The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-08-07
Circular from Commissioner
Valentine.


commissioner of agriculture and manu-
featuring, will send to the listers of
each town of the state, this week, the
following very important circular, which
is referred to edtorally elsewhere in
this paper:
1.-THE gradual decrease of cultivated
acres in many towns of our common
wealth, and the consequent decrease of
population in those towns, has attracted
the attention of thoughtful men. The
discussion of the possibility of checking
the outflow of our young men and
women and the repopulating of the
lands thus left without tenants has
eliminated in the establishment of
commission by the last legislature, and
a copy of the act establishing the COM
mission is herewith inclosed. Pro-
vision is made in the act for certain
experimental action looking towards
the bringing of the agricultural advan-
tages of the state to the knowledge of
the people of other states or countries,
and inducing them to purchase unoc-
cupied, abandoned or other lands, for
the purpose of cultivation. This COM
munication is addressed to you because
you, in your official capacity as town
lister, have reported certain lands once
cultivated, but now turned into pasture
or growing up to forest, and practically
abandoned for farm purposes. In
this communication the commissioner
wishes it to be understood that he is
not committed to any fixed plan of
action, for he is not vet fully per-
suaded that any practicable means can
be devised to accomplish the end sought.
The object of this paper is rather
reaching out for information, from
which to decide whether to attempt to
follow the line of action herein brought
to your attention or to abandon the
only practicable remedy which has thus
far suggested itself.
"The successful establishment of
colonies of Swedes on unoccupied lands
in the state of Maine, and the success
of corporations at the West in the
colonization of railroad lands with citi-
zens of the same nationality, has led
the commissioner to think it possible to
divert this class of desirable inhabitants
to our own state. 1t is true that the
state of Maine and the railroad COM
panies owned the lands. Did the state
of Vermont own the 100000 acres of
land reported now abandoned for farm
ing purposes, but formerly under cul-
tivation, and much of which is capable
of as successful cultivation as the pros
porous surrounding farms. the problem
could be easily solved. Yet even now
it does not seem impossible to accom-
plish much through this bureau, follow
| . Nn Of hn tatn Il
tions mentioned. The commissioner
has lately conferred with prominent
Swede of Nebraska, who has brought
over number of colonies of his coun-
trymen to settle on railroad lands in
that state. If facts seem to warrant it,
the commissioner purposes to take the
gentleman mentioned over parts of our
state where are reported large tracts OF
, land suitable for cultivation and which
can be secured at low price. He is a
: practical farmer and thorough Judge
of the wants of his countrymen, pos
sesses and has earned their confidence
to the fullest extent, and would not
recommend their settlement in our
: state unless it is clear that they could
{ become prosperous tillers of the soil.
"Our state presents many of the
climatic characteristics of the Scandi-
navian countries, resembling them also
in surface and soil, and no better i'm.
} migrants than the Swedes ever set foot
, on American soil-orderly, peaceful
, industrious, frugal and thrifty In the
West wherever you find colonies OF
this nationality you find a prosperou:
( community, and if our state could Sc
r cure like inhabitants to fill our waste
a places we should be fortunate indeed
In the state of Maine town is called
New Sweden, and long ago the lands
i were paid for, and all the help the state
/ advanced repaid with interest. The
y Swedish gentleman before referred tC
proposes, if an examination of our land:
will warrant it, to bring over colony
i of fifty families, they paying for theil
4 own passage. Many of them would re
: quire time, extending from three tC
: five years, in which to pay for theil
' land. Also temporary shelter for thu
families would have to be provided
0 before their arrival If necessary, the
e commissioner might feel justified il
q lending part of the appropriation a
his command for the supplying of i'm
: mediate necessities.
y "Of course ii would be folly to try t
v induce desirable immigrants to settl,
q on worthless lands, Also the price o
the lands must approximate the pric,
Is of the wild lands of the West, in n,
e case to exceed i've dollars an acre
:, Some listers have reported good land
y to be bought at three dollars. Thi
!, work must be, to a large extent,
/ labor of patriotism and state pride, TO
}. there can be no intermediate commits
d sion or profits. All the advantage
d must be given to the immigrants alone
!, though you can see the benefits of sucI
u ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS far-reaching t.
e the towns, as such, as we'll as to tn
d property in the vicinity of such a col
g ony. These immigrants, if they com
= at all, will not come to glut the labo
= market, but as farmers, to till the sol
y and add to the real wealth of Vermont
IS 1t is desirable that lands contiguou