Osadnicy i farmerzy. Amerykański Far West w świetle prasy warszawskiej II połowy XIX w.

Abstract

American West offered numerous natural resources, not only gold, silver or other valuable metals, but above others, limitless areas of fertile land. That is why, there was a conviction that everybody could acquire farmland – almost for free. In this article I undertake to answer the question if Warsaw press of the second half of the XIX century accurately informed its readers about the colonization of the American Far West, and if so, whether and why there was an interest in the management of such great areas of prairie. Sygurd Wiśniowski was the one who had the greatest input into writing for Warsaw press about the management of the Great Plains, as he decided to buy a plot in Minnesota. In his reports sent to “Tygodnik Mód i Nowości”, he tried to show the life of an average American pioneer. He warned all those dreaming about their own piece of land against hasty decisions concerning emigration to the West, emphasizing that each settler had to have his own fund and be aware of the difficulties awaiting him – both during the crossing and in America. Colonization of the American West caused a certain interest in Warsaw press, apparently because of the fact that American corn effectively competed with that coming from the Russian Empire, which directly influenced economy of the Kingdom of Poland. The interest was even greater because of other heroes of the Far West – prospectors, Indians, the Chinese and, above others, Mormons.