The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-28
SCANDINAVIAN rMm1cRANTs.
a People Who Would Help to Increase
the South's Prosperity.

A People Who Would Help to Increase
the south's Prosperity.
Palm Beach, Fla, May 26.-Exactly
what form the plans of the immigration
congress IN Augusta, Ga, will assume
cannot, Of course be predicted. The old
Southern Interstate Immigration Bureau
appears to have figured somewhat in the
preliminary steps that were taken to Sc
cure this congress, and, as far as can be
learned, that bureau was never a bowling
success anywhere outside of North Caro-
lima and it is certainly to be hoped that
ne part Of its scheme of immigration will
find place in the plan which this con-
gress will ultimately adopt.
Nearly all the transportation COM
panles in Florida have di-
rect interest in the subject of
immigration, for they require a deuscr
population to make their investments
profitable; and, back of this, most of
them have lands which they would like
to sell and aid in settling. Most of the
railroad companies are also active pro
motors of immigration, and Il. NJ. Flag
Ter, of New York, and Hamilton DisstOn,
of Philadelphia, are both conspicuous in
the efforts which they are now putting
forth in order to populate those portions
of the state which their recent operations
in drainage, and in canal and railroad
building have opened up to cultivation.
The plan which appears at present to
have the Endorsement and the encourage
ment of these two fdrseeng business
men is that of interesting the Scandina-
VANS of the west and the northwest in
the occupation and cultivation of Florida
lands. A colony of nearly $50 Scandina-
VANS has just been established at White
City, on the lower east coast of Florida,
not far from the line of the Jacksonville,
ST. Augustine and Indian River railway {;
and on the drained lands of the DisstOn
companies, near Nancoossee, in Osceola
county. Both colonies are satisfied so
far, and the prospects are excellent for
early independence acquired by the grow
ing of peaches, rice, pineapples, sugar cane,
etc. The work of attracting this class Of
| settlers is still going on very actively,
| and its success ought to offer at least sug-
| ges tion to the Augusta congress And in
this connection there is a heap OF practi-
! cal information in the following portions
of a communication to the May number
of the Southern States Magazine from W.
| w. Jones, of Port Huron, Mich.
"At the present time there are 100000,
or over One-quarter of the Scandinavian
population of the world are in America
The greater portion of these is located in
| Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota and Illinois
They are still coming into this country at
an average rate Of about 60 600 each year
| and almost invariably head for the west,
where their friends have preceded them
Before coming they know little or moth
ing of other portions of the United States.
After few years residence, however,
! they become AmericaniZed and better &C
| Quainted with the country and realize
| that there is more genial climate and
| productive soil within reach, and toward
| it they are now turning their attention.
]
means and considerable experience, and
are much preferable to fresh arrivals.
No class of foreigners make better citi-
! zens, more reliable assistants or agreeable
neighbors. They are, as a rule, an hon
| est, industrious, law-abiding people, who
make valuable acquisition to any com
Inupity, and are especially adapted to the
| wants of the south.
! About 80 per cent. are agriculturists who
| know how to make the most out of the
soil, and who will never fail to pay for a
| piece of land if careful, persistent and
| intelligent operation will bring remunera-
tion sufficient TO meet obligations. They
| are the people needed by the south to oc-
| cupy and improve the large areas of fer
tile lands that now lie idle. They would
assist in making good roads, building
churches and schools. They would add Ia
! the taxable income and wealth of the stat
and aid in maintaining law and order
Being accustomed to intensive farming
their holdings would be small and in di
rect contradistinction TO present disas.
trous methods, and one result would be a
rapid enhancement in the values OF real
> estate. They would furnish reliable helr
for planters not only outside but in THEN
homes all of which would tend to relief
from many cares and anxieties now en-
! dured.
They are a people who place a great re
! lance upon the opinion of their editors
and clergymen, and may be termed gre
| garious" With them, as with all other
classes, it is necessary to induce repre-
sentative men to 60 in advance to spy out
the land. If reports are favorable, the