Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-03-22
The Interest Question.

Me.srs. Editors Il have attended the
meetings Of the Board Of Agriculture held
at Chelsea, the past week. think this
Board is one Of the best institutions Of Yer
mont, being composed fnd Of practical
men, who seem to be trying to benefit the
farmers, and raise agriculture to a higher
standing. In these meetings there is much
encouragement given to young farmers to
stay in Vermont, and pursue agriculture.
In one Of them, Mr.. G. F. Smith read pa
per entitled " Who shall succeed?" in which
he mentioned the tide Of emigration to the
West and could not see why young farmers
wanted to leave Vermont, when the chances
Of success looked so well here.
think | know the reasons why many
young farmers wish to go West 1t is not
because they think Vermont farming is not
as healthy, honorable, and, with certain con
ditions as profitable as farming anywhere;
nor because they do not like farming as a
pursuit; but it is because the money OF the
country, that is not employed in actual bust
ness, lies locked up in the safes and vaults
of banks, etc, under the control Of spec
ulators.
The young farmer, in order to make his
business profitable, must bring a requisite
amount OF capital into play. II his land is
wet, he must drain it if rough, it must be
smoothed so that the mower and rake can be
used to good advantage buildings must be
repaired, and the fences kept in order, An
these things require money, and, to the
young farmer having only his hands and
brains as a capital, it looks rather discourage
ing. Perhaps some OF my readers may say,
"Why don't he hire the necessary capital, and
go along with his business z" This is the
point that We are coming at. As have al
ready mentioned, most of the money Of the
country lies in the hands of Spectators,
where it can be hired by paying eight or
nine per cent interest and the average
farmer of Vermont cannot afford to pay
eight and nine per cent, interest to carry on
his land as it should he carried on and this
is the great reason why so much scrub farm
many farmers desert their farms and leave
for the West where they can take up gov.
eminent lands aud, by improving them, have
a home without danger Of being tripped up
by spectators. This, also, is the reason
why so many farmers sons leave the farm
for the city-the moneyed men fairly drive
them from the farm This is the reason
why the farms all through Vermont are
moltgaged. This same tyrant is what sends
people from every quarter of the globe,
/ hocking TO our western states. They are
mostly men worked up to pitch of despera-
| ton by the monopoly of the money power,
and SO they rush OFF TO America, determined
TO sink or swim. | saw an article in the
! last WATCHMAN, headed, The Sins of La
| Dor" Thanks, Mr.. Editor, for your brave
defense of the interests of the farmers of
! New England. Whether Mr.. Banister is a
Spectator or not, he is doing the farmers a
| great wrong--indeed, he is a member of
that class that is doing more to drive out the
young farmers from Vermont, than any other
agency.
Unless these moustrous usuries can be pre-
vented the farmers boys can never be per.
suaded that the farm is the place for them
and | see no way to do II only by legs.
lation, and legislation Of a different kind
from what we have been haying--legisation
that shall give the young farmers chance
TO go TO work on Vermont farms with de
termination to improve the soil with intelli,
gent cultivation, such as shall bring the worn.
out hills Of Vermont back TO their former
fertility and as the soil is improved, more
attention will be paid to the education OF
the farmer. II Vermont wants her sons 10
stay at home, she must 60 to work and rem
edy this great evil. An.
Chelsea, Vt, February Il,