Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-17
Driving Business from Vermont.

Our readers know that we have never said
hard things of our Vermont railroads. They
are great benefit to the state, and espe-
cially to its agriculture. They are managed
by men who apparently desire to promote
the interests of all to the extent of their abil-
ity. Our personal acquaintance with the pres
idents Of our two great roads, the Central and
the Passumpsic (Which has extended over
many years. and has enabled us TO frequently
discuss with them in a friendly manner the
condition of railway traffic in the state as
affecting the farmers interests) satisfies us
that they are truly the friend Of the pro-
ducing classes. But they do not always see
things as the farmers do, and it would be
good thing If the two parties could be Of
tener brought into close intercourse, as at
the Brandon meeting of the Dairymen's
Association, where Governor Smith freely
discussed the transportation question with
the assembled farmers.
Vermont is full of ingenious men, and
many of them are farmers. Very many val
liable improvements Of various sorts origin
ate here, and not the least among these are
the improved varieties of potatoes, grain,
etc., that result from the patient labors and
careful experimentation Of our farmers.
Nearly all the leading varieties Of potatoes,
and not a few Of wheat, corn, oats, etc.,
were produced in Vermont. Mr.. Pringle Of
Charlotte alone originated the Snowflake,
Alpha and Ruby potatoes, and the Cham
plain and Defiance wheats. OF the latter
the introducers, B. X. Bliss & Sons of New
York, have had orders by the cargo for for
eign markets, particularly for Australia,
They were obliged to supply themselves for
the first year or two from Vermont farms
but these cargo orders have to be grown in
the west because wheat is laid down in New
York at cheaper rate of freight by the car
load from Minnesota than from Addison
county, Vermont. Vermont farmers were
ready to grow the wheat and deliver it te
the cars as cheaply as the Minnesota farm
ers, but the cheaper freight gave the job te
Minnesota. In the same way potatoes orig
mating in Vermont are grown for New
York seedsmen in Northern New Yorh
rather than in Vermont, on account of the
greatly less freight charge there from the
farm to the New York warehouses. W.
have sold new early pea of our own to 1
New York house, and Of course they mus
have the first crop from us, but we canno
have the privilege of growing subsequen
crops unless we submit to lower price pc
bushel sufficient to offset the extra freigh
over Vermont lines to New York, and tn
difference is sufficient to transfer the pc
growing business Especially adapted t
Vermont) to the New York counties west O
us, lying between the st. Lawrence an
Lake Champlain. 1t may be said that Vel
mont derives scarcely any benefit from tn
origination of these things within her boz
ders, because the subsequent growing c
them to supply the demand which spring
up is taken away from the farmers Of th
state and transferred to other states wher
so much lower rates OF freight may be ol
tanned.
Now we do not know that the manager
of Vermont railroads are to be held respol
: sible for this trouble. They have to get
New York over other roads. But we ca
} their attention to the matter, hoping thi
some remedy may be devised, and that
in Vermont may be placed upon an equ
footing with the St. Lawrence river count
farmers in New York in this matter
8 growing seeds on large scale. There a
many kinds which grow best on the norther
: border, and Vermont ought at least to T
tain the possibility of supplying the stoe
8 of those which her own people originate.