ÖLANDSBLADET – BÖDA, 12 AUGUST 1872
Last Saturday, the 10th of this month, the steamer “Ivar Blå” made a trial voyage to “Byxelkrok”, off the village of Torp, arriving at seven in the morning. She remained for about an hour while the passengers boarded. As there was no landing pier, they had to be taken out to the steamer in small boats. The ship then sailed to Oskarshamn in two hours, carrying 56 people, all from Böda. After a four-hour stay, she returned to Byxelkrok, where we went ashore at about six in the evening. “Ivar Blå” then sailed back to Oskarshamn.
During the voyage, an agreement was reached with the steamer’s commander, the considerate Captain Lindvall, that he would make a similar day trip between Oskarshamn and Böda every other Saturday for the remainder of the summer, weather permitting.
The aforementioned “Byxelkrok” is so favourably shaped by nature that, compared with other places where harbour works are being undertaken, it could become the finest harbour on Öland – apart from Grankullavik – if 10,000 to 12,000 riksdaler could be invested there.
Three rocky reefs, including one extending from the north and another from the south, approach one another closely enough to leave a suitable and convenient entrance between them. These reefs extend from the shore and lie only two to two and a half feet below the surface. In a semicircle, they enclose a spacious harbour where more than 50 larger vessels could lie at the same time. Inside the reefs, the water is 20, 25 and up to 30 feet deep, with excellent holding ground for anchors. Here, if anywhere, a first-class harbour could be created, serving not only the local area but also providing a welcome refuge for storm-driven seafarers in the narrow strait during autumn.
Some years ago, this newspaper mentioned Byxelkrok as a useful and much-needed port of call on many occasions during winter. This would be particularly valuable if the sensible proposal to carry the winter mail between Visby and Oskarshamn could be put into practice.
As the economic development and progress of an area depend on good transport links with neighbouring places, there is a widespread wish here for a good harbour at Byxelkrok. Nature itself has already provided a firm foundation for breakwaters. Since the undertaking is beyond our own financial means, we therefore intend to approach the County Council in Kalmar with a request for financial assistance.
Considering that we have always contributed through taxation to projects benefiting others, while no sums, large or small, have previously been requested or received for public-benefit projects in our own area, perhaps those responsible will not consider it unreasonable to lend us a helping hand on this occasion. After all, this is not solely a matter of our own interests.
Communities both to the north and south within the county would also benefit indirectly. Our produce could be sold more readily if there were a good landing pier. This applies particularly to Öland’s finest rye, grown almost exclusively in Högby and Böda. We could also expect smaller steamers to call here, not only from Oskarshamn but from other nearby towns.
May all useful undertakings therefore enjoy good fortune and success!
P. S. At Captain Lindvall’s suggestion, a subscription list was circulated aboard “Ivar Blå” during the afternoon voyage from Oskarshamn to Öland. A total of 275 riksdaler riksmynt was pledged on the spot towards the proposed harbour construction.
Later explanatory note: For an ordinary labourer or farmhand in Böda in 1872, 275 riksdaler represented several months’ wages, sometimes as much as half a year’s pay before deductions. In other words, this was a very generous initial contribution towards the future harbour at Byxelkrok!
