Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1891-05-14
NO TRUTH IN THE STATEMENT.


The Swede Controversy Ought to be Settled
by These Letters.
From the News and Citizen.
In the early part of last month, there
was published had short paragraph
reading as follows:
RUTLAND, April Prev. Miles Nilsson of
the Swedish Lutheran church has received a
letter from one of the settlers in the Swedish
colony at Norton Mills, Essex county, in the
forests of northern Vermont, complaining
bitterly of the hardships the tenants have en-
dured.
Eleven of the Scandinavians have left the
colony, one walking 70 miles to Rutland,
where he is now employed in the marble
quarries. Only seven families are left, and
they are reported in destitute condition.
An earnest plea is made for aid, that the colo
nists may be able to leave the forests.
The article came to the attention of the
Boston vice consul of Sweden and Nor
way, who sent Gov. Page the following
letter.
Boston, April 6, 1891.
10 his EXcelency, the Governor of YER
mont, Montpelier, vt.
SIR:-The enclosed article having appeared
in newspaper, take the liberty to enquire
whether there is any truth in the statement,
also how long these Swedes have been in the
state, whether they are regular emigrants
who have gone there to seek their living, or
whether they are under contract with some
society or corporation.
Yours very respectfully,
CERT LOOTZ,
V. Consul.
or course such an accusation against
Vermont demanded immediate action on
the part of the governor and he immed-
lately wrote to Hon. S. D.. Hobson to
make careful investigation and report
to him at once what, if any, grounds ex-
listed for the charge made against the
state in the above paragraph. The re-
suit is the following letter from one of
the Swedish settlers at Norton Mills.
NORTON MILLS, VT,
April 80, 1891.
Hon. S. ID. HOBSON-Dear Sir:-I have
seen an article in newspaper which stated
were in a destitute condition. | have been
told that you received letter from the COVER
nor of this state in regard to the matter, and
that he would like to know the true condition
of affairs here, and whether there was any
truth in the reports that are being circulated
or not As L am one of the parties referred
to, | take the liberty to address you, and will
endeavor to give you true statement of the
condition of the Swedes living here WHY
they came here and what they are doing.
MAMMAL a. Co., of Springfield, Mass, bar
gained for quantity of land in this township
from A. M. Stetson. of Boston, Mass, for
the purpose of settling these lands with his
countrymen, Scandinavians. Myself with
others purchased some of these lands and
moved with our families to this place about
one year ago. We We're not obliged to make
any payment on the land at the time of pur-
chase; had all the time to pay that we re-
quired. Mr.. Stetson owns and operates um-
Der mills at this place. We were all given
employment Immediately on arrival, wages
$1.25 per day, house rent and fuel free. The
fuel was delivered at our door free of charge.
Every Scandinavian has been furnished work
on arrival, and offered steady work every
day since at the above named wages. Some
came here from the New England states,
others direct from Norway. Mr.. Stetson adj
vanced money to several to send for their
families, furnished them with household
goods on arrival, and all necessaries to live
on. Some of them were furnished with all
they required to commence on their land; in
fact they all received everything they wanted,
until some of them who were not accustomed
to hard work, or work of this kind got dis
satisfied and thought they could do better in
the factories. They instilled this into the
minds of others. When the manager of the
business here noticed this he refused to give
GUelll ANY more credit, WOulu give IHeIn all
work but they could not get any advance any
faster than they earned it. This is what
some of them made great cutlery about and
went away, the most of them owing Mr..
Stetson quite large amount. While here
they lived on the fat of the land. There were
two or three that caused all the dissatisfaction,
and they persuaded some good men to follow
their example. None of them lived in the
forest as represented, but in a thriving vii
lage. They were all treated kindly and gen
erously, and repaid the kind treatment with
abuse. Those of my countrymen who re-
main here (there are severaD | think are
satisfied and contented. In my own case |
am well satisfied. l am living on my place,
having built me house and got pretty good
start, have been treated kindly, and been
offered all the assistance l may need. l have
no desire to return to Springfield, my former
home. If l have my health have good rea-
son to think that in a little while | will have
a nice little home that can call my own. In
conclusion / can truthfully say there is not
one word of truth about my cOuntrymen
being destitute or in want here; on the con-
trary they are all at work here, receiving
good wages, and well clothed, children well
dressed and attending school. would further
say that there has not been single instance
where there has been any restitution or hun
ger. or any person who has received aid in
this town during the past winter, all the re-
ports you have seen to this effect are base
falsehoods.
Yours truly,
A. l.. ERIKSeN.
P. s. 1 would further say that we did not
come here under contract,it was voluntary on
our part. We came for the purpose of be-
coming settlers, and making homes for our
selves here.
The above letter bears upon its face its
own evidence of truthfulness and good
faith and will probably put a quietus
upon the irresponsible charges put afloat
by the disgruntled fellow who wrote the
letter referred to.
Horse Notes.