The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-10-17
A Progressive Measure.

Mr.. Mann of Wilmington has intro
duced bill of very useful character.
We the more readily give the object
sought in its provisions our cordial sup
port from the fact that we have hereto
fore advocated the taking of some ac-
tive and decisive measures by the state
for advertising its agricultural advan-
tages and its facilities for manufacture
ing, and for attracting people into the
state to become permanent settlers and
producers. Vermont is very much in
the condition of tradesman who has
had very conservative ideas about bust
ness and has been distanced in the race
for customers by pushing rivals who
have advertised judiciously and put
their agents in the field. Mr.. Mann's
bill provides for the appointment of a
commission by the governor to find
and gather the facts respecting the
states agricultural condition, its ia
cilities for manufacturing, and the sta
tistics of its various farm products; to
examine into the means taken by other
states and countries TO advertise their
advantages, and, having carefully gone
over the ground and procured the facts,
to take such preliminary action to
bring the advantages of the state for
farming or manufacturing to the knowl-
edge of the people of other states or
countries, as their judgment may
sanction.
1t is we'll known that in many Sec
tons of the state there are extensive
areas of unproductive lands, and farms
that have been abandoned which can
be purchased at merely nominal prices,
or would be leased on exceedingly
favorable terms to persons who would
recover them from their condition of
nproductiveness. Some of these
farms have upon them good buildings,
and the farms can be bought for less
than the cost of the buildings alone.
Instances of this kind have repeatedly
been made public since this discussion
of some scheme for reoccupying and
regenerating the states waste places
was started The bill aims to provide
the ways and means to bring these OPP
portunities to buy or lease farms desir-
able in price and quality of soil to the
knowledge of the people of other states
or countries, with the view and expec-
tation of procuring the sale or leasing
of such lands or farms and their return
to thrift and productiveness. The
number of commissioners may be three
or five, in the discretion of the COVER
nor; the total expenditure is limited to
$4,000, and the compensation is made
five dollars a day and expenses for
time actually devoted to the duties of
the commission. The existence of the
commission is limited to one biennial
term, and it is directed to report to the
next legislature and to embody its
recommendations in bill for creating
a permanent bureau or commission tC
have charge of these matters of state
interest and sOlicitude.
The bill carries the active duties OF
the commission somewhat beyond the
limits of mere investigation. The com
missioners are authorized to initiate ant
test in tentative way some means fol
accomplishing the Interior object of this
proposed measure. We think this il
a wise provision. Having found tn,
facts, the practical trial of some spe
cific means to remedy the existing state
of things should afford basis for al
intelligent report and for legislative &C