Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-12-11

usually at fair price, but the great de-
pressisn in that business, and the low
price of corn, has of late caused farmers
to turn their attention to other profitable
products. Wheat is sure and profitable,
and greater attention is paid TO its cult
walton then formerly. The present is an
excellent wheat season, and large crop
of excellent grain was gathered. There
is no reason why Aroostook county should
not raise its own -four, and thereby save
the continual drain of money from the
county that has been made to purchase
that article.
laundering has been an important bust
ness and had much to do with the settle
ment and development OF the county
which was exceedingly rich in pine spruce,
cedar, hackmatack and other lumber
From forty to sixty years ago the northern
part OF this county was stripped OF the
large pine trees; they were cut squared
up" in the woods in very wasteiui man
ner-usualIy leaving about one-thlrd %!
the tree cut into chips in the squarlng rro-
cess-drswn to the Aroostook and 81.
John rivers and tributaries, hoated to S.
John, New Brunswick, where the timber
was largely shipped to England for man
ufacture. Later lumbcrmen have given
their attention to pine and spruce logs,
hackmatack and birch ship timber aud
cedar shaved shingles. The shingie trade
has been very large. but within five years
it has fallen off until it is but the skeleton
Of its former self.
The population of the county in 1870
was 20,579; it is now larger by several
thousands. Even for the decade includ.
ing the war period the increase was over
1000, pearly 35 per cent. from 1850 to
1860 the increase was SO per cent. There
is no marked difference in appearance be-
tween the inhabitants Of Aroostook and
any other rural district in Maine or indeed
New England, except in two instances,
the French settlement and the Swedish COL
ony. The former are towns and planta-
tions along the south bank of the St. John
river, extending distance Of about fifty
miles, inhabited BY some of the descend
ants of the scattered Acadiaus, rendered
immortal by Longfellos in his "Evange-
line" According to the last census they
numbered 1878. They tenaciously hold
to their native language and religion, are
very slow to adopt Yankee customs and
manner of doing business, and except tina.
they have the right to vote, expend the
money appropriated by the State for schools
and the benefit Of the courts, are to all in
tents and purposes foreigners. They have
inhabited this tract for nearly century.
The Swedish colony was planted on
very fine township Of land i'll 1871 and
1872 at an expense of about S37 900 TO
the State. They number not far from
500, are organized into plantation for
school and election purposes, and 90 have
become naturalized citizens of the State.
They are industrious, having very credit
able schools, are acquiring the use Of En-
glish language rapidly, are self-support-
ing and destined to become thrifty, en-
torprising community, and an important
addition to the tlpulatiOn of the county
and State.
The connection with "outside" has been
OF character to retard business, and
even now the means of transportation are
insufficient and indirect the branch roads to
Houlton and Caribou being unable to traus.
port the freight as rapidly as desirable.
4 railroad directly connecting the county
with the principal cities oi the State =
greatly needed, but notwithstanding tbs
and the disadvantage II the hlgh attitude
Aroostook county's future on the whole
IooAs brighter for agriculture lsan any
other portion OF the State.