Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-02-28

Ting at 10 o'clock was rather small, the wealth.
cr being severely cold and uncomfortable
Hon. G. H. Heath in the chair, introduced
DR.. J. S. SpAuLpiNo Of Barre, who read
very interesting and instructive paper on
q, Granite Quarries".-a home subject
his town has no successful rival in this sub
s,antial commodity in the State As We shall
give this paper entire hereafter, We will not
in this condensed record of proceedings refer
to it farther at this time, than to allude to II,
in noticing the discussion which followed its
reading
Prof SEELEY Of Mddlcbury college ex-
pressed great satisfaction in listening to it,
and highly appreciated its value as giving an
idea Of the untold resources Of Vermont
We think too little Of our State, he observed.
and our young men 60 west leaving one Of
the best States in the Union. There is album
dance Of room aud material for the profitable
employment Of capital and brains here. In
reference to building material, he regarded
granite as superior to marble as our climate
is pretty hard on the latter material, and it
will gradually 60 into decomposition. The
marble monuments in our cemeteries soon
show decay, and if we would have lasting
ones we must make them Of granite
In response to an inquiry by Mr.. Heath,
DR.. Spauding replied that there was good
granite in the town Of Woodbury. but he had
understood it was difficult finding blocks Of
much size free from quartz.
Hon. JouN GprooRY spoke of the superior
quality Of the Barre granite, and stated that
whilst in Albany, New York, last fall, he ex.
AHMED the foundation Of the new Capitol
building being erected there, of Maine granite
The Superintendent informed him that they
were troubled to get blocks in Maine Of the size
required, and that they had been examining a
quarry about three miles from Keone, New
Hampshire, the citizens proposing to build a
railroad that distance to take the granite
blocks to the main line Of the road. The
Superintendent expressed decided preference
for the Barre granite, and said it would have
been used for the building could it have been
reached by railroad,
Mr.. WmELocK Of Barre was much inte-
rested in the subject, and deemed the quarrcs
of that town Of great value to Agriculture,
as, when worked to the extent they would be
at some time, they would create larger
home market for the productions Of the soil.
Removing the granite did not impovorish and
injure the soil like taking of the forests.
DIR. IlosK1Ns said the information in Dr..
Spauldiug's paper was interesting, and to a
great extent new TO him. 1t was bad policy
in State so rich in resources as Vermont, to
suppress the fact and say nothing about it.
We were too much like the old lady, who be-
ing compelled to 60 to market with vegetables
from her garden, as means Of livelihood,
had a severe struggle to overcome her pride,
and on account of this commercial weakness,
met with but poor success. She secreted her
self behind pile of lumber, and then waited
for customers, who of course did not come
When aroused to more activity by sympa
thiziDg friend, she cried in faint voice
." fresh green's" but added in the next breath
II hope to the Lord nobody heard me-"
Mr.. HEATH had made an examination o
the granite belt in this county, extending in.
to the Northvesterly portion Of Orange auc
the Southeasterly portion of Caledonia coun
ties 1t did not crop out much in Plainfeld
a little too much in Marshfeld for farming
purposes, aud still more in Woodbury. Some
was to be found in the Southwest part 0
Peacham and in the CORES, and some on tn
Tucker farm in Calais. He believed tn,
best qualities were to be found in Barre an,
Woodbury., where it existed in untold quaint
ties and would soon become marketable from
the proximity Of now constructing and pro
jected railroads.
DR.. T. II. IIoskins next read paper upo
VERMONT AS AN AGRIoULrURAL STATE" II
thought the advantages of Vermont wer
imperiectly understood and appreciated an
believed it good State to emigrate to as wei
as from He did not understand why ever
year hundreds of good, substantial farmers
who are out Of debt, should sell out and g
West He deemed it n delusion to do s,
Dr., Hoskins knew the West and its many az
yantages for farming, but considered that OF
little Green Mountain State has no superiC
' between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts Th
natural strength Of her soil was not surpassc
- means inexhaustible. lie said there WI
much exaggeration in regard to prairie soil
aud it would not be long before vast arei
would be turned out, or abandoned as was
=, lands The absence Of snow in some section
the poor mans manure" he regarded
unfavorable to cultivation and the soil.
Bad husbandry had done much to redu
the lands of Vermont but he endorsed Pro
b. JonHsoNs theory, that it was impossible
# complete the depletion to degree beyond
Is rapid recuperation by fair means. The &c
- graphical position of Vermont, being Il
nearest to a large market Of any good area
land, with the exception Of the region on IL
o Hudson river, was an important item in fave
of our State.
IIesaw no reason for dependency, Thost
2 was yet in its infancy, and the expansion of IL
!. present centres of trade and the industrie
aud the development Of railroads, was addiT
IS daily to her importance, bringing her near
g to the vortex of these bu siness centres. Blu
lington will wake up seaport some fine mor
d ing, for the ship canal is sure to come, al
It Vermont will be transformed into a series
!. highways. Then manufactures will spriI
a up, and our unlimited water power, which Ct
d be put to use with less expense than that
4 any other state, will be brought into roqui,