The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-09-25
A Word from Commissioner
Valentine.

Jne puDllC lnJO ones COUUQeDCe, anu
freely make known such facts as are
clearly of public interest, l am glad to
give to the press any and all informa-
ton pertaining to the labors of the
commissioner of industrial interests in
Vermont. To be sure, the final report
will not possess the fresh, newsy fea-
lures which might characterize it were
the bureau conducted on another and
not unusual plan, but experience has
thus far shown that the course pursued
is the best.
The discussion caused by the letter
to our listers, relating to the possible
colonization of good class of immi-
grants on our unoccupied lands, has
called attention in many quarters to
the cheap and good farms, with dwell
ings ready for occupancy, which are
scattered over our state. The bureau
is flooded with letters from within and
without the state, asking for informa-
ton concerning them, with view of
acquiring homes among our hills and
valleys near church and school. 1t
has been found necessary to issue
circular, giving location of such lands
and the names of parties to whom to
write for further particulars. This
circular, however, gives but limited
idea of the extent and availability of our
abandoned farms. The word "aban-
doned" is used advisedly, for, when
farms once successfully cultivated by
sturdy yeomen, occupying comfortable
dwellings, are now given up to weeds
and encroaching forests, with the houses
and barns standing empty, windows
broken, and roohess perhaps, if there
is any word other than " abandoned :"
which will give an idea of the desola-
ton existing, the commissioner does
not know what that word is. The legis-
ature did wisely in using the dreaded
word in the act creating the bureau.
Those Directing to the word "aban-
doned should have stood with the
commissioner and four others last
week on an elevation in the northeast
corner of Bennington county and
looked over into the town of Mt.
Tabor in Rutland county, and Weston
in Windsor county. Fifteen unoccu-
pied houses on as many uncultivated
farms, still showing signs of former
fertility, were in view, with more than
as many barns and outhouses. These
farms were all contiguous, and as many
others were hid from sight by maple
groves and in the valley of branch of
the West river. a tract of more than
four square miles was here spread out,
fenced, and with dwelling-houses and
barns, without a single inhabitant.
Nor is this all. Off to the east, through
Windsor and Windham counties, nearly
to the Connecticut river, lies farm after
81, T.,
Peru and Landgrove to the west and
south, the same condition prevails. 1t
cannot now be said how many farms
there are in Vermont with empty
buildings, but it is safe to say that they
will number thousands, and there are
other thousands with buildings gone
and cellar holes marking their sites.
The cause of this is not now under dis
cussion; we are simply stating facts.
Our state has natural advantages in
its marble, granite and slate quarries,
in its iron and other minerals, in its
forests, water power and manufactures
in its rich soil and sweet pastures
ready, as in the past, to produce abund.
ance of grain and vegetables, the best
of butter and the fleetest of horses.
The reverse side is not confined to
Vermont, but is shared by her sister
states of the East, and should not dis.
courage us in our expectation of a
bright future, for we believe that her
waste places are to be occupied and
her old prestige as an agricultural state
is to be restored. Whether this is in
the near or remote future depends upon
our citizens. 1t is believed by the observ.
ing that Vermont's days of rapid de.
velopment are near at hand, but to ig.
more the fact of farms abandoned is
but to delay the day of their repopula-
ton. 1t is matter of surprise that
citizens of supposed intelligence should
in the face of facts lately published
deny that there are abandoned farms
in Vermont. A mistake is made in
thus doubling the intelligence of oul
people. If such gentlemen do moi
know of the facts, modesty should die
tate reserve in making positive asser'
tons, even at the risk of losing pass
ing cheer
Within seven miles of the flourishing
village of Brattleboro commences al
area of I" abandoned farms, and the
view from the elevation looking into
Mt. Tabor can be duplicated many
times in Windham county. Marlboro
Halifax, Newfane, Guilford, Wards
boro, Townsend, Jamaica and, indeed
almost every town in Windham county
report numerous abandoned farms anC
lands unoccupied, productive lands too
which can be bought from SO to So pei
acre. 1t is safe to say that these farms
| and lands represent more than 10000
, acres in Windham county alone, anC
when we consider that other counties
report equal and greater amounts, thu
aggregation is simply astonishing. L
is frankly admitted that there was NJ
conception of the state of things which
investigation has disclosed. There il
believed to be remedy, and thu
sooner the facts are looked candidly il
the face, the sooner will the remedy b'
!, found.