Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-05-04

HISEsBuRGH effect of the hard times
is showing itself more this Spring than hero
toiore. The settling down of prices has
reached most decidedly the wages Of labor,
and the less stable industries of the people.
The consequence is that laborers are seeking
employment at any price, and employers
arc masters Of the situation. There is not
enough renumefative work to be done to
furnish employment Tor those who desire to
work. Therefore, since men without capital
cannot start new and paying industries.
and men with capital do not choose II run
the risks Of doing so, the surplus Of laborers
are going away II try their fortunes else
where. There has not been q time since the
emigration to Michigan, some forty years
ago, when 50 many OF the citizens of this
town have gone West or elsewhere as this
Spring Mr. Samuel Fletcher, who has own
cd the brick mill for many years, has sold ID
Russell Corey and gone to Kansas. George
Thompson, who has been in the tin ware
and in the grocery business, has closed up
his business and gone TO California. {. l..
Turner, the harness; maker, has left his
business in the hands OF his partner and
bone to prospect" in California. These
take some young men with them, and other
young men and women have pushed off here
and there to find employment. This state
of things is to be regretted, for it Is likely
to take away the more enterprislng and use-
full. and to leave depressed feeling and a
want of ambition, enterprise. and becoming
pride in the business. social moral and reli-
gious enterprises of the town. Many towns
of Vermont are in similar condition. Now
is it not possible that the men with some
capital are standing in their own light? Is
it for their interest to have our rural towns
reduced TO broad farms of dairy grass-iields
and pastures. run by machinery, and their
villages, shops and waterfalls deserted, and
the school houses and churches nearly
| empty? Might not q judici0us investment
in setting up some manufacturing, me
chancal, industrial enterprises, encourage
| labor and thrift, keep the bost youth at
home, make business lively. excite pride
| in home institutions, and be blessing
| cyeryway? Woald not such investments
| make money worth more and add to the
value OF real estate and mortgages, ~ that
| il the per cent. was small on the investments,
| it might BIO larger in other directions?
A pair of English Sparrows found
their way into llincsburgh village last year
and made their home at the grist mill
| The premises had been abundanty occupied
| by the elf swallow, which had for year.
built its mud nests in close order under the
capacious caves of the mill. But the PUG
nacious little sparrows. carpet bag gers II,
they were. were more than q match for the
older settlers. Friend Nash of the mill at
first gave the sparrows II right glad welcome
but when he saw their rough ways and
their unicollng and insolent treatment o.
his old friends. heswallows,-whe he saw
them approach swallows nest. seize tho
occupant by the neck and drag it out ana
take possession. either eating the swallows
eggs. or tumbling them out ruthlossly, nc
lost his love for them ard feels decided,
stronger sympathy Tor his old friends Ncv.
crthcless the sparrows roIlaIn and have H..
creased to d zon or So.