Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-09-27

to describe and commend this enterprise 1t
has but Just commenced and it only needs the
breath Of capital to make it largely remun
eratiyc business. At their little shop, will
only one hand as yet they have made ,bu
year two hundred dozen Of the springs
The invention combines every thing desirable
in such an article and its unqualified superi
ority in all respects is so manifest that We
are confident that its manufacture is to N'
very important element in our business auO
prosperity. 1t only needs an introduction to
supcrsede all similar inventions Of rod, pull
eys, or spring.,
We have carefully collected and collatec
the business statistics Of the place. Will
one or two exceptions, we have not beef
obliged to estimate the business of our mer
camille firms. Their statements have beer
freely given, and we have arranged and class
flied their figures. These figures are very
nearly exact aud will serve as an accurate
basis for any future reference or comparison
When the amount Of business exceeds al
even thousand, we give it in even thousands
for the sake of convenience.
The produce business of Montpelier, that
which is done by our established dealers
amounts 10 100000, for the year 1870
This of course does not include that large
amount which is done without the interview
ton Of the merchants, by agents and runner:
who make this town their head quarters
The dry goods trade amounts to the large
sum Of $4,000 for the same year The
groceries in town do the snug little business
Of s5j 900 annually. Some Of these are es-
timatcd but we have no question the estimate
is low The platers and saddlers foot up sales
to the amount of $50, 600 bakers and con-
PETITIONERS. $4,000 books and stationery,
$4,000; watchmakers and jewellers, $40.
600; furniture dealers and upholsterers,
$500 boots and shoes, SAG 600 drug
gists and spothecaries, $4,000 stoves, tin
and hardware, 1926, 600; marble shops, sl2,.
600 tailors and clothing stores, 1892, 900 !;
sewing machines, $4,000 leather dealers,
$4,000 butchers, $4,000; fresh fish,
$4,000 livery $4,000, partly estimated
coal $4,000 wood, s35 900 and variety
stores, $4,000. There are tbirty-eight
and scamstresses, outside Of the
iailors shops, who earn on the average seven
'y.6ye cents a day, or 81, $50 in the aggregate,
Or sl95 90 annually for each one. The
lverage may be a little higher, though it is
quite doubtful,
We have estimated the miscellaneous busi-
less Of the town, done at the shops and stores
rom which we have not been able to collect
the statistics, at the moderate figure Of
100000 The two largest hotels do bust
ness of fifty thousand dollars a year, and the
smaller houses will increase the amount to
eighty thousand dollars The profits on this
branch of business would justify the building
Of a new and commodious hotel, and the bust
ness would be largely increased were such
desirable addition made to our village
Aud beside the regular trade of the place,
business centers here, which does
not pass through the hands Of our merchants.
Mere than 100000 feet Of lumber are
shipped from this station annually. Fifteen
hundred cords Of hemlock bark are exported
large quantities of butter, potatoes and
granite Nearly two hundred car loads Of
stock are delivered here for the city mar
ket.
According to these figures, the gross amount
of business done in Montpelier for 1870, ex-
elusive of banks, insurance offices, professions
and private business, was s2,52s,550. As
we said at the outset, we have no doubt from
such imperfect comparison as we have been
able to make, the business Of 1870 was fully
double the business of 1850.
During the year 1871, there are in the
process of erection and completion, thirty-sey-
en- buildings. of these, thirty-6ve are dwell
ing.houses, aud two are public buildings the
Methodist Seminary and the church belonging
to the same denomination. The estimated
cost of all these buildings, irrespective OF
the lots on which they stand, is sl54 500.
There has been no year, for twenty years
when our mechanics have had more active
employment.
There are some differences and suggestion,
that we shall make on some future occasion
These facts, very nearly exact, accurate
enough for comparison, show a very healthy
state in our town. A little analysis of then
will reveal not only our deficiencies, but the
means and methods of still higher prosperi
ty. They at least indicate that we are gain
ing in all the elements of material prosperity
that we are not behind our neighbors in any
respect, and that with some peculiar disad
vantages under which rival towns have no
suffered, we have more than maintained oui
own relatively, and have made large gains alb
solutely. In few years Montpelier will b,
railroad center. The law of grayitatioI
will not always be resisted. 1t is too costly
to contend with it, The building of tn,
Montpelier & White River Railroad, til,
true route in the first place, cannot be mucl
longer delayed. The towns along the rout,
can afford to build it. The VT Central can
not afford to be without it, The Montpeie
& Wells River road will strike the Portlan,
trade two years sooner than any other, ant
will furnish the most feasible route from tn
lakes to the sea. The railroad business o
Montpelier would itself pay six per cent
above expenses on the cost of the construo
ton of the road. St. Johnsbury will yet b,
likely to find out that it is better to builc
nine miles from West Danville to Marsh
field than to take any other route to the
West. The Lamoille Valley road, if il
leaders are sagacious, will strike the Contra
at Waterbury and reach Boston easier anC