Decorah-posten og ved arnen., 1916-09-29


these holdings represent? As four
ffths OF them are in the richest agri
cultural sections OF the country
where farms are large and land very
valuable compared with other sec
tons, the holdings OF the Norwegian
farmers exceed the average Tor the
country both in size and value. II is
safe to place the combined area Of
farms held by Norwegians at ten mil
lion acres with a value of not less
than 400 million dollars.
These figures date back to 1910 or,
rather. o The number OF Norwe-
gian farmers has increased SubStanti-
ally since then, at least 10 per cent,
and we know how great the rise IN
land values has been in recent years.
So we may safely assume that today
We have about 10000 farms held by
people born in Norway aggregating
eleven million acres and worth about
o5o million dollars, or probably al
great deal more.
Now, mind you, this applies only to
the immigrants from Norway. Their
children born here outnumber them
in the proportion OF 3 to ,, but are
not land owners IN the same proper
ton. 1t is fair 70 assume that they
own as much land as their parents.
but no more. That gives $4,000
farms OF p million acres in all and
representing a wealth OF 81, 100000,
600, or probably nearer a billion and
a half. as the domain acquired in the
United States by the modern Vikings
from Norway and their children born
in this country. Not so bad for the
Norwegian country boy in America.
Work made the Land Valuable.
Some may say Wen, we admit the
NorwcgianS have done much and aC-
compliShcd much in this country, but
they have Uncle Sam to thank for Il:
for most of them got their land for
nothing. Ii IS true. of course. that
they, like all other groups OF citizens,
have much, very much, to thank Uncle
Sam for; but IL is equally true that
he is indebted to them. What he gave
was worth nothing to him at the time
il was given. What they gave put
value into what they had received,
and what they have given since and
are giving from year to year makes
an cver flowing national treasure
Speaking III an economic sense, land
that is 10 be had for nothing is worth
nothing. As long as II does O pro-
duce 1t yields no rent. in the economic
sense. When such land Is taken and
made to produce crops 1t is held that
the value OF the crops should be cred
tied to the labor put upon the land.
After that the land will yield rent and
becomes valuable in itself, but not
before. This goes to show that we
are right when we say that the mag
nihccnt results of the efforts OF the
Morse pioneers in America are due in
a very large measure to their own
untIrlug, pcrscvering hard work.
A Precious Heirloom.
The present generation cannot but
contemplate this monumental work
with deep, nay revcrcnt admiration.
This story OF struggles and hard
ships, of dangers and courage: this
saga OF sacrifice and patient suffering
of the men and women of the great
host OF pioneers of lowly micn but
OF sturdy strength and high moral
characteristics is indeed a story Of
absorbing interest. Ever settlement
has its saga and ought TO have its
Sagaman or historian. For the story
of all that has been wrought and
won, of the heroism OF these men
and ONE OF few words and strong
deeds. of their steady progress and
Frightening hopes, and also OF the
scenes OF droll humor that at times
happily relieved the tense monotOny
of pioneer life-all this is in truth an
heirloom worth preserving.
Other Activities.
We cannot here dwell at any length
upon all the other activities OF the
Norwegian people in this country
What they have done to preserve the
faith of their fathers and for educa-
ton and charity by building churches
BY the thousand, schools. hospitals
and homes for orphans and old
people, is a glorious monument to
their high character as Christians,
citizens and men. But others have
spoken or will speak about these
things and much better than could
do il. Nor can we stop, except to
barely mention their honorable part
in the general business life Of the
country. We know in this field also
our people have won the respect and
confidence OF their fellow citizens
The Morse Sailor.
A few words about the Morse
sailor. Norsemen know how to plow
the sea as well As the soil. Thousand,
Of them are serving on our w~arshipS,
our lake boats and coasting crafts, and
they are sailing our cup winners. In
time they will be found in the front
ranks OF brawny eamen in the work
Of restoring the American flag TO its
rightful prestige on the high seas
when that work shall begin. A per
sOnal experience occurs TO me IN this
connection. While travelling through
| the West Indies and along the east
coast OF South America ! hardly ever
saw the stars and stripes waving from
a mast top, but the flag OF Norway
was everywhere. When ! sailed into
| MOntcyldeO, where J was TO live tor
! some time, the first flag that greeted
me on the outer harbor was the Nor
wegian red, white and blue. 1t was
a touching sight. although as an Anne
/ rican and an officer OF the govern
mcnt | would OF course rather have
been hailed by the flag OF our coun-
TRY. But to me the incident was pro
| phctic. When we get practical and
real constructive legislation for the
! restoration OF our merchant marine
Morse sailors will man the ships and
! establish a record on sea a. proud a.
our farmers record ON land.
In Public Life.
In public lie also the Norwegian
in the United States have made their
mark. which is only what was 10 be
expected. Like the landholdcr Of old
Norway. the farmer. not least the
Morse farmer. in America IS the back
bone Of the country. the ~staunche~'