Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-03-17
For the VERMONT FARMER.
we and our Neighbors."


Who are our neighbors7 Those who live
near us, or any with whom we associate. or
do business In an important sense our
tOvnsmen are our neighbors. We are mem.
bers Of the same community, live under the
same special laws, aud have mutual inter-
est in everything that relates to the town.
Such relations must create mutual obligations,
aud this view of our subject leads US to in
quire what are our duties to ourueighbors 2
As townsmen, how far should we bear each
others burieuS2
These questions are of practical impor-
lance, and we believe may be discussed with
profit. 10 almost every town there are in
teresis and privileges which seem to be local.
A large, central village has its special edu.
catioual aud social advantages. Several
smaller villages 10 different parts Of the same
town have their mills aud manufactures,
while the rural districts are separated from
them all. Now the tendency of such facts
is to create rivalry aud jealousy among neigh.
bors, and to lead some to feel that they have
20 special interest except in their own i'm
mediate noighborhOod, and hence it is wrong
TO expect them TO bear any other burdens
except such as will result 10 immediate and
direct profit to themselves. The large vii.
lage must have a town hall, a spacious school
house, and fire department to guard against
the losses resulting from a cOnAagratiou but
the citizens who live in other districts think
that they should be relieved Of such expenses,
because they, Individually, do not need such
accommodations for themselves or their
children, and as to the precinct" business
the fire department can do them no good.
They are 80 far away that their buildings
would be in ashes before tie expensive en-.
gines could reach them. Hence the plea is,
don't tax us unless you can bring all these
advantages to our doors" A turnpike
passes through the town and is of great pub
lie advantage, but "dont tax US to support
it unless you can make it run through our
farm"
Now we maintain that this is all wrong
IN principle and ruinous 10 practice. Every
citizen has special interest aud should have
an honest pride in the prosperity of his own
town. A spacious town house, convenient
tor all public gatherings, neat and attract.
i've hotel, convenient and tastefully con-
structed churches, an elegant, central school
building, are all indicative Of town thrift and
prosperity, aud tend directly to increase the
value Of real estate. What is a good farm
worth in SOdom q? Its value depends not
alone upon the fertility Of the soil aud its
productiveness but upon its nearness to a
thrifty village which will furnish home
market, and church and school accommoda-
tions in word the value Of this farm de
ponds upon all the advantages and improve.
ments that make the town attractive aud dc.
sirable as a place of residence 1t must fol.
low, therefore, that every citizen has per.
sonal interest in all that gives prominence oil
renders attractive his town as a town. HI
has personal interest in the prosperity Of
every other citizen. aud he suffers in conse.
quence Of the calamity or misfortune Of any
other citizen. The prosperity of the mer
chant and manufacturer is the prosperity o.
the mechanic and the farmer, and the faiIur,
Of the former must result in loss aud injury
to the latter. The ere that consumes hal
the village, or only farm house 10 q differ
ent part of the town, is a calamity to every
farmer who resides within the limits of tina
town. 1t must follow, therefore, that every
citizen should help bear the burdens, anC
share the responsibilities Of town life. HI
should share tho taxes which are necessary
to secure the prosperity and protect the prop
erty Of his town. 1t is on this principle tina
he pays county aud state taxes. To main
tain public roads and bridges, to sustain
good government, to promote education, mo
rality aud virtue in any community, is fol
the common benefit OF ALL Hence all SHOULD
share the burdens Of society according to tn,
benefits they severally receive. Hence VI
infer that all jealousics and rivalres be-
tween the different villages and neighbor
hoods of the same town, aud all efforts I,
shirk the town burdens and responsibilities
are wrong. EoUAuTY.