The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-10-22
COLONY OF FINNs
1t Is Solving Dormant Farm Problem
Near Ludlow.

! The Rutland Herald as follows:
have noticed in The Herald and
other papers columns of we'll written
matter on the subject of unoccupied
farms, and only wished that the
space. so valuable in advertising,
might have been used to describe
specific properties for sale.
1t may not be generally known, but
it is fact that one half of the farms
sold in Vermont are taken up by citi-
zens of our state and returning Yer
monters. Unoccupied farms consti-
tute complaint in other states also.
A book issued in New York, under
the authority of state bureau, de-
scribes 10000 farms for sale.
II some of the farm bureau trips
had come to Ludlow we could have
shown the members how we have
solved the problem by an effort which
has spread over into Andover, where
90 or more natives of the northern
part of Europe have settled. begin
ming about six years ago with few
families who were induced to come
from Fitchburg which is the head
quarters of the Finnish people in the
east
Since then others of the same ma
tionality have purchased trans here
after service in the mines of Wyom
ing, Colorado and in other industries
in a half dozen states. All seem to
have been farmers or merchants in
the old country of their birth. Here,
after the crop season, they usually
find employment in the cities for
s@ne part OF the year.
Here they work on the community
plan. Sixteen members have joined
together in purchasing a shingle ma
chine thresher, hay press and reaper,
which are moved around from farm
to farm.
These people have large families
and are source of labor supply. Six
men are excellent carpenters and
able to do all the work of building.
HGN nave DNill OlIt SGHpOi iiOhSG anu
filled a deserted one with pupils that
was unoccupied before their advent
into this section. Their children in
Ludlow graded schools stand well.
The elders take newspapers print
ed in their native language. They
have left Finland for other reasons
than the wider opportunity in Ameri
ca. The government of the ear has
taxed and crowded them off their ma
tive lands Worst of all, ne has TAX
schools. Russia colonies the coun-
try with her own people. The Firms
offer only passive resistance and
are always noted among the peaceful
people Their lives are patterned af-
ter those of the early farm settlers of
the United States
Many of them are posted on com
municable diseases, often bringing
chemicals to disinfect houses on their
farms where the husband had noted
consumption and refused to have his
wife and children enter. The old
houses on back farms are renovated
and rebuilt and sink drains opened.
They seldom call physician.
When opportunity offers, at pres
ent, they come into Ludlow, in family
arrangements, to work in the wooden
mills. AS to agricultural and indus
trial conditions here, we are satisfied.
We prefer new Corners OF the kind
that live with us and pay taxes the
year round. How can other sections
procure these settlers? 1t can be
done by local effort and finance.
They require mortgages on yearly
payments and are shy of demand
notes. There must be farms enough
to locate several families together.
good milk and butter markets. The
woman milks the cows and makes
butter-usually.
State aid could be had by diverting
some of the funds now used for other
purposes. Take the income of the
fish and game commission which is
estimated to be 100000 for the fiscal
year. Look at the sum spent for
publicity" work. What about the
$4,000 likely to be spent by the bur
eau of agriculture finding market
for produce?
Hardly manufacturing town rails
es enough beans, bacon or butter for
its own consumption, but of course
the state officials are tied down to the
law in the use of the present appro-
priations.
What Vermont needs is people, not
speeches. The Yankee population, So
called, will not stay on the farms in
numbers enough to supply produce
for Vermont industries. Another
people is coming and has come in the |
great West, from where they are
sending high priced grain to the East, !
which might be raised here in larger |
quantities.