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While I am inclined to recommend my work to the body of teachers of the
Glarner Hinterland a broader public is welcomed and I hope it is accepted
by your readers and they are satisfied.
Diesbach, (Glarus) October 1893
The Author
1.  ESTABLISHMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE NEW GLARUS COLONY
It is known to everyone that at the beginning of the 1840's a big
standstill in industry and trade occurred in the Canton of Glarus as well
as many parts of Switzerland which created much misery.
In the Canton of Glarus one felt that over population of the land was the
cause of the problem and public opinion demanded that the government
support emigration to eliminate this evil situation.
In order to deal with this concern a public meeting in Schwanden in 1844
decided to guarantee a subsidy of 1500 Gulden        (ca $600).    Shortly
thereafter two trustworthy and expert men were chosen by the newly formed
Emigration Society.  They were given the mission to look for land in the
United States that was suitable for colonization and then to purchase it.
The two men who were charged with this important and difficult mission
were my father, Court of Appeal Judge Nikolaus Diirst from Diesbach and
Fridolin Streiff from Schwanden.
My father was then 48 years old, a robust man used to exertion.   From the
beginning he decided to stay in the new settlement only long enough to
make certain of its safe foundation.     The mission was accomplished in
1845 and my father returned to his homeland the same year where he died
in 1874.   Fridolin Streiff was only 29 years old at the time.     He also
had the intention of staying in the colony for only three years.     After
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