Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-10-15
Springfield Fair.

friend, c. Horace Hubbard. Esq, its pres
ident, we accepted it. and found it wort
seeing.
Springfield is known chiefly as one o
the first manufacturing towns in the state
1t is busy, bustling, thriving village
Black river furnishing abundant water
power for the various industries which
line its banks.
Some of the principal manufacturing
concerns are the Vermont novelty works
company, who manufacture children
carriages, toy cabs. sleds, etc, and who
probably employ the largest number o
hands, averaging about one hundred, Of
which about ten per cent are females. The
con Germ has been very successful, starting
with almost nothing, being washed Out
twice and burned out once, and have
reached their present success during and
in spite of the dull times.
The Springfield Toy company, manufac-
turing similar goods, employ about fifteen
hands, has been built up within the past
ten years.
j. G. Holmes & Co., manufacturers OF
sheetings and cotton warp, and Whitmore
& Dillon. woolens, each employ probably
about forty hands.
Parks & Woolson, machinists and man
ufacturers of cardng and shearing ma
chimes, Gilman Townshend, machinist and
maker of last machines, each employ some
twelve or fifteen hands.
The Vermont snath company turn out
scylhe snaths, grain cradles, plows, har-
rows, cultivators, farm boilers, stoves and
castings, employing twenty-five hands.
Smith, Mason & Co., makers of mops,
clothes pins, hooks and eyes, and the prize
churn, keep ten hands.
r. j. Kenney. builder and building ma
terials, employs ten HANDS.
Henry Parker, bobbins, spools and grist
mills, keeps ten hands.
Besides these are the ordinary wood
working and blacksmiths shops, three dry
goods and two grocery stores, and four
each of boot and shoe and millinery
shops, and five groceries, selling tobacco,
confectionery, fruit, fishing tackle, etc.
those employed in which are added to the
number of about three hundred workmen
in the shops, who are consumers of the
farmers products, and the farmers have
a home market which is both convenient
and profitable With all this manufactur-
ing Importance the farming interest might
not receive the attention from visitors to
which its excellence entities it.
There are many excellent farms in
Springfield, well carried on, and not on
the river and main road only are the best
to be found, bat back on the hills. On
Eureka hill" in the South part" and
on the Connecticut slope are just as good
farms as one will ordinarily find.
With such interests it is no matter of
surprise that the population has steadily
increased, that II public library has been
established and is well kept up, that
schools and churches are flourishing and
good society the rule. We believe farm
ers have not realized how important a
bearing on and how intimately linked
with their occupation and interests manu-
featuring in their midst could be made.
Such manufactures should be helped and
encouraged by farmers, who will, by such
u course better their own prospects.
The exhibition of cattle and horses was
very good. Our old friend, James R.
Walker, had his herd of COWS on exhibit
ton, beside which the Shorthorns, which
are favorites here, were out in consider
able numbers and excellence.
There was showing of speed in horses
for premium for horses owned in town,
which had never trotted for money, an
impromptu foot race and the customary
address.
MACHINERY.
In machinery there was new thing
shown by Mr.. G. j. Gill, Springfield
the Tiger" riding and walking cult
vators. each for two horses, made by the
Utter manufacturing company, Rockford,
Ills. Mr.. Gill says he has raised twenty
acres of corn with this (waking) Guilt
vator, and has not used hoe in it, We
can see but one objection to this-it would
come just about right for the holder to
step on the hills. Mr. Gill also shows the
Gorham broadcast seed sower.
Mr.. G. G, Herrck. Charlestown, N. H.,
shows new straw cutter, Pierpont's feed
cutter. Simply described it is an immense
pair G shears with the handles on the
points, which are operated by double
crank. moving both blades, AMI operated
by crank balance wheel 1t runs easily,
cuts well, and looks to be durable and
effective.
The Vermont snath company show
variety of their goods-plows, cultivators
of various styles, farm boilers, scythe
snathS, share harroWS, etc.
Kemp's manure spreader attracted much
attention and favorable comment.
The Vermont novelty works company
showed fine assortment of children's car
riages, carts, sleighs. sleds, etc., and case
each for violin and cornet, nicely made.
Several stores in the village made hand
some shows of their goods in floral hall,
beside which there was goodly array of
fancy articles.
In fruit the show though not large was
excellent. The principal exhibitors were
E. b. Cutler, f. Cutler, S. w. Damon, r.
Merrill and Daniel Rice. The show of
grapes especially was very good, the Del
awares and Adrondacks being to our mind
the best.
In vegetables the show was both large
and e ~