Evening star., 1925-06-08

land. And ever since the greater
share Of Norwegians have come in
search of homes on the land. These
first immigrants, having practically
no money. bought a tract on the shore
! of Lake Ontario for So per acre, to be
paid for in 10 annual installments. 1t
is hard to realize that western New
York so late as 1895 was SO far on
the frontier. Their land was heavily
timbered, and they were compelled
not only to clear 1t, but to build their
own shelter. The first house is said
to have been a log cabin II feet
square. with IL garret. In this "a or
them lived for time, the men seek
ing such scanty employment as was
| to be found in the neighborhood to
support them through the Winter.
The only one in the party who could
speak English was Capt. Lars olson,
and he had remained in New York.
Despite poverty and hardships, the
colony thrived, and it's members were
shortly writing letters back to Nor
way describing the opportunities OF
America and urging friends to come.
: From this beginning the stream OF
! Norwegian immigration set in, but
most Of the later corners went much
farther West. \ few years after the
settlement at Kendall another party
Went to La Sale County, Ill. Already
! the West WAS fascinating them, and
many Of the original Kendall colony
! sold out and went on to ILLINOIS,
Thence the migration spread to other
! States of the Middle West and North
west. Even before it was formed into
! n Territory, Iowa had received its
first NorwegiGns, and from about 1889
| they spread rapidly into Wisconsin,
Minnesota, the Dakotas and other
States.
Fought in Revolution.
1t is not possible, as IT Is certainly
not needful on this occasion. even 10
summarize the story of Norwegian i'm
migration But it should be explained
that while the settlement of 1925 in
Orleans County, n. Y, was the nrst
Norwegian settlement and represented
the first organized immigration thest
pioneers of the Restaurationen were
not the first NorWegians to come mere.
Considerable numbers had come even
before the Revolutionary war ana
some as far back as the earliest colo
niaI wears There were NorWeglans
in both Army and Navy during the
Revolution and the War of 1877. but
the fact remains that the great move
ment which established Norwegian
communities all over the Northwest
end contributed so greatly 10 the
building of that part OF the country
began with the voyage of the Restau
rationern. 1t is said that NorWeSlans
and their descendants in TINS country
are now just about as numerous DIS
the population of Norway itself. Nor
way Is credited with furnishing
larger number of settlers to the United
States in proportion to its population
Than any other European country eN-
cept one.
II is frequently noted regarding I'M
migration that the newcomers iron"
Europe commonly sought climatic
conditions here like those in whlcn
they had been raised. so the Scdhui'
nayians are found chiefly in the north-
ern parts OF this country. ABOUT oo
per cent of the population Of Norway
is arricultural. the remainder mari
time and industrial. These proper
tions are closely carried out IN the
occuDation distribution here. a great
ma iority sought the land, but conslo.
erable numbers have always folioWeu
the sea. Some of the condolences IN
connection with this migration are
oddly interesting. Thus we nave
noted that the little sloop Restaura-
tionen brought a cargo of iron; today
Minnesota has more Norwegians and
produces more iron ore than any
other State. Again, Norway Is lana
of wonderful fresh water lakes. ana
it is closely matched by Minnesota
Encouraged Immigration.
There is one phase in the story OF
immigration which seems always TO
characterize it. Once the tide had set
in from a particular European coun-
try. the movement thereafter has in
yariably been encouraged by the
early comers. Not only did they urge
relatives and friends in the old home
70 come. but they devoted their new
found prosperity to help them On
this subject there is an opportunity
for some useful historical research.
In the e-Revolutionary days imml-
grafton to America seems to nave
been encouraged from the other side,
partly from political and partly from
business motives. The colonizing
countries of Europe competed to con-
troll the best parts of the New World
by occupying II with their colonies.
immigration was encouraged both by
the governments and by companies
of merchant adventurers. At that
stage of the movement, of course. the
colonies possessed no wealth to help
their friends to come. But after the
Revolution the situation greatly
changed. New political conditions
made this country more attractive
than ever before, and developing
wealth and opportunity emphasized
its invitation. So we find the people
of our Republic deliberately and con-
sciously encouraging the movement
in this direction. There is opportu-
nifty for a much more detailed exam
ination of these factors in the Euro
pean migration than has yet been
undertaken. 1t would be a profoundly
interesting contribution to the story
of this greatest of all migrations that
humanity has ever accomplished II
we could know more of the precise
motives which have animated it.
Reasons for Immigration.
The contribution of this country
to financing immigration of the last
century and a third has certainly run
into hundreds of millions of dollars,
perhaps into billions. 1t has had
profound social influence, both here
and in Europe. Its economic conse-
quences could hardly be overesti-
mated. A detailed inquiry into these
facts should include a close consid-
Grafton of all the great migrations
which have marked the distribution
of men throughout the world. Man
seems to have been from his begin
nings the most migratory Of animals.
His earlier movements appear to have
had their chief motive in adventure
and the desire to find regions where
existence was most comfortable.
There could hardly have been very
serious pressure of population, for
it is only in recent historic times that
this factor has existed. Some very
early migratiops were doubtless due
to climatic or other physical condi-
tions. Later on political, social, re-
1igionS and economic reasons caused
the movements. Some went forth