Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-04-10
OUR WELCOME is WIDE.

There appears to be an idea preva-
lent among our editorial confreres that
we are particularly anxious for an i'm
migration of Swedes into Vermont. At
least this seems to be the impression
we have mwittingly given to the ex-
cellent agricultural editor of the Hart
ford, Conn. Times. 1t is mistake,
however. We award all the credit for
that idea to Commissioner Valentine,
who may, perhaps, have taken ii from
successful experiment noted in the
case of the flourishing Aroostook town
ship of New Sweden. Scandinavia,
by the way, seems TO have been always
well appreciated by the people of the
Pine Tree State, if we may Judge by
its town names of Norway, Sweden,
Denmark and new Sweden. Our own
idea, repeatedly advocated in these
columns, long before the appointment
of an immigration commissioner, was
to make some efforts 10 attract the hard
pressed tenant farmers of great Britain.
This led TO some correspondence on
our part with English journals, but the
vein, though TO US encouraging, seems
not to have been thought by others to
be worth working. But while we
should be glad to see new English
exodus TO New England, we have no
such exclusive ideas as to prevent our
giving all the help we can toward the
introduction of industrious farmers
from any portion of the civilized world.
The press of other states may not see
anything particularly commendable in
this desire of Vermont for an increase
of population. Our friend Of the Times
evidently does not. He joyfully quotes
the Barton Monitors surprising charge
of libel against Commissioner Nalen-
tine. in reference to abandoned farms
in Orleans county, whose map was
based entirely upon the statements Of
the town authorities and of the owners
of the land-confirmed to us personally,
and very lately, during the session of
court, by well informed citizens of
of Orleans towns. II is strange
indeed that any one should suppose
our legislature likely to appoint a COM
and make an appropriation, |
for which there was no apparent call.
This whole criticism Of Vermont
action is based upon an assumption
that our people ought to be content
with stationary population of the
state as whole. and with considera- |
BILE reduction in the number of our oc-
cupied farms. Il is not pertinent to
say and prove that our remaining far
mers are doing very well, aud in not
few eases better than ever. That is
one of the reasons why we should feel
justified in an effort to make our ex-
cellent opportunities more widely
known. Vermont has room for many
more farmers and we mean to try to
ret them. There are hundreds of far
ners in Connecticut who, we are per-
'uaded, could better themselves great
y by moving into Vermont. Every
hing considered, the opportunities are
better now than in the early days. when
Connecticut poured a strong stream of
hitherward. Our friend of
he Times must pardon us for believing
hat larger agricultural population
viii benefit US. If he thinks station
.ry population best we have no objec-
ion to pleasing him by taking the
rhole increase OF Connecticnt-with a
earty welcome. The more of them
re get the merrier we shall be.-DR
IosKINS.