The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-08-29
SWEDISH COLONIZATION.
INTERESTING STATEMENT FROM A
PROMINENT swEDE.

linRham and Commissioner valentine
Encouragement for Vermont Farmers.
Hon. A. B. Valentine, the commits
sioner of agricultural and manufactur-
ing interests, Is in receipt of many let
tiers concerning his proposed colony of
Swedes. Among these is one from
prominent physician Of Providence, R.
l., "a Swede by birth and an American
by faith" whose letter contains much
valuable information. We are permitted
to make some extracts theTefrom as fol
lows .t 40 t-
"If we look into the question of i'm
migration with an impartial eye, basing
our opinion of the immigrants wholly
on their virtues when arriving to our
shores, the condition under which they
have lived, their general appearance 80
cially and intellectually, as we'll as their
history of the past, we find that there
are no foreigners who present better
appearance than the Scandinavians,
(Swedes, Norwegians, Danes and Ice
landers)coming from countries that have
upheld and maintained political and re-
ligious liberty AND free thought for over
1000 years; where great and gifted men
have been plenty; strong in religion;
with excellent schools that rank among
the highest in the world, and where 81
per cent. of the population of to-day can
both read and write, such people must
be valuable addition to any commune
ty. They come to the American shore
with earnest intentions to be useful citi.
zens in their new adopted land. .
1.-THE only stumbling block that lies in
their way is the language, but nova
days English, German and French are
taught in the Swedish schools, side by
side with other common branches, and
travellers in those countries are surprised
to find every fifth young man or woman
in Sweden speak from three to five dill
ferent languages.
1.-THE Swedes do not tolerate socialism,
anarchism, glan-na-gaelism etc., but are
aw-abiding, peaceful, thrlfty-and best
of all, they become Americanized sooner
than any other foreigners. Why? Be-
cause the Swedes never knew what op.
preston was, and Americas free people
and institutions are to the incoming
Swedes what the water Is to the fishes,
elements in which they thrive and pros
per.
81 am glad that your honorable Legis-
lature has taken this step, for it ought
to be pleasant duty to every citizen IN
the land to encourage Swedish settle
ment and immigration.
"The State of Vermont is so very
much like. the Scandinavian Peninsula
in climate, agriculture and general ap-
pearance, that have no doubt our peo-
pie would thrive exceedingly well on Its
,,,;ak 10 Tnipa n fnw
Swedish American colonies that may be
of value to you in your Investigations.
AS model colonies would mention New
Sweden in Maine and Chambers Valley,
in Warren County, Penn.
This latter place was swampy wood
land, discarded by everybody as entirely
unfit for colonization. In 1S4S, but
principally from 1S6O-68, the Swedes be-
gan to settle there, through some queer
notion, withoutthe slightest persuasion.
but of their own free will. Chambers
Valley, with the TOWNSHIP Sugar Grove,
is now one of the most prosperous com
munities in the land, where schools,
churches and enterprises of all kinds are
numerous. This is all due to the hard
work of the Swedes, and if you know
something of the rough lands OF West
ern Pennsylvania, its hills, mountains
and woodlands, you can appreciate their
hard toll.
mo part of your State however rough
it may be, can compare with Chandler's
Valley, Pa, 40 years ago. With the ex-
ception of Andover and Bishop Hill, ILL.,,
Chandeliers Valley, Pa, was among the
earlier places settled by our people; ex-
cept if you go back to 1886 81, when the
Swedes settled on the coast of Pennsyl-
vania and Delaware where Philadelphia
now stands, and there you will find some
very interesting and instructive reading,
"Now, think it safe to set down the
following indisputable facts
81. If you wish to bring parts OF your
State into activity and high state of
cultivation, procure Swedish settlers.
"2. If you wish to infuse law-abid-
ing, intelligent and thrifty race into
your population, get Swedish settlers.
"3. If you desire to encourage morali-
ty, Christianity and a high state of citi-
zenship, encourage the Swedes to come
in.
"a, If you want hardy, peerless,
healthy population that is certain to
prosper, as well as the community in
which they live, by all means get the
Swedes."
The gentleman writing this has made
a special study of the questions that
lead to a prosperous and happy growth
and assimilation of foreigners into the
common nation, and therefore his opin-
ions are entitled to greater weight.
GOVERNOR DILLINGHAM; VIEWS.
In this connection Governor Dilling-
hams views regarding these matters
will be of interest. A Free Press report
er had a brief conversation with the
governor the other day-On this subject,
and although it was not understood as
newspaper interview" liberty is taken
to quote some statements that can hard
ly be otherwise than interesting at just
this time.
~ appointed Mr., Valentine commits
sioner OF immigration" said the Gov
ernor, "because / felt sure he would
thoroughly investigate the situation and
would propose something definite, some
thing that would bring the subject be-
fore the people and give rise to discus
sion. This Mr.. Valentine has done. The
subject is being discussed not only in
Vermont but all over the country.
Whether the Swedish colonizing scheme
is the best plan that can be suggested is,
of course, an open question, but that the
result of this discussion will be OF great
benefit to the State there can be no
doubt. d.. .-.... 90 ..
THE fact of it is. " said the Governor,
warming up to the subject, much OF
this talk about Vermont farms and
farmers is misleading by the terms en-
ployed. l am going about the State
good deal and have reached the conclu'
sion that the term deserted farm as ap
piled to land not under cultivation is not
warranted by the facts in the case. In
some, Instances farms have been consoli.
dated, and the owner utilities as pasture
land what has heretofore been titled. 1t
is hardly fair to use the term deserted
in relation to such tracts of land. Then
again it must be remembered that the
silo and the creamery have revolution
lied. the business of farming In Vermont
almost If not quite as much as machin
cry. All these things must be taken in
to consideration when the present con-
dition of affairs in this State is under
discussion.
Gas to Vermont farmers" continued
Gov. Dillingham;, Il say without hesita-
tion that large proportion Of the farm
ers Of this State are better off as a class
than are the farmers of the West. They
live in better houses, have better schools
aud school privileges and greater social
advantages, and when it comes TO food
they live better. These facts were never
so much impressed upon me as during a
recent visit West. In the towns there,
especially along the lines where town
lots were to be had, everything desirable
was at hand. But when got out into
the country and compared the privi-
leges and. opportunities as well as the
actual comforts Of life with the same
things that are, or may be enjoyed right
!! --....... LID Il az. MIR.