The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-14
THE LAND OF ICE.
a Movements ON Foot to Remove the Entire
Population of Iceland to Manitoba.

population OF Iceland to Manitoba.
Philadelphia Call.
In the western part of Pembna county Dako-
ia, but a few miles from the Canadian boundary,
lie three townships settled entirely by Iceland
ers, most of whom lived short time in Mani
toba before crossing into the United States
Near Sioux Falls. IN the same Territory, are
few Icelanders; there is another settlement in
Iowa. and still another in Wisconsin, while in
Thingvalla and New Iceland contain several
thousand OF the same people. All these settle
ments, In both countries, have much the same
history, and illustrate the painful fact that for
the third time in its history Iceland is threat
ened with depopulation. For the third time the
climate OF that strangely interesting island is
changing for the worse and this time the change
is so prolonged that scheme is projected in the
Canadian Northwest TO bring all the remaining
1900 IN Iceland to the world.
The extinction of such people would be a
calamity TO the sentimental, and may well
re fuse to believe It possible; for no doubt rem
nant will remain, will find life much more toler
able when the surplus population Is removed,
and when nature again becomes genial, will
thoroughly re-people the old land.
Iceland Is the most interesting island in the
world. About as large as Ohio, it contains
many volcanoes as this continent; and with
population never as large as congressional dis
trict, 1T has produced more poets and romance
writers than any State, and has history
fascinating as that of any nation. When all
Europe was sunk IN the barbarism that followed
the Northmen's destruction of Rome, Irish
priests and scholars found = religious
community Iceland; and when civil
HZatfOn laQ revived only few
Mediterranean provinces, and that but feebly.
Iceland was in its golden age of poets. preach
and scholars There is good evidence that
Columbus obtained his first ideas of the Western
world in Iceland, and there is undoubted history
that people of that race discovered America long
before the Spaniards. Once in its LOLA years
of authentic history blight fell on Iceland. it's
population sunk TO minimum and for two
hundred years it had neither scholars nor his
torians at another time the cold increased for
term of years aud threatened general destruc-
tion and now the same phenomenon is being
repeated, with the additional evil that the ice
flow from Greenland comes later in the season
and has formed permanent mass against. the
north side OF the island.
No class of foreigners become Americanized
This is true of the Swedes Danes, Norwegians
and eminently true of the Icelandsrs
Those in Manitoba are enthusiastic for the
federation and liberal supporters of all English
Canadian schemes of progress they have
several newspapers in their own language, and
maintain good schools and churches. In the
three IcelAndic townships in Dakota are some
600 voters. and the high standard of intelligence
is remarkable. In the church library in the
little village of Mountain containing less
than fifty houses are several hundred vol
umes of English. French. German. Nor
wegian, Iceandic. Greek and latin,
and the resident preacher tLutheran)
classic and modern languages. There is no
country in the world. probably, where education
is so universal as in Iceland; the morals or the
people are good, save the one vice of the Scan
dinavians. We may Judge the extent of that
from clause in the latest trade report to the
effect that tho import of brandy has
If the seventyfve thousand people in
Iceland must leave there (which all
scholars will p-ay will not bel Manitoba
could not get better settlers. and oEld they
follow their kinsmen into the United States
they will add valuable element to the much
composite Yankee
Naddodr Norwegian viking, discovered Ice-
land in 800. and four years later Garthar
Svafarrson sailed around it. Ten years later
Norwegians colonized it. but soon found that
Irish Christians had located there at least $50
years before Their record adds that the remain
ing Irish left "when the Morse pagans came"
The Norwegian settlers were disaffected citi-
zens unwilling to submit to a new form of
government just established in Norway
and in 928 they made Iceland republic;
to Haco. king of Norway. Iceland retain
ing her separate legislature. In 1887 Nor
way and Denmark We're united. and when
again divided Iceland fell to Denmark, to
which it is still attached. In 1874 the Icelanders
celebrated the 1.000th anniversary of settlement,
which attracted visitors from all parts of the
world The first of cold and famine is but
imperfectly reported, but about 1850 series of
calamities began, including volcanic eruptions
Nearly all the domestic animals died. and the
population shrunk to $4,000 Prosperity re-
turned. and the population soon exceeded 100,-
000 Now it has shrunk to $4,000, not by famine
this time. but by emigration.
The climate is remarkable. Though the
arctic circle touches the north, the average
winter. in the valleys, is milder than that of
Ohio, while the summer temperature very rarely
exceeds go degrees. The ice drifts from Green
land lodge on the north and northwest coasts.
usually in February and March, but for many
years past they have remained through the
mer chilling the air that no onsiderable crops
could be raised in the northern valleys. The
only grain used is imported; but heavy crops of
vegetables are grown. The wealth of the
country is in cattle and sheep, fish and birds
The latter wonderfully numerous, among
them the elder duck, whose nests are strictly
protected by the people The white bear often
%f,o
but a few Of the interesting points of Iceland
Its literature is voluminous that we cannot
books.