Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-01-22

gest one Rutland has had for many years,
and besides the destruction Of many places
of business, a dozen or so families are turned
out of doors. The buildings destroyed are
Central house, Kingsley's store, Nichols
block, and the Meriden block on Center
street and several dwellings on Willow street.
The following firms we're burnt out: o..
Kingsley, provision dealer j. A. Salisbury,
Central house; II. Il. Adams, %jeweler H..
w. Kingsley, clothing three barber shops
the Rutland laundry Ryan Il Batcheller,
stoves and tinware; d. Hayward, groceries
and provisions II. S. Howe, manufacturer OF
confectionery /; G. Il. Cushman, liquors and
cigars. The Herald building and the Bates
house we're in great danger at one time.
There is no doubt that the fires were incen-
diary, especially as blazes were started up
at various points, and it is thought a short,
thick set man seen to leave one Of the build
ings while on fire vas the incendiary.
WASHINGTON N
Tho butter trade is rather dull in East
Montpelier and vicinity, and those who have
butter thatthey have been offered 40 cents for
probably see that they missed it once at least.
There is considerable spring butter being
made already which will crowd the old soon.
NJ. a. Ballard, of Georgia. delivered n
practical agricultural lecture in Waterbury
on the evening Of the 1lth. A correspond
ent says: " If we had more such lecturers
our country would be IN a more prosperous
condition. 1t would be a great treat for
any town to receive a visit and listen to his
sensible remarks"
Montpelier's new hotel is at last assured.
1t is to occupy the site of the Pavilion
house, with eighty feet front GU State street
and running back a hundred aud fifty feet
three story with Mansard roof. Theron o.
Bailey engages to build it, the citizens con-
tributing $4,000 and furnishing $4,000
more at six per cent, to be paid in install
ments during the next fifteen years.
We have found one first class temperance
hotel in Vermont. We refer to the Ameri-
can House at Montpelier. We have heard
it asserted oftentimes that no hotel could pay
expenses without selling liquor, but Mr..
Clark has demonstrated that it can be done,
for he has a good aud profitable patronage,
sets a first class table, and don't sell rum.
Last Christmas the boarders at the house
presented Mr.. and Mrs. Clark with a beau.
tiful silver pitcher, salver and goblets, cost
ing some $50.
The Mortified House, j. II. Ransom pro.
prietor, is one Of the best in Vermont. The
large number of people who stopped there
during the recent session ofthe Grand Lodge
of Good Templars passed a unanimous vote
OF thanks to Mr.. and Mrs. Ransom for the
splendid manner in which they had been en-
tertained, aud on Wednesday evening they
presented Mrs. Ransom with a nice silver
cake basket valued at SIG, as a token of
their satisfaction and gratitude. If We Wis
it Mortified again, we shall not fail of again
testing the inequalities of that house. Hope
we shall get a hotel in st. Johnsbury which
will set as good a table, soon ;-couldn't ask
anything better. Wish we we're sure they
never sold liquors at the Mortified House.
There have been reports and contradictions
Of Il volcanic mountain in Fayston for some
time. The NeWsdedler has direct inlorma.
ton from Mr.. Ballard, who has made inves.
legations and finds, on the north side OF
Ball mountain, evidences Of intense heat be-
meath. \ constant vapor about blood heat
is continually arising from the numerous fs-
sures in tee rocky mountains, some of these
assures having been sounded to the depth Of
over 100 feet. He thinks there is a large cav
ern underneath. La a letter to the FARMER
MIR. Ballard says he spent two days in in
vestigating the phenomenon, and he gives
good references as to his reliability.
DIR. Cutting, the state geologist. was
written to about the matter. Last Friday
he visited the place, and took along with
him some instruments. The %conical hill is
on the north side of Bald Mountain, its
north slope being perhaps 300 feet, and its
south slope half that distance. This hill is
a mass of detached rock, with c~revices, and
overgrown with trees, very much as describ-
ed by Mr.. Ballard. These c~revices are very
deep. One of them, some six inches wide,
is mostly covered by soil, aud a growth Of
trees, bushes, and the like. Some place;
are not 50 covered, and these are the volcan-
ic holes-simply bits Of the crevice not GOV
cred. The air in the %creviccs or caves is OF
course moist, aud is cold in summer and
warm in winter when considered in relation
to the outside atmosphere. When this damp
air comes out of the %crevice or cave in win.
ter, the moisture with which it is charged is
condensed into vapor, and that is all there i,
to the " volcano" The temperature within
the cave or %crevice is 40 degrees avove zero.
Fireman.
We think DR.. Cuttings testimony is per.
fectIy reliable.
wINDHAM COUNTY.
The Catholic children of Brattleboro did
not heed the committees wish and return to
school on Monday, llth, their parents hav-
ing decided to erect a schoolhouse on Wal
nut street, aud 10 educate their children ac-
cOrding to their own creed.
COUNTY.
The White River Valley agricultural as
ISOLATION have invited the state beard Of ag
riculture to hold a meeting at Bethel, dur
ing the winter.
With the temperature as ow as it wa
last week Wednesday the town Of Wood
stock had thoughts Of warming the tow
paupers, so voted to the selectmen discretion
airy authority to purchase a wood lot for tn
poor farm.
Week before last, Mr.. Abbott, living
in West Hartford. not lar from the Wood
stock station, was trying to help a hors
to his feet that had got cast in its stall an,
had partly succeeded when the horse fel
back upon him, breaking his leg below th'
knee and twisting the knee very badly
which his physician says will con6ue him t
his house for several months at least.
The young people of Weathers6eld Cente
will give a dramatic exhibition at the tow
ball Tuesday evening, Jan. 26. The enter
tainment is to consist of tho very popula
drama, MY Brothers Keeper" followed b,
the laughable farce, "A Little More Cider.
Refreshments will be served in the old a
well as the now style, SO that the most fas
tidious need not hesitate to come. All ar