Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-01-06
A GREAT STOCK FARM,
HUNDRED ACRES OF |
CHOICE LAND IN ONE BLOCK.
DIR. w. sewaM Webb's Great Domain in
Shelburn - Its sStock, Buildings and
improvements How 1t is
to be Operated.

ago, DllI lew are dWdlC VI NhN ~ b'i'''
changes and improvements he has made
and is now making in the premises.
His domain aggregates lSOO acres OF the
finest land most picturesquely situated
on the shore of Lake Ch9mplain. AS soon
as the purchase was completed, DIR. Webb,
with his well known business energy,
began to arrange for system of improve
ments and modern conveniences for carry
ing on great farm and this work has oc
cupied the attention of himself and n
number of skilled artisans as well rs an
army of mechanics and laborers during
the past summer aud fall.
DR.. Webb has always taken an interest
in and had an admiration for fine booded
stock and it is TO crafty his tastes in this
and other directions that he has secured
such magnificent farm. 1t Is his ambi-
ton to make his great farm one oil the
finest in the country in this particular
and there is no doubt of his ultimate sue
cess. The work of the past season on the
farm includes the building OF a large re-
servoir and Pumping station, the laying
of three and half miles of pipe, making
new roads, putting in Il sewerage system,
digging cellars for the large new house
and barn, and erecting the following
buildings several large ice houses, II
fine boat house, and quarters for the cap
tain and crew of the yacht, hen house
100 feet long with boiler house, all elabOr
ately fitted up, a greenhouse 2OOX25 feet,
a Swiss cottage tor the gardener, large
laundry, gardeners house tor Major
Wetmore, and now in progress the large
new residence and great barn 2OOXG0 feet
with two wings 100 feet each, 30 feet posts
and u feet basement. The water works
have all been completed since the first of
September. The doing of this work re
CURED the employment for large part OF
the season of some go men and an aBEre-
gate outlay of 5000 a week.
One of the most important things done
the past season was the putting i'll OF n
complete system of water works of the
most substantial character. The water is
taken from Lake Champlain and pumped
through a six inch main to IA tne reser
voir, 100 by % feet, 215 feet above the lake
and capable OF holding $4,000 gallons. The
reservoir is on one oi the highest points
of the farm aud from it iron distributing
pipes radiate to all parts of the farm. The
reservoir Is covered with n roof. The
pumping station is near the lake and is
supplied with all necessary machinery,
including a 35 horse pump.
The work now being done is largely on
DR.. Webb's elegant new residence and
barn and other buildings. The new resi-
dence is located quite near the lake on
farm on the main road to Lovers Lane
1t was begun in August and is now being
rapidly pushed forward and Will he ready
for occupancy in April. 1t is spacious
two story wooden structure, "sqnatty"
in appearance and quite picturesque. 1t
is l2S feet long and about so feet wide In
Guiding piazzas. Outside it is clapboard-
ed on the first story ana shingled above.
1t is built in the most substantial way and
will cost about 10000. The cellar was
dug out of the lid rock, a good deal OF
dynamite being used in the operation and
the foundation. crosS-wails and chlmnies
used 10000 brick. The interior will be
finished In part in quartered oak and ma
hogany in the lower story and whltewood
and pine natural finish above. This beauti-
full residence is, we understand, only "A
temporary one. as Dr. Webb intends TO
build in a few years magnificent per
manent residence further east, some little
distance from the lake and on higher
ground. The work is now being carried
on by the assistance OF heat from two
magnificent Richardson & Boynton fur
naces supplied by Il. 5. Blodgett & Co.
and the Edi on electric light. for which a
special plant WAS erected.
This great farm of DR.. Webb's will be
remarkable not only for its fine buildings
and its complete system of equipment but
for its fine stock. There Is already a
splendid herd of 80 Jersey COWS ; 100
of the. choicest Southdown sheep; sew
eral hundred Of select breeds OF fowls; 100
horses, 30 of which are fine brood mares,
and three stations and DR.. Webb's rep
resentative has just arrived from Ken
lucky with his most recent purchase, a
stallion of the Hambletonian strain
known as Happy Meo ium." Dr. Webb's
stock is all of the finest strains and his
purchases are all made with the best
judgment. His farm in Shelburn will
] 49,. t....as
in the country for pure blooded stock.
In another way DR.. Webb is going to
have one of the most complete farms any
where. He is making great botanical
collection and has already planted more
than 40 900 trees, plants and shrubs. The
collection will include an arboretum con
tanning a botanical collection of two of all
kinds Of trees, plants and shrubs indlRen-
Gus to Vermont. This collection has al
ready been planted and we believe is the
only one in the State. This botanical col
lection will be among the most interest
ing sights on the great farm
This great farm will be conducted In
the most business-like way. DR.. Webb Is
now organizing 1t into business system
aud no mercantile concern will be con
Quoted with more business eXactitude.
| The farm is in general charge OF Mr.
Archibald Taylor of this city, man OF
fine executive ability and capacity fol
| bucn WOrK. In the conduct OF Ine ldrIi
the management of the stock, the arrange
ment Of the botanical collection Mr.. Tay
lor's long experience and large ability are
seen. Mr.. Taylor is ably assisted by
Mr.. John X. Weed, a Shelburr
man who is admirably adapted for thu
position OF general foreman on the farm
The carpenter work is in charge of Mr.
n. e. Clifford, a builder OF experience
and capacity; the stone work is superin
tended by Oliver Sorrell and the painting
by f. L. Washburn. Messrs. G. S. Blodget
& Co., the well known plumbers OF thl
city, are doing the tin work, piping AM
plumbing. The large amount of worl
done and laborers employed by DR.. Web
have contributed not a little to the bust
ness of this city during the past year
largely helping to swell the aggregate o
one OF the most prosperous years of bus
ness in the history Of the city.