The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-25
More About Vermont Farmers and
the Railroads.
re. r. Towie, in st. Albans Messenger

The editor of the Rural Vernl0nter TOOK
what we had to say in an article in this
paper in relation to the " Depopulation of
Vermont" in very candid way, but in his
remarks in reply there are some things we
wish to notice-not that we have any desire
to enter into controversy upon any matter,
unless some good will result in the end.
The editor states that Mr.. Towle throws
his whole weight into statement of the
advantages of our dairymen in the matter
of Transportation" We did this because
dairying is the leading industry OF this part
of the state, for the prosecution OF which
large part of the farmers time and energies
are directed; also as being matter in which
we had some experience and knowledge.
Further he saws: " Assuming that the facts
Justify the statement of Mr.. Towle, it must
be considered that it is not the skilled dairy
men, as a rule, that are emigrating, and
does not this very fact show that we could
retain this dissatisfied element who for
various reasons, are not skilled dairymen,
by putting them on an equally favorable
footing in the matter of transportation
Dairying is nice business, but it requires
special advantages, special skill and special
personal qualities for a high degree of sue
cess, and if farmer has not suitable land
or suitable personal qualities to produce
high dairy products, a low rate on butter
alone will not help him much. He wants
chance to send to market whatever he can
best produce and in such quantities as he
freight, and without the necessity of giving
two, three or four intermediary persons a
slice off his small loaf.
" Low rates on small shipments will en-
able every farmer in the state to sell his
crops, either directly to consumers or at
least indirectly to retail dealers, who are as
much injured by the carload unit system as
are the small producers"
Not living in part of the state where
the emigration is very extended, we are not
much acquainted with the character of those
who are leaving, but should not suppose
them to be very largely well-to-do farmers,
and did not suppose that an undue proper
ton of them were farmers. If man is
lacking in all of the qualities enumerated
above as essential to successful dairyman,
the chances are that he will not be very
successful in any other branch of farming,
and hardly more so outside of the state
than here.
A farmer with moderate advantages and
skill should be able to produce milk, even If
he can not make fine quality of butter or
market il at a satisfactory price. We are
fast getting to have a remedy for just such
cases in the establishing of creameres and
the manufacture of a high-grade quality of
butter that commands the best prices in the
market. This system OF butter-making puts
the farmer who for any cause can not make
a good quality of butter at home on an
equally fair footing with his more capable
neighbor, so far as he is successful in the
production of milk. 1t looks now as If this
system of butter-making is to be largely fol-
lowed in Vermont, and as one result the
product will be sent to market in large
quantities, instead of the numerous small
shipments of the past. We think this change
in dairy methods will be worth much more
to a certain class of farmers than any pos
sble reduction of freight rates, or, indeed, if
their homemade butter could be sent to
market for nothing. Under these circum-
stances and with the ability that our aver
age Vermont farmer ought to possess, if
success can not be obtained in dairying,
then to what other branch can he turn his
attention with better prospect of being
fairly rewarded for his labor?
Good cows will usually sell for fair prices;
so will fine calves and heifers; and pork will
bring moderate price, not often very large.
To have these to dispose of cows must be
kept and milk produced. This kind of
farming is good for the farm-much better
than raising hay or grain to sell. If our
sheep industry was what it once was there
would be some inducement to engage in
that, but it is not, and the prospects for the
future are not very encouraging. Good
horses command fair prices, but we think
there are fewer successful in this business
than in the manufacture of butter.
The idea of this dissatisfied element "
that the editor of the Rural is so much con-
cerned about not possessing the skill to
manufacture and market good butter, going
into sort of mixed farming and then ship
ping whatever they may raise singly either
to the consumers or retail dealers, without
the help of middle men," it seems to us
is far-fetched, and can hardly be made practi-
cable, even with moderate freights added.
Farmers have been i'll the habit quite largely
of sending their dairy products, poultry,
eggs and sugar, to commission merchants to
dispose of-that is, where they could do
better in this way than by selling in the
home market. A very few have been for
tunate enough to find permanent market
with a retail dealer or groceryman, but this
number is comparatively very small.
But for one-third or one-half of the farm
ers of the state, for instance, to undertake
to make separate shipments of their mixed
products to market, consisting OF two or
three hogs, few calves COW or two or a
horse, few tons of hay or cords of wood
or bark, fifty or hundred bushels of pota-
toes, or anything else they might have to
dispose of, would appear to be of the most
impossible character. Very few farmers
would, we think, undertake to do this kind
of marketing if it were possible, but would
much prefer the present methods.
1t would be a tax upon the railroads, we
should judge, that would need good deal
of coercion to bring them to do this kind of
work, even at the present rates of freight
Commission men are necessity and could
not very well be dispensed with. The place
to sell such mixed products as we have
know what he is selling for and will have
no more concern in the matter. The men
that do this kind of work do not generally
get overpaid and at the end of term of
years will hardly be able to make better
showing for what they have done than the
farmer
The tendency of the times is for massing
business and work. for cooperation where
ever it can be best done. 1t used to be a
feature of the Changers to buy supplies in
large quantities at wholesale rates and ship
in carload lots to save freight.
What about the Maple Sugar Exchange?
Is not the business connected with this
conducted by a manager, who has pay for
his work, instead of by the great army of
producers? 1t is a worthy enterprise, if
rightly conducted, and we hope will meet
with the best of success.
A little further on we find that the editor
of the Rural has got new idea " in his
head, and this time he got itfrom railroad
man or employe, among whom he happens
to have considerable number of friends.
This man says: Suppose you encourage
those who are not able to make the best
butter, or don't make enough of it, or don't
know how to sell il, TO 60 into general farm
ing by taking their stuff to market cheap.
In little while that class of farming would
develop itself so that Vermont will raise all
her own grain, and wouldn't that hurt the