The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-03-28
WESTERN VERMONT.

There are few sections of New England so
little knswn TO the business world abroad
as western Vermont, and especially that por
ton of it which lies between Burlington and
Rutland. And yet, country from whose soil
more wealth of every description can be ex
tracted, more sublime and beautiful in its scene
~, and possessed by 4 more enterprising and
intelligent population can hardly be found in
our common country. But for thirty years
past, owing TO the state of the roads, the great
drift of travel from Boston to the British prov
inces has been through the narrow dcliles of
the eastern side Of the mountain, and from our
southern cities through the waters of Lake
Champlain. But circumstances are now trans
piring which will raise Western Vermont to
that just and eminent stand Of which she has
been hitherto unfortunately deprived.
This region is about G. miles in extent from
north to south. 1t IS bounded on the east by
the lofty SUBMITS of the Green Mountains, on
the west by Lake Champlain, few miles be-
yond which, in the state Of New York, rises
in ragged and majestic piles the Ad'iondac
range, the highest on this side of the Allega-
MES, and presents to the beholder those grand
and imposing features which, combined with
the sublime scenery of the Green Mountains,
so justly entities Vermont to the appellation of
the Switzerland of America. Between those
lofty barriers lie th-=fertiIe valleys of Lake
Champlain and Otter Greek. The former for
nearly half the distance spreading out to the
extent Of about l6 miles in verdant meadows
and pastures, and in fields prolific in the rich
est products of husbandry and ornamentcd
with farn-houses and their appendages, which
for convenience, freshness, and even architect
ural beauty are elsewhere scarcely to be found
in our country. Stretching from South to
North along this delightful champagne region
is a succession of fourishing and populous vii
lagos, commencing with Rutland, then Pitts
ford, Brandon, Middlebury, Vergennes, and
Burlington: most of which, especially Middle
bury and Yergennes, possessing water power
capable of propelling machinery to an almost
illimitable extent. The county Of Addison,
of which Middlebury is the capital, is located
in the centre of this region and, since the ad-
dition of the opulent town Of Orwell, it may
be classed among those destined to reach the
highest point of agricultural and manufactu-
ring wealth in the State. In sheep husband
~ she has already vastly outstripped every
other district of the same extent in the Union,
10 say nothing of the Wheat, Corn, Oats, Po-
tatoes and Root crops, which, from the re-
ports of agricultural societies, will be found to
surpass any others in the State.
Since the construction of the Rutland and
Burlington Railroad has been rendered GER
tain, our Eastern cities have begun to open
their eyes to our great capabilities of augment
ing their commercial and manufacturing pros
perity 1t will be seen from the numerous
cards of men of business appearing in our adj
vertising columns that they are counting our
trade with eager solicitude. Very well, we
say, let them have it. In aiding US so power
fully in the construction of our rail road they
merit all VIC can give them. We are equally
DESTROYS of the advantages of the eastern mark
cts as they are of our trade The benefits
will be mutual. The completion of the Rail
Road will prove GROWING event in the his
tory of Western Vermont