The farmers believed at the time that the construction of these roads was necessary to enable the Government to protect her citizens who had at that early date settled along the Pacific coast in case of war with any foreign power. The establishment of the Maximilian Government in Mexico. and the refusal of England to satisfy the Alabama claims for a time threatened trouble with both Great Britain and France. and under these circumstances the loyal farmers of the East were ready to acquiesce in these land grants. although they could but know that it would prove more or less destructive to their own interests. Immediately upon the completion of these roads agents of the companies:engaged in their construction were sent into northwestern Enrope. a section inhabited by the most thrifty farmers of the world. and shiploads of emigrants from Scandinavia. northern Germany. and Denmark were brought here and were settled upon these lands. which were sold to them at from $1.25 to $2.50 per acre. The result was that within a few years the acreage devoted to the growth of cereals was so greatly increased. followed by a corresponding increase in their product. that the price went down to a point which made it impossible for the Eastern farmer to continue his production upon his highpriced lands. upsn which heavy taxes had to be paid. While this increase in the production of cereals was going on these elements were at work along other lines.
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emigrants