Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - III. The Land Laws of Finland
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Finnish people after the coup d’état of 1899, when the
Emperor issued his famous Manifesto of February
15th. This estate consists of three villages which,
early in the last century, were settled with Greek
Catholic serfs, who had been drawn from the interior
of Russia to occupy the numerous deserted farms of
this district. The average price paid for all these
estates was not, however, very high, varying between
two and twenty marks per acre.
The farms have now been transferred to the peasants
on such conditions that in hardly any case are they
paying more than their old rent. They were supposed
to pay 5 per cent. on the purchase money, but when
the government was able to convert its loan, the
interest was put down to 4½ per cent. To this was
added 1 per cent. for amortisation, so that they can
become free proprietors in from 36 to 39 years. In
some cases they received even better terms, for the
value of the State forests was deducted from the price,
while on some estates the landlord’s manor was
retained by the government, and valued at a higher
figure. To some parishes large forests were allotted
as common property, the wood of which is sold
under government supervision at a considerable profit.
As a rule, until the farm has been fully paid for, the
peasants would not be allowed to sell wood. Some of
the forests are, however, said to have been very badly
managed, and it is suggested that too small a portion
of them has been reserved for government forests.
Some persons are inclined to think also that the
peasants have obtained too soon the right to dispose
of their farms. Too often they have found their way
to the money-lenders in spite of all legal precautions,
and under the form of a loan, have sold their wood,
and sometimes their farms as well. It is not easy to
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