Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-09-20
.l roIcE rnou VERMONT"
An Answer 10 uonrd'- Dnirynnn from
u Mell-knnwn NermnnIer.

Ei,u, Hou4y. DuiVnru ln youl
comments upon am article in The Vermont
Phoenix, regarding the market value oI
farm lands 900 Vermont You express sur
prise as you well may that farms her,
should bee thrown upon the market at such
ruinousv low prices ns represented iu tn,
article referred TO-
While the writer may have based his est
mates of market value upon exceptional, ra
Their than average sales, aud thus unlnteu
tionallv conveyed a wrong impression with
regard 90 the agricultural situation here IN
Vermont. it is nevertheless true that farm
lands, especially iu Dhamplain valley, can
be purchased at lower rates IN proportion
90 actual value than IN any other section
of the count g.
Your sug estion that they may be turn
ed up ON edge will not apply to this sec
ton Of Vermont at least Here farm ma.
chiuery may be used 10 as good advantage
as in most sections Of the West while sta
tistics show a much larger average yield
per acre of most, if not all, farm crops.
There are various reasons for the decline
in land values most Of which are not at all
discreditable to our state. One Of the
causes of which / shall speak, is the alarm
ing draft which the world at large, and es-
pecialv the West, is constantly making up
on our vital forces in the form of enter
prising, energetic young men. The repu
tatiou of our state for this most important
of all her products, while greatly benefit.
ing other sections, Is IA blighting curse ~
the state itself In this we see an illustra-
ton of that anomalous condition, wherein
a good reputation. while 1t is a blessing To
the world is ruiuous to It's possessor.
Though the state is small, the sons of
Vermont may he found almost everywhere,
where there is a paying demand for sterl-
ing worth and business integrity They
are found occupying the highest positions,
not only in financial and social circles but
in church and state From the vice presi-
dent down. through the Intern. late u
the humbleSt walk Of life, wherever intel
hgence, integrity and energy are required,
We find the SONS of Vermont
There is another reason for the decline
in land values here, which Is not so credit
able 20 our people That is the fact that a
large proportion of our surplus capital Is
invested IN the SO, 800 OOO, 900 of Western
farm mortgages which have been thrown
upon the market. A large proportion of
our people are looking 20 this source for
their income. rather than to the develop
ests of the community in which they live
This is both unwise and discreditable. Such
"a parasite life is not calculated to encour
age enterprise and advance property val
ues at home, while it has aided in develop
ing a ruinOus competition from abroad
The inventive genius Of our people also
while benetiting other sections, has serious
ly injured our pecuniary interests The
dairy belt once talked Of by Harris Lew
Is, Prof. Arnold and others has been vastly
extended by Vermont ingenuity. The dem
onstration Of the practicahity of the deeI
setting Of milk for cream raising purposes
aud the invention of appliances for utiliz
ing this discovery 10y Nermonters, have
revolutionized the dairy practice of the
country and developed a serious competi
ton in our butter markets. which other
wise would not have existed
In almost every department of business
We recognize the work of some clear headed
son of Vermont, and yet, You say that you
do not care to live in the state which gave
them birth and endowed them with those
characteristics which has made life with
them a success
Your conclusions may be correct if based
upon the proper reasons, but they cannot
he. If founded ON any supposed want OF
win, as you express it, in our people
The law of demand and supply governs TIN,
matter Of location as surely as it control,
commercial affairs The short supply and
strong demand for those sterling qualities
which Vermont conditions are calculated t,
develop, make 1t an object for those possess
ing them TO locate in the W est, rather than
where the supply is more abundant.
When we take into account the advanta
yes for physical, educational. moral and so
cial development which Vermont presents
and a basis for these. her agricultural
and other resources, challenge comparison
with any other state in the Union | know
of no other section where, combined witt
these, are found so many of those other con
ditions such as beautiful scenery, pur,
cold water, etc, so essential to the perfec
ton of home life, can he procured in sucl
perfection. and so cheapy, as in western
Vermont to day, and for reasons, some ot
which ! have given, not at all discreditahl,
To the people of our state, or to this section
rs IA place of residence
+. d. DOUGLAS.