the greatest difficulty Ia the way OF making the
proposed scheme successful ana unless the
grants with Tree transportation Alaska. The Com
mssoners say, must remain unsettled by Ice
would make Ior such assistance Is stated In tne
following extract from letter written In Novem-
Der last by John OiaissOn:-
Last summer the Icelandic Society in Mil
waukec, WIS.,, sent q petition TO the President OF
the Uniied States asking the cooperation or the
UOVQrnmenL
Alaska with a view To colonization. The people
oil Iceland desire to emgrate lnasmuch as they
have for a long time been under q deSpotlc and
illiberal government aud the natural re-
sources OF Iceland are in many respects ex-
In obtaining new and not altogether
illiperal constitution, there still remain many
reasons for Disagreement between tue Icelanders
ana me Danes. Our country Is certainly capable
oil supporting more than the 1000 wno now In
habit the land. But the increase OF popua ton
has been too rapid, and the soil In It's present
dition Is incapable OF supporting 30 many. The
Commissioners suggest, as advantages 10 DE de-
rived by the United states from the establishmen
OF an Icelandc colony In Alaska, that Alaska 10
too lar north and too cold to attract any pug our
countrymen, and the Territory viii therefore be
LEFT ENTIRELY TO THE sAvAGES
unless we settle on II; that we VIII be able TO
raise vast numbers OF catue. sheep and horses
there oil the nardy lceianuic stock and supply
the Pacific STATE. with beet, butter and
cheese; that we will manage the fisheries
OF Alaska In far better manner than has
heretofore been done; that We Will utilize Inc
forests and supply tlm0er for the Pacific states,
will supply seamen for tue navy service ana the
mercantile marine OF the Pacific, and that by the
immediate establishment OF colony there we
will attract all future lceIandlc emigration,
whereas, If not done, the nucleus Will certainly
be formed IN Canada. whose government offers
far better Inducements than the United States.
s.lhe Commissioners found Kodak well suited
for cattle raising, sheep breeding and pasturage,
ana they think II almost certain that II Is fit
agriculture. Game Is abundant and tue asnerles
are excellent
INDIAN wHISKEY.
Aoo tafaA N q "a
OF population in lcelanu has been remarkable. At
the commencement or ne last century It was only
30, O00 la 1884 II was 10000 anu at present the
population - 10000. The numper of lcelanders
IN America is not more tnan 500; but this, con-
siderIng the opposition OF the Danish govern
ment 10 emigration and the poverty OF the people.
Is remarkable. There Id also a small colony
located IN canada.
Inc commissioners also report dull times at
Sitka IN DusincSs, except the whlSkey trade,
which nOurlshed with unwonted vlg0r The sale
OF strong drink to natives Is forbidden, but the
aDoriglnes overcome the difficulty by mauulac-
turing forty-rod from molasses and -four, ana in
stead OF buying whskey from whites actually
monoponZe the business themselves anu run stills
enough to surfce Tor the needs OF n gOodslzed
town In the highest state u civilization. The
Commissioners propose TO return as soon as pos
sibe 10 Wisconsin.