Willmar tribune., 1914-05-06
SWEDISH LUTHERANs PROPOSE
100000 COLONIZATION FUND
Plan to Found Settlements and Send
Countrymen From Cities to
the Farm.

the project to have the backing Of the
Augustana Swedish Lutheran synod
and fund of $1,000,000, are being
laid before the Swedish Lutherans of
Minneapolis by Rev. c. E. Elving of
Omaha, chairman of the Augustana
Colonization association, and Henning
Ivarson of Minneapolis, secretary Of
the association. It's organization Is
authorized by the synod and the Or
ganization expects complete indorse-
ment at the synodical meeting in June
at Sycamore, Ill.
The association has been in exist
ence in some form for more than fifty
years, but it is now proposed to form
big million dollar corporation and
to prosecute the colonization work on
an extensive scale and in a more sys-
tematic manner. According to the
plan the members Of the corporation
will be the 1900 congregations of the
Augustana synod represented by one
voting member. Stock will be sold
and the investors are promised a fair
return.
The exploitation work in Minneap-
oils was launched last evening at a
dinner party at Dayton's at which the
venerable Rev. G. o. Olander, presid-
ed and the principal speakers were
Messrs. Elving and Ivarson.
The objects of the association as
stated by Mr.. Elving are threefold:
To prevent the breaking up of
existing Swedish Lutheran COM
munities by filling the places of
departing members by others of
the same faith.
To purchase tracts Of land and
plant new Swedish Lutheran COL
0nies.
To assist worthy members of
the church who are in dependent
circumstances in cities in estab-
fishing themselves on farms.
It has long been a matter of regret
among the leaders of the church ex-
planned Mr.. Elving, that once prosper
GUS Swedish communities are tending
to disintegrate through the removal
" IAA0 OA46AAoA OOttAC1S 1uu ku01I I0-
placement by others of uncongenial
nationalities and religion.
Under the plan proposed by the COL
onization association, member of a
Swedish farm colony desiring to dis
pose of his holdings for any reason,
will list it with the local committee
or representative. The latter will get
in touch with the general office Of
the association, which will seek de-
sirable purchaser, Swedish Lutheran
if possible, but at any rate some one
congenial to the prevailing element
in the community.
The new work will also consist in
acquiring large tracts of land, not less
than 10000 acres, and locate colonies
of co-religionists. These may be In
Minnesota, the Dakotas and on the
coast. It was not stated that any par
ticular locations had been designated,
but the officers of the association have
been in communication with holders
Of large land tracts.
An important phase Of the work will
be to assist in "back to the land
movement. AS Mr.. Elving explained,
| the majority Of the Swedish residents
| Of the cities who are engaged in the
heavier manual work come from the
rural districts of Sweden and agricul
ture Is their natural bent, but they are
prevented from getting on the land by
lack of means.
| He cited numerous instances III
which families who had for years
struggled for bare existence in the
cities in few years attained prosper
ity and independence on the farms
They were Industrious and upright
but small wages, large families and
high living expenses prevented then
from getting ahead in the city.
Secretary Ivarson said that wher
$4,000 had been subscribed and one
third of that amount was in the treas
ury it was proposed to incorporate
In his opinion the headquarters Of the
association should be in Minneapolis
which he regarded as the center O.
the Swedish Americans in America.
! Several concrete examples of wha
can be done by moving from the cite.
into the country were given by G.. w
Olson, superintendent of the Swedish
hospital, who said that he had beer
interested in a modest way for SOM
years in similar work that the asso
citation proposed on a big scale.
He cited the case of his two broth
ers, who, tired of city life, left Min
neapolis twelve years ago, plunge'
into the wilderness As miles nortt
west Of Duluth and located claims OF
the banks of the Whiteface river
Others followed and the settlemen
now has a Swedish Lutheran church
a consolidated school and is on tn
high road to prosperity, with no
much pioneer work left to be done.
Then he gave several other person
al instances of acquaintances in Mir
! reapolis VINO were making a bare ny
ing in the city, but who now are j.
comparatively independent circum
stances through changing their hab
tation to the farm.
The plan Of organization was al
proved by all present and each on
testified to his or her confidence i
the movement by subscribing 70
stock according to their means.