St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-08-15
TO BOOM VERMONT.
Measures Proposed by Commissioner
Valentine.

Hon. A. B. Valentine, commissioner
of agriculture and manufacturing in
terests has addressed the following
letter to the listers of the various
towns in the state The letter ex-
plains itself:
Conference.-The gradual decrease
OF cultivated acres in many towns OF
our commonwealth, and the conse-
quent decrease of population in those
towns, has attracted the attention
of thoughtful men. The discussion
of the possibility of checking the out
| flow of our young men and women,
and the re-populating of the lands
thus left without tenants, has culmi-
mated in the establishment of COM
mission by the last legislature, and a
copy of the act establishing the COM
mission is herewith enclosed.
Provision is made in the act for
certain experimental action, looking
towards the bringing of the agricul-
tural advantages of the state to the
knowledge of the people of other
states or countries, and inducing
them to purchase unoccupied, aban-
pose of cultivation.
This communication is addressed
to you because you, in your official
capacity as town lister, have report
ed certain lands, once cultivated, but
now turned into pasture or growing
up to forest, and practically aban-
doned for farm purposes.
| In this communication, the COM
| missioner wishes it understood that
he is not committed to any fixed plan
of action, for he is not yet fully per-
suaded that any practicable means
can be devised to accomplish the end
sought The object of this paper is
rather a reaching out for informa-
| ton, from which to decide whether
to attempt to follow the line of
action herein brought to your atten-
ton or to abandon the only practi-
cable remedy which has thus far sug
gested itself.
The successful establishment of col
onies 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
citizens of the same nationality, has
| led the commissioner to think it pos
sible to divert this class of desirable
inhabitants to our own state.
1t is true that the state of Maine
and the railroad companies owned
| the lands Did the state of Vermont
own the 100000 acres of land re-
ported now abandoned for farming
| purposes, but formerly under cultiva-
ton, and much of which is capable of
as successful cultivation as the pros
porous surrounding farms, the prob
lem could be easily solved. Yet, even
now, it does not seem impossible to
accomplish much through this bu-
reau, following the lead of the state
and corporations mentioned. The
commissioner has lately conferred
with prominent Swede of Nebraska,
who has brought over a number of
colonies of his cOuntrymen, to settle
on railroad lands in that state. If
| facts seem to warrant it, the COM
missioner purposes to take the gen
tleman mentioned over parts of our
state where are reported large tracts
of land suitable for cultivation, and
which can be secured at a low price
He is practical farmer and a thor
ough Judge of the wants of his
countrymen; possesses and has
earned their confidence to the fullest
extent, and would not recommend
.rI~i- ~ ei~ IN O.i orerIN uHiNoo II
is clear that they could become pros
porous 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 bet
ter immigrants 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 prosperous community, and if
our state could secure like inhabi-
tants to fill our waste places, we
should be fortunate indeed
In the state of Maine a town is
called New Sweden, and, long ago
the lands were paid for and all the
help the state advanced repaid with
interest.
The Swedish gentleman before re-
ferred to proposes, if examination of
our lands will warrant it, to bring
over a colony of so families, they
paying for their own passage Many
of them would require time extend
ing from three to five years, i'll which
to pay for their land. Also, tempo
rary shelter for the families would
have to be provided before their
arrival. If necessary, the commits
sioner might feel justified in lendinga
part of the appropriation at his COM
mand for the supplying of immediate
necessities.
Of course, it would be folly to try
to induce desirable immigrants to
settle on worthless lands. Also, the
price of the lands must approximate
the price of the wild lands of the
west, in no case to exceed five dollars
an acre. Some listers have reported
good lands to be bought at three
dollars. This work must be, to a
large extent, a labor of patriotism
and state pride, for there can be no
intermediate commission or profits;
all advantages must be given to the
immigrants alone, though you can
see the benefits of such settlement;
benefits far reaching to the towns as
such, as well as to the property in
the vicinity of such a colony. These
immigrants, if they come at all, will
not come to gIut the labor market,
but as farmers, to till the soil, and
add to the real wealth of Vermont.
1t is desirable that lands contigu-
Gus and of sufficient extent to supply
the whole colony should be secured.
According to reports received, there
are four sections of the state answer
ing the requirements in this particu-
lar, though perhaps occupying parts