Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-09-27
VERMONT PHqNIX BRATrLEBORO SEPTEMBER

Tabor 100 Rutland county. aud Weston boo
Windsor county. Fifteen uuo.cuUiei houses
900 as many uucultivatetl farw-. std show
ing signs VI former fertility we're BOO view.
with more than a. many barus aui out
houses These farms we're all contiguous.
aud as many other. were hil from sight hy
maple groves. aud boo the valley uf "a branch
of the West river a tract of more than four
square miles was here spread out. fenced,
aud with dwelling houses aud barns, with
out a single inhabitant.
Nor is this all OF ~ the east through
Windsor and Wiudham counties nearly to
the Connecticut river. lies farm after farm,
unoccupied aud abandoned. In Peru and
Landgrove, to the west and south, the same
condition prevails.
IL 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 mark
ing 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 ia It's
iron and other minerals, in its forests, wa
ter power and manufactures Ia its rich
soil and and sweet pastures, ready, as in the
past, to produce abundance Of grain and
vegetables. the best butter and the fleetest
Of horses The reverse side is not confined
10 Vermont but j, shared by her sister
states Of the East, and should not discour
age Us in our expectation Of the bright fu-
ture. for We believe that her waste places
are ~ be- occupied aud her old prestige a.
an agricultural state j. to be restored.
Whether this is in the near or remote fu
ture depends upon our citizens. II is be
lieved 10y the observing that Vermont day,
Of rapid development are near at hand, but
10 ignore the fact Of farms abandoned is but
to delay the day Of their re population.
Ia is a matter of surprise that citizens Of
supposed intelligence should, in the face Of
facts. lately published, deny that there are
! abandoned farms in Vermont. 4 mistake
/ is made in thus doubling the intelligence Of
our people II such gentlemen do not know
Of the facts. modesty should dictate reserve
! in making positive assertions. even at the
risk Of losing passing cheer.
Within seven mile. Of the fourishing vii
| lage Of Brattleboro commences an area Of
/ abandoned farms and the view from the
/ elevation looking into Mount Tabor eau he
/ duplicated many times IN Nindham county.
/ Marlboro, Halifax. NeWfaue, Guilford,
/ Wardsburo Tuwnsheud. Jamaica and iu
tlee'ls dlllli~l every liiN % III W llflUhul ftul
| ", report numerous "abaudoned' farms.
and lands unoccupied, productive lands too,
which can be bought from 50 10 - per
acre. 1t is safe to say that these farm lands
represent more than 80, 900 acres in Wind
ham county alone, and when we consider
that other counties report equal and greater
amounts, the aggregation is simply aston
ishing. 1t is frankly admitted that thei {
was no conception Of the state Of things
which investigation has disclosed. There j,
believed to be a remedy, and the sooner tn,
facts are looked canddly in the face, the
sooner will the remedy be found.
From the first the aid Of the press wa.
expected, aud 1t has been generously given
The press Of this state and other states ha,
treated the subject with great randor, anr
in manner to advance the interests Of uui
Eastern states. Criticisms have been val
liable, and commentators gratifying. Tn,
first we invite and the last are thankful
for, not personally, but a. representing
bureau which We hope will be the means o
accomplishing much good to our state
In this connection | would add that tn,
opinion Of any writer should have littl
weight who sees "a political plot, "a deel
laid scheme, 90 the footprints of the boss,
in the suggestion of the possibility Of in
crea.ing the tillers Of the soil, and thereh,
retaining our waste places. los the intro
ductiou Of the hardy, sober Industrious
! honest thrifty SWedp