Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-05-02
THE SWBDES
FACTS ABoUTTHB NEW coIoN1srg
! Heeured frsm Mr NsrdEren, VII.
ca thered thesn and HrsuEht theu O,.,

FACTS ABoUTTHB NEW co1oY1srs
seeared from W.. NsrdEren, WI.
ssa thered thesn and HrouEht ihera O,.t.
Commissioner Valentine Of Bennipgt,p
and Mr. Nordgren the well known Swsds
from Nebraska, who has spent the lat
three months IN his native country arranp
ing for the first colony Of Swedes for Yer
mont were in town for short time ou
Tuesday being on their way ~ Nershire h
look after the instalment Of Swedes which
was sent there last week The arrival OF
the Swedes ia Wilmington was mentioned
in a local paragraph IN our last issue Rep
resentatives Of l3 families, ~ persons boz
all. we're sent h. Weston and seven FAM
ies were sent ~ Nershire Additions.
Swedes have arrived in Wilmington thu,
week, making the total number Of familie.
represented there seven. The whole mum
Der Of colouists brought over was O. aud
the number Of families represented is %
A little more than quarter Of the whole
number are females The colonists are
largely made up Of young men, several Of
whom have left their wives or their in
tended wives at home 10 be sent for in due
time If the outlook proves as encouraging
as hoped for.
MANY interesting facts were gathered
from Mr. Nordgren with regard 10 the
character Of the colonists, his experiences
IN getting them together, and the treat.
ment which they have received since their
arrival in this country. Mr.. Nordgren
left his home IN Nebraska about the middle
Of December going direct 10 Sweden 1t
being his first visit there after long term
Of wears and spent some three months
there in all An unexpected difficulty was
met IN the opposition OF the emigration
agents 10 the Vermont scheme. On those
immigrants who land IN New York and
settle on or near the seabOard the agents
make nothing, while Oh those who are
sent West they get profit Of some 8 each.
They knew they could make no money on
the Vermont colonists and 50 used every
possible means 70 defeat Mr.. Nordgrens
purposes The newspapers are almost uni.
versay read IN Sweden and the majority
OF the papers were enlisted on the side OF
the agents Mr. Nordgren was charged
with having the most selfish and even nefa-
rious motives ia view. and whenever posi-
bile the people were made 10 believe that
ms purpose was b bring them b a country
su barren that they would speedily starve
10 death He persevered. however, used
I
men personal assurances Of what they
would ind here. aud fulfilled his original
purpose of selecting a company of young
men of good physique good moral charac-
ter aud good habits class who are not
able 10 be land owners in the old country,
but who have been wage-e Farmers for the
large farmers, working often for a mere
pittance OF n lew cents day. one of the
strongest elements Of opposition came from
the farmers and capitalists who naturally
objected ~ seeing this class Of people taken
out Of tine country
Mr. Nordgren accompanied the Weston
instHmeut to that place and could hardly
find words to express his delight at the cor
dial reception which WAS given them Plen.
" Of teams were III waiting 10 carry them
b. their new homes, a generous hot meal
was ready on their arrival. furniture had
been put IN several Of the houses and fires
klndied, aud there were abundant pro
visions, including corn and rye meal.
flour. potatoes aud meat In the list were
articles Of food such as the colonists had
never seen before Mr. Nordgren was
equally pleased with the treatment of the
Wilmington instaimeut and We learn from
Wilmington people that the Swedes pro-.
duce favorable impression. being Of good
personal appearance, intelligent and self
contained. Several Of them speak English
enough To make themselves understood.
winch b. due b. the fact that English Is
taught IN the excellent public school sys-
TEN 10 Sweden Ia speaking Of the al
most universal degree of intelligence which
prevails among these people, Mr. Nordgren
significantly said NO child in this colony
over seven years old needs to ask his father
h sign ms name for him
Mr. Nordgren feels a great personal in.
terest IN the success of this venture and a
personal responsibility for it. lie says he
will not leave till every colOnst is satisfied
with hls treatment and outlook, and will
return III June to see how his countrvmeB
are prOsperng if the new corners are salts
fled with this seasons returns and with their
general situation they will send tue news
to their friends in the old country. and this
first venture will prove the beginning of a
large immigration to Vermont OF this
there can be no doubt The class of Swedes
Of which tins colony are representatives
have no hope Of becoming land owners in
the old country. and the prospect of own
ing their own homes and farms in a new
country which corresponds closely to their
own III Its general features is an attractive
one.
1t seems to be due u Mr. Nordgren to
say that in helping T. put this Vermont
venture on Its feet he has made a consider.
able sacrifice Of his own interests He has
been absent from home over four months
during which time one of his children. a
bauy OF l. months. has died, aud his large
property interests have been left to the
care Of other hands