The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-22

our vegetables, our apples and pears.
Another group of our collective exhibit
should cover the educational interests
OF the state, as also its humane institu-
tons. From the little red school-house
to the state university, all should be il
Illustrated fully. In the same collection
should be ancient relics and all else
Illustrative of the history of this COM
monwealth from the beginning. Pic
lures representing our beautiful noun
tain and lake scenery, our summer re-
sorts, our monumental tributes to the
patriots and sages of other days, should
not be omitted. Such collection every
state and territory is preparing, Yer
mont being the last to engage in the
work. When all these shall be brought
together and grouped around the dis
plays made by the many great depart
ments of the national government, the
whole will present such an illustration
of the natural resources with which God
has endowed our country, and of the
intelligence of our people, as will fill
foreign visitors with profound astonish-
ment, and awaken the honest pride of
every American.
But what practical good shall we de-
rive from this display? says Mr.. Con-
servative. Why should Vermont ex-
pend any money in making an exhibit?
Will not the $4,000 furnished by the
New Orleans managers be all sufficient?
AS to the practical good to be derived
from such display there can be but one
opinion. Vermont needs two things.
and needs them very much. One is higher
prices former farm and orchard products.
the other more men of enterprise and
capital to open up the treasures hid in
her hills and mountains, and to make
new fields of profitable employment for
her young men. For more than half
century the flower of our youth have
been going from home to what seemed
to them more inviting fields. Other
states seek immigration; the effort of
this and of every New England state
must be to keep our boys at home. One
means of doing this is to develop our
resources to the fullest extent. thus pro-
viding new sources of employment for
intelligence and industry We need
higher prices for our farm products.
This exposition will be held at the COM
mercial center of the cotton states. All
the winter apples and Irish potatoes
consumed at the south are grown at the
north. Boston sends Vermont apples,
potatoes and hay to New Orleans. Mo-
bile, and Atlanta. The home producers
receive minimum prices, the merchants
make the large profits. the consumers
not knowing whence these things
come. Send them to the exposition
and the dealers in these southern trade
centers will soon find their way to Yer
mont and compete with Boston mer-
chants for such products. Maple sugar
can be produced in but few states; ii is
one of natures rarities. 1t ought to
bring the price of luxury instead of
being governed by that of cane sugar.
1t does not, because its excellence is
known to few people except those of
New England origin. Show it at the
exposition, create taste and therefore
demand for it, and the owners of ma
pie orchards in Vermont will soon be
able to dictate their own prices for this
article. How much money our sum-
mer resorts scatter annually among the
farmers of this state, who can say =? The
total is very large, and as their beauty
and healthfulness are better known they
will be more and more visited. 1t will
pay the farmers of the state to see to it
that these attractive resorts are fully
represented at New Orleans.
The preparation and collection of
these exhibits will cost consider
able money, their transportation to
New Orleans and their setting up
there in suitable form will also be
quite expensive, and the residence of
commissioner there for six months to
answer inquiries and supply informal
ton will be large item. The 5000
furnished our commissioner by the New
Orleans management is but half of what
should be placed at his disposal. The
special committee of the legislature has
reported bill providing for an appro-
priation of an equal amount. 1t is a
small sum as compared with the great |
benefits it will insure to the people of |
Vermont. We hope this bill will pass
both houses by unanimous vote.