The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-10-08
Letter from Northern Vermont.


MONTPELIER, VT, Oct. 4, 1872.
To the Editor of the Press:
The General Assembly of Vermont met
here yesterday and organized for the first
time under the new constitutional provision
for biennial sessions. 1t seems to be the gen.
eral impression that a meeting every other
year will serve all purposes, especially ifsome
additions be made to the list of general laws
The lower branch is preposterously large in
numbers, some 240, but the entire Legislature
seems to be made up of excellent material.
The Speaker elect, Col. Franklin Fairbanks,
is a member of the family already so honored
in the history of this State, beirg the second
son of the late Gov. Erastus Fairbanks. He
is the partner in the Scale Works Company
who has the especial charge of the manufac-
turing operations. He has thus had an ex-
tensive business experience, which has cult
waited his naturally superior executive abil-
ties, so that there will be no tagging of legis-
lative work under his hand. The coloneps
election was in particular degree honorable
to him, as it was unsought, and was effected
over two able men who were candidates for
the Office EN# HMEE
Farmers always have something to COM
plain of, and here this year it is of superf1ui-
ty. Vermont never turned out so much dairy
product before in single season. The hay
crop is very heavy. In some sections not half
of it can be eaten on the farms. A large
sccouu Cropis- oo,.a;..e, la ploto the
barrassment Potatoes are touched here and
there with rot, but the yield is large. % ~
Montpelier is pretty village, and surround
ed by such wall of high hills, that looking
down upon it from an eminence this after
noon, as the sun shone for an hour from the
prevailing clouds, was reminded of the
Happy Valley in Rasselas. The Congregation
al Church here is a noble structure equally no.
ticeable for the beauty of its material and the
symmetry of its proportions. As to the
hotels, the less said the better. 1t is impossi-
BILE to keep good house in such shabby, ILL
adapted buildings. The only wonder is that
the landlords make out so well as they do.
ST. JoHNsBURY, Out. 9Th.
Since writing the above have come to this
beautiful and noted town. 1t is growing fast.
Some twenty-five houses, mostly two-stored
WIFI IICuCh loOiS, hdsC SolS dHu die SOlflS
up this season, and the population is rapidly
charging. This is the result of manufactures.
The Scale Company are now doing business
of well nigh $4,000, 900 year. Employing
force of 700 men, orders are now on hand for
$150,000 worth of scales in advance of the
production. Col. Franklin Fairbanks has
completed the elegant mansion which he has
been erecting the past year. Twenty acres of
grounds surround it, diversified in surface,
Will lie crlnY, md 9th Hso+,,
esque features. Hon. Horace Fairbanks is
going forward with his Art gallery, granite
and brick attachment to the Library, forming
together harmonious architectural whole.
1t is to receive light from the roof only, as
the use requires. Mr.. Fairbanks well I'M
derstands how important an element in gen.
eral education is the culture of the taste, and
for this part of education, so generally neg
lected, he is making muniicent provision
The library given to the town by the same
gentleman is incOmparably superior to any
other of the same size l have ever seen. 1t is
a delightful place of resort and is much fire.
quented. The collection of illustrated works
is very large and rich, covering ancient and
modern art, architecture, mechanics, scenery
etc. All this is the more important from the
fact that st. Johnsbury is to be an important
educational centre. The venerable Thaddeus
Fairbanks is, by his large OUTLAWS, securing to
ehc ~. oolllouuly ACducuy tuo equipment Vi
a college. Last year he built fine dormitory
for it. This year he adds large department
and recitation building, both elegant struc-
lures. The world pays tribute to the genius
of invention and skill of workmanship en-
bodied in the Fairbanks scales, and in return
receives such various and liberal contributions
to its educational and other highest interests.
Work upon the Vermont Division of the
Portland & Ogdensburg Railroad progresses
vigorously. The locomotive will reach John
son this autumn, making over sixty miles in
operation. The residue is well advanced in
grading. In the Western Division the towns
are bonding. Hinchinbrooke has voted $4O,-
600, Dundee $4,000, etc. Hon. Julius
SERVER has been reelected NJ. P. by accama-
ton, SO that the railway interests will not
languish. The Dominion Government will
give $4,000 per mile subsidy. One half of the /
New York towns have raised the necessary
money; the others are following suit.
Ex-Gov. Hendee is to 60 to Congress from
his district. He will make an excellent legis-
lator. n