The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-07
THE Firms AS
HOME BUILDERS
UPPER PENINSULA EXPECTS
MUCH FROM THEM.
Conditions Resemble Those Which
They Left in Their Native Land
Subjugation of the Forest and It's
Conversion Into Money Among
Their Strong Points-Some North
ern Leaders.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Negaunee Mich, June 7.-Developed
here and there In spots, but with the far
greater portion of its territory-an area
larger than that of Rhode Island, Della
ware, Connecticut and Massachusetts,
combined--still practically virgin wild
erness as far as agriculture is concerned
the upper peninsula of Michigan is des-
tined to become the home sof many thou.
sands Of people, and it is upon the Firms
that hopes are largely placed.
The Finn is by nature a tiller of the
soil. He may seek work about the mines
when he first arrives from his motherland,
but when he has accumulated enough to
secure little piece Of farming land and
has had time to study the question Of
location, back he goes to the soil; and
every mining depression hastens this
movement.
The Finn is peculiarly adapted to agri-
cultural conditions in the upper peninsula.
In soil, climate and natural conditions this
| region closely approaches that to which
he was accustomed in his native land. 1t
is upon the timber that he depends for
his start as farmer. He will go into
the woods with nothing but an ak, and
before long it will be found that he has
hewed out house, barns, tillable fields, fur
niture and farming implements. The
pine and hemlock, after the latter Is
| stripped of it's bark and disposed of. to
tanners make saw logs; the cedar makes
poles, ties, fence posts and tagging for
the mines; the hardwood is turned into
| logs or cordwood, and even the balsam
is utilized, being whipsawed into lumber
| to finish the embryo farmers log Shack -
| The great centers of Finnish population
in the United States are Ashtabula, Ohio;
| Grayling, in the lower peninsula, and
Hancock and Calumet in the upper PENN
sula, with settlements in Minnesota and
/ IL
| Ashtabula, Hancock and Calumet are the
| centers from which most of the. Finnish
papers of the United States are sent out
and at Hancock is the only Finnish col
| 1ege in the country. ~
| j. H. Jasberg Of this college has ar
! interesting history. A man with, a col
lege education in his native country he
| came here without funds and found Worl
in the mines. After getting a start, be
became teacher and an editor. and is
| to-day the leader of his nationality. He
| was instrumental in the establishment Of
| the college at Hancock and In the cree.
ton Of the handsome building it=occupies.
At Calumet is published the Paivalehti
the only Finnish daily newspaper in thu
United States, with a circulation of ovel
| $500 copies. AT the head of the company
is Oscar j. Larson, now completing his
third term prosecuting attorney o.
Houghton county. Mr.. Larson is a nat
ural leader Of men, and itxis expected hi
will some time represent this district ir
congress. -. 1 Itst
A third man who should be mentioned
as a leader Of the Finnish people is. Nell
| Majhannu of Ishpeming and Mtchiganme
Mr.. Majhannu has done in an industrial
way what Jasberg has done in the educa
tional line and Larson In the political
He is the founder of the town of Her
mann and at the head Of a large colon
Of Firms who are clearing up the heav
forest growth forty acres at time, whic
has every promise Of becoming a pros
porous agricultural community.
There is no more sober, God-fearin
l and honest class Of people to be foun
| anywhere than the majority of the Finn
who have settled in northern Michigan.