Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-08-18
Correspondence Of the Journal
Letter from Middlebnry.

Letter from Middlebnry.
Widdlfbury CoHcge-- C0mmcaccmcnf--M Material
Interests and progrcss Of The Toiru- Marble
QHarrics- Reform Of H,0s.
For twenty years, since the writer was so
journcr in this interesting and noted town, there
was a scarcely mark Of improvement. The old
paint on the houses grew dingy and grey with
age, and scarcely a work Of improvement was to
be seen. a majority Of the old business interests
had either been administered by the Courts of
Probate, or passed through the operations Of
Bankruptcy But within the last five years Il
new phase hP come over the town, and marks of
a revived prosperity are everywhere visible. The
fostering of sounder commercial philosophy,
and the better comprehension by the people Of
the laws Of business success, have produced con-
lidcnce in the present, and angune hopes for
the future Mills and factories are coming 10 use
the vast water power that for forty years bad been
held in the dog-in-the-manger policy Of waiting
I'LL large price could be obtained for the privilege
Of using the water that was only sustaining the
primitive music of the falls as it had been heard
by the aboriyincs when all the region was but a
wilderness. But its holder has passed away :
and the Middlebury Calls are being appropriated
to the uses of manufacturing and in promoting
an unprecedented progress in the business of the
town The manufacturing capital of Midlcbury,
aside from the marble interest 30 which propose
To- give special attention, will have more than
quadrupIed within the last five years # IS true.
that the old cotton mill j. only used u the manu-
iacturc of carpet warp for "a Massachusetts, fac
tory and the two old wooden mills are diverted
10 more profitable appropriation, one of them to
a Touring mill So that domestic cloths are proc
duccd, fiat all, to very limited extent Yet the
working of lumber, iron and marble. are vast
improvement on the Old regime. Doors. sash
pills, mouldings, and the like, and iron and farm
ing utensils, add vastly to the material interests
of the town But in common with o tier of town.
from Mildlebury almost ~ the southern bounda-
rc- of the Stote, along the foot of the western
Slope Of the Green MOUNTAINS, Mddlcbury ha, au
exhaustess mine of wealth in her developed and
nieyelopel marble quauies The extent Of
these marble deposits seems to be limited only by
the means 40 command for their Development IN
fact, no one can tell how extensive the quarc.
to be opened may prove Several of these quar-.
ries ore already opened and large quuntite- OF
excellent marble are being raised, with the pros
pect Of an improvement in quality as the quar-
ric- increase in depth Large quantities Of this
marble have been wrought and sent 20 Maine ill
use iu the erection Of public buildings there. The
merchants of Middlebury have learned that trade
does mot find it- interest in monopolzing every
department of industry 10 the town but, tha
industrial enterprises are 50 much ia aid Of trade
that t1 cramp or destroy the former, will ineyitu
bly, destroy the latter. There was time when
il Che manufacture Of shoes or clothing was at
tempted in Nlidliebury her local merchants made
it point To- bring slop-shop goods from Boston
and New York b. unlor-cll the local manuiuc
ulrer and break up the business not thinkin.
how dozen OF twenty c1rdwamors or tailor
would consume nearly as many goods t1 De fur
uishel hy the retail merchant o- the -ame mum
Der of gentlemen and idle citizens. And trad
triumphel to It's ruin. But all this seems to b
changed, aud better ideas of commercial cc1nom
are indicated 10 numerous new and tasteful man
si1ns recently erected in the village, among whic
that %, President Kitchcll is the most attractive
And paint, if mot putty, have indicated genera
renovation of the town.
But, am at MidlleburIy at commencement
and the 1ld College should be special subject o
notice The means and appointments Of tn
/ College as % teachers and foundation seem ampl
and efficient But the only drawback to ia
prosperity Of the institution Is the diminishc
number Of students attending on its privilege,
| But the citizens have in this thing, hit on tn