Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-10-25
MARKET DAYS.

The success of the effort to establish regu-
lar weekly markets in the principal railroad
villages of the state, as at st. Albans Rich
mond, Middlebury, Vergennes and New
Haven, has been so complete that other vii
lagos are moving to establish similar mar
kets. AT the last meeting Of the Brandon
Farmers Club the question Of having reg
ular market day in Brandon was fully and
intelligently discussed. All were agreed on
the necessity of the movement, and the entire
lack of any market where the farmers Of
Brandon and the neighboring towns could
sell their produce for cash.
The question was opened by Mr.. George
Briggs, who urged the Importance of the
movement and instanced Vergennes and
Middebury as showing the amount of bust
ness done there in comparison with that done
in Brandon, which was much greater in the
mercantile line in proportion to the popula-
ton.
lie was followed by Col. Merritt, Messrs.
Barnes, Ellis and N. r. Sprague Jr., and
Col. Hamilton.
Col Merritt said he knew no town in the
State which had so poor accommodations for
disposing of farm products as Brandon,
and that tub of good butter would often
glut the market. He believed certain days
should be market days and nothing should
be sold on any other day. That Brandon
was the natural outlet for large number of
towns, and with a good market much of the
trade that now went to other towns would
come here.
Mr. Ellis alluded 10 the town of Little
Falls, N. Y, which, from small beginning,
has become one Of the leading markets for
butter and cheese in this country. St. Al
bans was elevated by few farmers and
traders agreeing to bring their produce en-
certain days, particularly butter and cheese,
and it had resulted in being the principal
market in this country. The Vergennes
market as Col. Merritt said, was started by
Mr.. Parker's offering to buy farmers prod
uec, until now, on market day, Saturday, the
streets were lined with people coming to trade
everything from horses and cattle down to
garden products. On Saturday recently
2l5 teams were counted there at one time.
Mr.. Sprague spoke Of the importance he
believed this move to be to Brandon, and
moreover, said he believed it entirely practi.
cable. Middlebury started market by
few farmers combining and offering their
wares at specified times. He urged upon
the few farmers present the Importance of
starting it then and there. If they would
combine and stick to ii for three months or
six months, others would soon join them,
though they might be obliged to take prod
ucc home many times, and in the end they
would certainly be rewarded. He offered to
pay for notices and circulars to start it. He
also said he would bring something from his
own farm.
The offer was accepted, and it was deter
mined to start on Saturday last, at IL O'Clock |
q. m, when the first effort at establishing u |
market would be made in Brandon.
Col Hamilton said that ten years ago the
mercantile business Of Brandon was double
that of Middlebury, but to-day it was not
one-half A lady Of his acquaintance hay
ing daughter here at our Union School
wanted to pay the tuition, and came down
from one of the farming towns with tub of
butter to dispose of, but, although she went
to every store in Brandon could not sell il
for cash. though she offered it for four cents
a pound less than she could get in Middle.
bury, and she was obliged to take it back and
borrow the money to pay the tuition
Tho subject was continued one week for
further discussion.