The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1881-07-26
scandinayians for Kentucky.
Courier -Joarnal.l

Capt. EMIL Lindburg, Vice. Consul
at New York OF Sweden and Norway,
arriyed in Louisville yesterday, and
will spend some time examining into
the character OF the land resources OF
Kentucky and Tennessee with view
to turning the tide Of Scandinavian
and Danish emigration southward.--.
Capt. Lindburg was formerly emf
grant agent Of the A. and 7. railroad,
and is thoroughly Informed as to the
wants of cmigrants and is in search
Of better location than the North
west affords.
"Heretoiore," said he to q Courier
journal reporter last night. "the
Swedes, Norweigians and Danes have
all settled exclusively in the Vest
That is because the West was extens-
lively and properly advertised. You
see, Europeans know nothing of the
States. They know North and South
America, and the large divisions, but
nothing at all of the various States.--
Tho great railroads Of the North and
West have at their own expense
printed millions Of documents aud
sent agents TO Europe to induce eini-
grants 10 como TO America. Whcrey-
er there ia steamship office or pub.
lie place in Northern Europe yon will
see maps and placards printed in the
language Of tho emigraiit, detailing
MI the advantages Of the North anil
West. But cmigrants who have SET
tied In Minnesota, Wisconsin and
other States have become dissatisfied.
because In many cases, they were ili-
duced to settle tliroughfalse promises.
Where the yield of wheat was adver-
tised to be thirty bushels TO the acre,
they find they can raise but seven,
and OF course that Ia not enough for
subsistence. Many have IN conse-
quence pushed OH 10 Kansas and Ne
braska, but there they find difficulties
in the way OF obtaining timber and
water. Some yeara ago | settled n
number of families IN Louisiana, In
Caldo and Lake Providence. Some
of them at first hired out as labcrcrs
on the plantations, but In seven years
they have all become land-o wnors and
are regarded as among the most valu-
able citizens in tho parishes where
they reside"
''llow do your people settlc-in col.
onies or in familicsfo
al think" said Capt. Lindbmg,
"that II ia best TO be governed solely
by the opportunities. There is no In
,ention Of purchasing large tracts OF
land and settling colony. The idea
is 10 purchase small farms wherever
they otler good inducements aud lei
families settle. They assimilate bet
ter with your population that way :
think Tennessee and Kentucky the
best. States In the South for our pco.
pie. they did we'll in Louisiana
they will certainly prosper OH the fine
soil OF your States. The Scandina-
vians are sober, industrious and thrift
" people, aud make the best of citi-
zens. In Minnesota there are towns
solely pcoplcd by them. Ono OF them
was elected Secretary Of Stale, and
they fill their own town Offices well.
They make their own municipal laws
but are of course. obedient to the State
laws. There are 100000 Scandina
vians in America. In sixteen years
we have settled 250,0O0 in The North.
west, and about 10000 yet remain in
| Minnesota and Wisconsin. The 9th
crs have removed to Kansas and Ne
braska."
Capt. Lindburg left al midnight for
Tennessee, whence he will return
through Kentucky. lie states tha,
the Southern States have never ad-
vertised their advantages, which &C.
counts for the small percentage OF the
emigration stream turned In this di
rection. or late little has beer
done, but not much. What is needed
hc thinks, is a State appropriation
and railroad individual enterprise =
If he finds the lands suitable he thinks
that In few years there will be hun
dreis of thousands OF Scandinavian
in the two States.