Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-10-18
REFORM SCHOOL.

school for the reformation of juvenile
offenders having become our policy,
provision for its necessities the COM
ing year should be made at this ses-
sion.
It is my belief that great good is
being done in elevating our hayward
youth, and preparing them for useful
and honorable lives, and | am con-
vinced that a familiarity with the op-
erations Of the Vermont Reform
School would commend it to your
sympathy and support. For inform
alton on this subject, you are referred
to the interesting reports of the Trus-
tees and Superintendent. 81
RESOURCES OF THE STATE.
The resources of the State, as de-
veloped in its agriculture, its manu-
features, its quarries, and its mines,
merit and should receive your careful
attention. The Legislation on these
subjects should be such as to secure
to our people the greatest advantages
from these sources, by inducing the
influx of capital for their development,
a n d inviting investments, without
hampering them by unnecessary con-
ditions and restrictions, for extending
our manufactures, opening and work
ing our quarries and mines, and in
creasing our railroad facilities.
In most particulars, our laws COM
pare favorably with those of other
states, in these respects" In some
of their provisions, however, 1 shall
have occasion to indicate reforms
which seem to me to be needed.
Vermont is pre- eminently an agri-
cultural state, having thirteen-twenti-
eths of it's four millions of acres under
improvement. and we have cause of
gratitude to the Giver of all things
for the abundant harvests that have
rewarded the labors of our husband
men during the year.
The increased value of the real and
personal estate in Vermont, from
1850 to 1860, as given in the census,
was little over thirty millions of
dollars, and this upon a gold basis.
OF this sum twcnty-eight millions was
in the increased value of real estate.
Had we statistics to the present time,
they would show still larger rate oil
increase. This large advance can
only be ascribed to the system OF
railroads put in operation during that
period, opening to producers easy
communication with markets before
inaccessible. Take up our iron rails
anu you reduce the value of our farms
and quarries more than the entire
cost OF the roads Those within ;
few miles of our railroads derive the
most benefit from tn m. There
fore the opening of new road;
to accommodate more remote sec
tons would aid largely in developing
the resources OF the state.
When we turn to our manufactur
ING and mechanical industries, W,
find that, with superior facilities, il
many respects we are far behind ou
sister states of New England. A
the taking of the last census, we hat
only fifteen hundred establishments
using an aggregate capital of nearl.
ten millions, and employing littl
over ten thousand persons, with six
teen millions of dollars in annual pro
ducts; while our neighbors on tn
other side of the Connecticut rive
show results three times as great
1t cannot with truth be claimed tina
they hold a more favorable position
or have superior natural advantages
but when we look on their Legislation
we find that they encourage manufao
lures by the exemption of new estal
, lishmcnts from taxation, and by othe
, wise laws throw about them the TO-
tering care of the state. In this COZ
nection, permit me to repeat the re-
, concentrations of former executives o
, the subject of attachment of propert
: on mesne process, and particularly t
call your attention to that part of OF
system which gives priority to the fir
!. attaching creditor. five would kee
r pace with our sister states in the d
J. velopement of our abundant resource
: we must see that we are not benin
: them in providing for a just an
e equitable distribution among all Gre
}, itors of the assets of any debtor. VIII
Y by the risks attendant on new ente
e prises, or from any other cause, fint
n himself unable to meet his oblig
: tons.
Capital comes to us less freely, ar
credit is less readily accorded in OF
Il err states to our citizens, than
s. would be if the capitalist or the Gre
J. itor were sure that in case of any in
e bility to pay in full, he could rely (
n sharing alike with other creditors, j
f stead of seeing his property apple
al to the full payment of another's del
D. and himself left with no part of
# just due. A reformation of our la,
10 in this respect seems to be demande
Now our sons seek in other stat
that protection and fostering care ov
~ their industry which they fail to Fl
~ =, at home" and to this law on our St
~ ute book is largely to be attribut
~ the fact that during the last Geca
our ratio Of increase of populati
:. was less than that of any other st;
of the Union.
OUR COUNTRY
1t is hardly necessary at this I'll
tie to allude to the part taken by V
ut mont in the late rebellion. We hs
ng reason to be proud of her reco
ag Here we stand equal with any of {
n L. x.ko