The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-09-12
COME BY THOUSANDS
SCANDINAVIAN IMMIGRATION TO
NORTHWEST HAS BEEN UN-
USUALLY HEAVY
CONSUL HoBE GIVES FIGURES
Swedes aud Norwesians Constantly
Adding to the HOme-LOvfng,
Sturdy Citizenship of the
Rural West.

SCANDINAVIAN immigration to the North
west has been larger than ever before
during Midsummer months just past.
consul h. HI. Hobe of Sweden and Nor
way, said yesterday that fully $4,000 Nor
wegians and probably greater number
OF SWedes have passed through this city
since spring. He places this number as a
very conservative estimate of the i'm
migration, and expresses his belief In a
SUN greater influx next year.
The steamship companies all tell the
same story. They say it is the biggest
summer they have ever experienced, and
that not boat arrived from the Scan
dlnavlan peninsula that was not filled to
its capacity.
A great many Danes have also come
over, but DR.. j. c. Nelson says that the
proportion was probably smaller than
tnat OF any other European country lie
gives as a reason or this that the coun-
try OF Denmark is a small one. The
present population is only a trif1e over
5.O0o000, and the country is and has been
for number of years in an exceedingly
prosperous condition.
The capital city, Copenhagen, has dou-
bled its population in the past fifteen
years, the present population being
about 100000 This is free port, and
this fact has caused millions of dollars
OF American capital to be invested in
and about the city in warehouses.
American dealers, manufacturers and
merchants ship goods to Copenhagen
and they are stored in bond for future
distribution, and thus the city is made
a distributing point for a large amount
OF American goods.
SO far as know, said DIR. Nelson
the Danes in this state are In a fairly
prosperous condition, still there are COM
paratively few of them. In fact, I think
there are as many Swedes go to Den
mark as there are Danes come to this
country. The Vast amount of business
done at Copenhagen makes the American
consulate there zone of the most imDor-
tant in the service. With the other Scan
dtnavian races 1t Is different. Large
numbers Of Swedes and Norwegians
come to this, country, and the number
is growingssevery year. For the most
part they have either friends or rela-
tives here, and it is after considerable
correspondence that they leave their
mother country for America
ALLF YOUNG MEN.
''The Swedes' and Norwegians that
come here said Consul Hobe, ARE In
almost every instance young, healthy
Specimens. They do not come empty
handed, and to show you that this is a
fact 1 will Say, that the major part OF
my work as consul here Is to identify
immigrants who have New York drafts
to cash. Only a few days ago a Norwe-
gfan came to me with a draft for $40 00U
which he wanted cashed. He was on his
way West to invest in lands
ga great many mechanics, tempted by
the large wages that are paid in this
country leave their mother country and
CONT here seeking employment at their
trade. If. they are unable to find that
kind of work they go at once into farm
ing communities and hire out to do farm
labor. After they have worked awhile
they proceed to get piece of land of
their own and set, up as farmers. They
do not hang around the large cities max
ing trouble and worry for the police and
charitable INSTITUTIONS - ,-7af@s.-.
H"The Norwegians seem to take to bust
ness more readily than the Swedes, and
in many of the towns of this state the
majority of. business men are Norwe-
gians. They, make good merchants and
generally succeed in their business. The
Swedes you will find own their own
farms and work them, and believe the
majority of Amercan-born people will
agree with me that they make model
citizens.
~ when Scandinavian leaves his home
country he does so with firm determine
ton to acquire a home of his own. There
is certain marked tenacity of purpose
that is almost national characteristic
of the race. / am sorry to say that the
American-born Scandinavians do not ex-
hibit this same trait in SO marked de-
gree as do those born across the water
THE Scandinavians in this country to-
day, and Particularly in the Northwest
country, are, Ithink, better off in every
way as a class than any other nation
atty that~has settled -in this country.
ST look for "a continued influx of good,
able-bedieds. honest Woodworking. Scan
dianvians fer years to come, and am sure
that the country will be no worse off for
them" d o9f