St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-11-21
THOSE VERMONT FARMS.
Commissioner Valentines Third Circu

Com missioner valentines IhIrd CIrcu-
lar Letter.
Under date of Nov 16, Commission
er Valentine has issued his third cir
cular letter to the listers of Vermont.
The letter is as follows:
The advantages of full report re-
lating to the unoccupied lands in our
state, once under cultivation, are
now so apparent, that the commits
SiOner of agricultural and manufac-
turing interests feels confident that
the inclosed blank will be promptly
filled out and returned in the accom-
panying envelope. Please see that
it reaches this office by December
1St next.
The commissioner believes that the
listers can, al home, in a few hours,
and in many cases a few moments,
working from data already in their
possession, fill out the blanks with
sufficient accuracy Estimates APP
prOximatelv correct are very neces-
sary to secure to each town having
lands such as are referred to, all of
the advantages such towns are en-
titled to, from the movement to bring
our waste places under cultivation,
and refill our abandoned farm and
school houses. The failure of some
towns to fill out previous blanks,
has in many instances, worked to
their disadvantage. The report now
called for is desired independently of
previous reports, and will be the ba-
sis of compilation, if a compilation
is made, and of the final report of our
next Legislature.
In towns having no lands coming
within the scope of the questions
asked, the listers will please return
the blank without comment, in the
enclosed envelope. This is important,
as it will relieve the commissioner of
the embarrassment of doubts in Sc
curing the data for the information
of our Legislature, and perhaps for
general distribution.
Great interest has been manifested
in the facts brought out by previous
circulars, relating to farms once fruit
full and occupied by Industrious peO-
pie. but now left uncultivated, with
houses empty or gone. Nor has this
interest been confined to Vermont,
but it has extended to neighbOring
states, who are watching the result
of VermOnt's efforts to repOpulate
her abandoned farms, and thus make
her what she is entitled to be, the
leading eastern state for the raising
of horses, for the products of the
dairy, and for general agricultural
prosperity.
Great benefit to the state must
come from this movement, and self
interest, duty, state pride, and desire
for state prosperity should and will
incite all to cheerfullv aid in the
work SO happily begun.
1t is probable that in the early
spring, blanks will be issued calling
for information concerning the dairy
products of the state and its manu-
featuring interests The latter will |
include what pertains to water pow
er, timber, sugar, quarries and min
eral resources. 1t is hoped that lis |
tiers will keep this in mind, so that
they will be prepared to fill out such |
blanks promptly, as it is not propos-
ed to again issue blanks for general |
distribution, those issued last spring
not having proved a success, and
having made the listers much addi-
tiOnal work.
We feel growing confidence that |
the results of our labOrs will Justify |
the establishment of this Bureau,
and that the joint efforts and rela- |
tiOns of the commissioner and town |
listers will be remembered with salts
faction by each and all.
A. B. VALENTINE, Commissioner.