The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-07

The last report of the Department of
Agriculture of the United States shows
considerable increase IN the amount
and value Of the products of the farm in
Vermont since the last census. The an
nual value of farm products is now over
$27 ,000, 900, and of the live stock on
farms over $50, 900, 900, a handsome in
crease since 1880. Out of 35,522 farms
30.760 or 81 per cent, are carried on by
the owners thereof. During the last
eight there has been a decided increase
IN the number of horses and cattle on
Vermont farms. The number of horses
has increase from 75,9I5 in 1880 to S4,
SAL in 1888, while the number mi
cows has grown from 2l7, ,033 to 225 ,522
in the same period. There has been
quite an improvement in the quality OF
horses bred of late years (and in the
value thereby, and Vermont is fast re-
gaining her former reputation for fine
bred horses. The dairy interest has
grown appreciably since 1880, and the
annual production of butter is not less
than 10000 900 pounds at this time, or
doubled the amount produced in 1860
aud 5000, 900 more than the dairy pro
duct in 1880. 1t is estimated that the
maple sugar crop this year amounted to
over 100000 pounds, worth nearly
81, 900, 900. In addition TO the ptoduc
tions of the farms named there is annu-
ally cut from the wood lands on Yer
mont farms vast amount of wood for
fuel and lumber for manufacturing pur-
poses, the value of which reaches mill
lions of dollars,
The fact is patent that Vermont farms
afford not only comfortable living to
their occupants, but a fair return on
capital invested. The same amount Of
money invested in and labor expended
on farm in the West, would, il put into
farming in Vermont, produce greater
and more satisfactory results. The soil
in the valleys and on innumerable hill
sides is rich and fertile and is capable of
producing great variety OF food prod
ucts and yielding abundant harvests.
There are many vacant farms awaiting
tillers of the soil and settlers. Much
good land, with comfortable houses
thereon, can be had at from So to So per
acre. 1t is estimated that there are sew
eral thousand such farms, of over $50
900 acres. 1t is essential in order to
make farming profitable to have acces-
sible markets for farm products. The
growth of the industries of the State and
the development of its natural resources
is matter of importance to all classes OF
people, but 1t is Of vital consequence to
the farmers of the State. The farming
communities in the State have been ma
terially benefited by the prosperity of
numerous manufacturing establishments
and the development of the marble, gran
| ite and slate quarries of Vermont since
the war. In no decade has greater pros
perity prevailed among these industries
than in the last, now drawing 10 close
The act providing for the appoint
ment of commission to investigate the
agricultural resources of the State also
cOntemplates the investigation of the
manufacturing interests and the unde-
veloped manufacturing resources of Yer
mont. Vermont, is as well known, has
an immense amount of water power
which is not utilized for any purpose.
The State is rich in marble, granite, slate
and copper, and contains vast forests of
valuable timber. The granite, marble
and slate quarries now operated have
mostly been developed since the close OF
the Rebellion, and the last decade-l6SO
to 1S90-has witnessed great growth in
the quarrying and manufacture of these
minerals. The production of wooleD
and cotton goods, of paper, lumber farm
tools and machinery, and of various
other manufactured products has been
very largely increased since 1880. 1t is
estimated that there are to. day over three
thousand manufacturing establishments
in the State, which employ 10000 hands
and produce annually goods or materials
valued at $35, 900 900. The value Of raw
materials used exceeds $23 900, 900 and
the amount OF yearly wages paid is fully
81, 900, 900. These industries represent
an invested capital Of some $27, ,000, 600,
1t is computed that the various rivers in
Vermont and those bordering on theState
have capacity aggregating fully 2OO,.
900 horse power, which can be util zed
for manufacturing purposes. Accord
ing to the census of 1880 the amount OF
water power used by manufacturing es-
Establishments was 2,226 horsepower, a
gain of 5000 horse power over 1870
Vermont in 1880 stood 10 in the amount
OF developed water power among the
States IN the Uuion. Since that yeal
there has been an extensive development
of the water power on the Connecticut
River at OlcotI's Falls and at Bellows
Falls and at other places. 80 that it il
probably that fully 10000 horse power
is used to-day by the industries Of tn,
State. This leaves some l25, 900 horsC
power which awaits development fol
manufacturing purposes. There wal
1852 establishments using water power
in 1880, including cotton, wooden, -four
grist, hosiery, paper, iron and lumber
mills. The number OF water wheels
in operation then was 2l3S These mill'
are located on the Connecticut, West
Williams, Black, Middlebury, Sugar
Deerfield, Ottaquechee, Moose, White
Ompomponoosuc, Waits, Wells Barton
Passumpslc, Clyde, Lamoille, ,Missisquoi
Battenkill, Winooski, and Hoosick Riv.
ers and branches aud on Otter Creek,
The uuoccupied mill privileges on
these sireams are numerous, aud the
power is ample for the largest industries
There is abundant undevtloDed power
.t R.Inua Ealla Sumner. Fall. O.gn. 4