The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-10-10
CoLoNIzING VERMONT.
Commissioner Valentines Plans for Re-
pOPulAting the Hill Towns Of the Green
Mountain State

AhO OuEAccpOuu0ub NhC
Boston Journal, Col. Forbes, accom-
panied the Commissioner of Industries
on bis late tour Of inspection Of the So
called abandoned" farms. Two weeks
were spent in Windham, Windsor and
Orange counties, and it is proposed TO
visit Caledonia and Essex counties. The
trip was undertaken in company with
the Swedish Immigration Agent Mr..
Nordgren, who has already colonized
over 1000 of his countrymen in the West,
and with view Of ascertaining the best
places on which to locate the proposed
experimental colonies of Swedes next
year. the correspondent gives the re-
suit as follows
The first towns visited were Land
grove and Peru in Bennington county,
and Weston In Windsor county. Numer.
GUS abandoned farms were found IN
each OF these towns. From one eleva-
ton were seen is unoccupied houses on
as many different farms. These farms
were all contiguous, and the land on
nearly every one showed signs OF former
fertility. Most of these farms are locat.
ed in Weston, where it lie proposed to
establish colony. Commissioner VAL
entine next visited Windham county,
which it is estimated contains more than
40, 900 acres OF land in abandoned farms.
Some 40 unoccupied farms, with build
ings In a good state of repair, were found
IN the town OF Wilmington, all being
contiguous, or nearly so. The second
colony will be located in this section.
Orange County was the third locality
visited. The towns Of Corinth, Topsham
and Vershire were found to contain
more than two score each Of abandoned
farms. In Topsham the Commissioner
was offered for colonization purposes by
one land owner 81 farms, sggregating
1900 acres, most Of which had buildings
thereon. Vershire hos fully 80 unoccu-
pied farms, which the owners are desir-
Qua to dispose of to Swedish immigrants.
Here, then, we have upward Of 200
farms. comprising probably $4,000 acres
of land in the localities named, which
have been offered TO Commissioner Val
entine for occupancy by Swedes. All of
these lands can be bought at from So to
IS per acre, with buildings, fences and
improvements included. The greater
portion of these farms once produced
good crops and were profitable, and most
of them can again be made productive.
They were not deserted because they
were sterile or unproductive,b but because
their former occupants had the Western
fever and vacated them to seek new
homes IN the great West. 1t 10 estimated
that fully 200, 900 native Vermonters are
to-day residents Of other States, and that
the number of foreign-born residents Of
Vermont exceeds $4,000. Should the
nv NaI nnlnniaa 81 Gt-aIaa \, .Ok
it is proposed to establish in this State
prove a success, 1t is probable that the
population of Vermont will be increased
many thousands by Swedish immigra-
ton during the next decade.
1.-THE citizens in the several commu-
mites visited made substantially the
same proposals, as follows; To furnish
lands in lots of from 100 to 200 acres
suitable for farming purposes and with
the necessary buildings thereon at from
three to five dollars an acre, the immi-
grants to pay only the taxes and interest
on the purchase price first year; in the
second and each ensuing years the pur-
chaser to pay 800 annually, with inter-
est, until the principal is extinguished.
The people in these localities also agree to
furnish one COW for each family land in
some cases to furnish all the cows the
farm will support), teams enough to do
the work Of the colony, and, II needed,
to loan each family $25 to help in the
purchase of kitchen and other furniture
and seeds, these being held by, the
Swedes on the same conditions as the
farms. The offers made came from the
owners of the farms, who are responsi.
BILE men, and who have agreed to the
conditions Of sale, assistance, etc. They
are men Of means, in most cases, who
have acquired these farms by purchase
or inheritance, or in some other way.
They are anxious to secure the Swedes
as settlers, and have helped in every
way possible in this work.
"Mr. Nordgren made careful inspec-
ton of the abandoned farms visited and
at the conclusion Of the tour expressed
his surprise at the favorable condition OF
things in the State. He assured Com
missioner Valentine that he was satisfied
that the farms offered for settlement
were desirable ones, and that generally
they were better adapted for occupancy
by Swedish immigrants than Western
lands. Mr.. Nordgren stated TO the Com
mission before his departure for the
West that he should have no hesitancy
in advising his countrymen to come to
Vermont and settle in the localities
which he had visited. Commissioner
Valentine proposes to locate the three
colonies as follows: One at Wilmington,
in Windham county; another at Weston,
in Windsor county, and the third in the
eastern part of Orange county, in the
vicinity OF Vsrshire or Topeham. The
colonies will comprise from eight to
twelve families each. They will take
up it is expected, about 100 acres per
family, thus disposing of about $500
acres of the unoccupied land OF the
State to start with. AS much more land
is offered than can be taken at this time,
the owners agree to give the newcomers
choice OF selection within certain limits.
so the particular farms are not yet ee-
lected.
Commissioners Valentine says: The
discussion caused by the letter to our
listers, relating to the possible colonies.
ton Of good class OF immigrants on
our unoccupied lands, has called atten-
ton IN many quarters to the cheap and
good farms, with dwellings ready for
occupancy, which are scattered over the
State. The Bureau is flooded with let
tiers from within and without the Stat,
asking for information concerning them,
with view of acquiring homes among
our hills and valleys near church and
school. 1t has been found necessary to
issue a circular, giving location of such
lands and the names Of parties to whom
to write for further particulars.' This
circular can be had by addressing the
Commissioner at Bennington. The cor
respondent is indebted to Commissioner
Valentine for much Of the above valua-
BILE information concerning the proposed
colonization Of Swsdes In Vermont"