The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-21
GATHERING STATISTICS.
THE COMMISSIONER ISSUES ANOTH
Err CIRCULAR.

EN- SAANSOLAhs
Fuller and More Accurate Information
Relative to Abandoned Farms Asked for
Likewise Inquiries Relative to School
and Railroad Facilities - Dairy Matters
and Manufacturing Interests, to be In
vestigated in the Spring.
Commissioner Valentine has sent out
another circular to listers, as follows
The advantages of full report relat'
ing to the unoccupied lands in our State,
once under cultivation, are now so ap-
parent, that the Commissioner of Agri-
cultural and Manufacturing Interests
feels confident that the inclosed blank
will be promptly filled out and returned
in the accompanying stamped envelop.
Please see that it reaches this office by
December LIST next.
The Commissioner believes that the
listers can, at home, in few hours, and
in many cases few moments, working
from data already in their possession, fill
out the blanks with sufficient accuracy.
Estimates approximately correct are
very necessary 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 in
ldependently of previous reports, and
will be the basis of compilation, if
compilation is made, and of the fiual re-
port 10 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 en-
velop. This is important, as it will re-
lIeve the Commissioner of the embar-
rassment of doubts in securing 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 circu-
lars, relating to farms once fruitful and
occupied by industrious people, but now
left uncultivated, with houses empty or
gone. Nor has this interest been con-
fined to Vermont, but il has extended to
neighboring States, who are watching
the result of Vermont's efforts to repOp-
ulats 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
cheerfully aid in the work so happily
begun.
1t is probable that in the early spring,
blanks will be issued calling for infor-
nation concerning the dairy products
of the State and its manufacturing IN
terests. The latter will include what
pertains to water power, timber, sugar,
quarries and mineral resources. 1t is
hoped tina: listers will keep this in mind,
so that they will be prepared to fill out
such blanks promptly, as it is not pro-
posed to again issue blanks for general
distribution, those issued last spring not
having proved a success, and having
made the listers much additional work.
We feel growing confidence that the
results of our labors will justify the es-
Enlistment of this Bureau, and that the
joint efforts and relations Of the Com
missioner and town listers will be re-
membeTed with satisfaction by each and
all. A. B. VALENTINE, Com,
Accompanying the above is a blank
schedule relating to unoccupied or
abandoned farms, and such other lands
as can be purchased at about the same
price as the so-called abandoned lands"
to which is attached the following Ques
tons :
How many unoccupied farms in your
town, which were once occupied and
under cultivation -? What is the aggre-
gate acreage of the same? At what
price per acre can they be purchased
What is the nature of the soil in your
town. What proportion of these farms
is good, tillable soil, from which any
former occupants have secured a living?
What crops are most profitably raised
How many of these farms haye maple
many have buildings IN a fair state Of
preservation State number and acre
age of farms, now occupied, which can
be bought at about the same price as
those occupied? How many unoccupied
school houses now standing in your
town? How many school houses once
standing, have now gone to decay? How
near to railroad station Is there q
creamery or cheese factory IN your
town? Give as your opinion, what is
the aggregate acreage of lands, unoccu-
pied and occupied, suitable for coloni-
cation, which the owners would be glad
to sell at very low price to persons
seeking cheap lands to secure for them
selves home? Give names of persons
to whom to refer parties seeking infor-
nation, with view to securing homes
IN your vicinity? Give any other infor-
nation relating to this subject, which
you may consider of interest, for, while
the Commissioner would not ask listers
to go into extended details, still separ-
ate statement of facts, showing names
Of owners of farms mentioned, the ma
ture of the soil, condition of buildings,
number of acres and price asked, would
be of great service and might result in
much benefit to your town.