Árdís - 01.01.1953, Page 68

66
ÁRDÍ S
bors has been a characteristic of this community throughout the
years.
Johann Briem, district leader, compiled the results of a
questionnaire regarding population and property, farming and
fishing activities in Fljotsbygd during the year 1878. When the
questionnaire was sent out, he assured the colonists that they need
have no fear or hesitation in giving the required information freely,
for it would not be used, as in the old country, as basis for taxation.
There were 30 items of which here are a few:
Population—341; Farmers—80; Dwelling houses built—64;
Cleared land—221 Vz acres; Cultivated land—98 acres; Potatoes
sown—388 bu.; Potatoes harvested—5482 bu.; Wheat seeded—9 bu.;
Wheat harvested—88 bu.; Of root crops harvested—410 bu.; Cows
—188; Chickens—42; Pigs—12; Nets—about 4500 yd.; Number of
white fish caught—10,923; Other fish—61,290.
All the farms were given beautiful names which are still
preserved. One of our Canadian poets has woven into a poem of
music and rhythm the river names of Canada. Jakobina Johnson,
one of the first school teachers at Lundi, has done the same for
place names in Iceland in a poem that she calls “Islenzk Ornefni.”
In it she says:
“Songvar og sagnar sindra’ um hvert eitt nafn.” (“Songs and
stories sound around each name.”) The same is true here. It
remains for a poet of New Iceland to enshrine those names in song.
There are also many fine pictures, articles, letters, journals,
etc., in the community which should be collected and given safe
keeping. Perhaps in the future a fine town library may have a
room for the display of these articles of historic value.
But to return to history. Some of the things dealt with at the
first meeting of the Vatnsthing in 1877 were road-building,
assistance to widows and orphans, public health and the matter
of calling a minister.
All men over 21 were required to give some time to road-
building each year at $2 a day. A five man committee in each
district was to look into matters of health and sanitation, proper
water supply, fire prevention, and in general, help to ensure the
welfare and safety of the people. The minister called was the Rev.
Jon Bjarnason, then in Minneapolis, who replied immediately that
he would accept, although it meant leaving a comfortable calling
to face the rigors of a northern frontier.