The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-10-31


commenced at the time the well remem-
bered circular of Commissioner Nalen.
tine was issued some months since, has
been continued up TO this time, and will
we trust prove beneficial to the farming
interest in Vermont 1t is wel'-known
that much of our farm lands in Yer
mont have for many years been on the
decline by reason of the migration OF
the young men to the West, to clerkship
in the cities and 10 other business. and
it IS well to have the attention of the
people of the state called To it. The
value or productiveness Of Vermont
farms are really much better than many
Vermonters believe them to be, and
therefore the importance of discussing
this subject. We saw recently, the aver
age yield OF corn in the several states
published, and in the statement that Yer
mont, New Hampshire and Maine stood
the highest in the union, was un-
doubleday correct. Those are great corn
states, or would be if the farmers there
in would put their lanGs in condition to
grow it.-Poultney Journal.
The states of New Hampshire and
Vermont are becoming alarmed at the
rapid decrease in the population of their
hill towns and the consequent increase
in the number of abandoned farms.
They are becoming convinced OF the fact
that something must be done TO check
the stream of emigration that is con.
stantly flowing out or counteract its eff
fects by inducing immigrants to come
to them and locate. Plans for repopu-
lating the abandoned districts are being
1ionnooaA and hau.A aIraaAry haa1n
taken by the proper officials toward at
tanning that result, In reply to an off.
clal circular sent by the commissioner
of immigration of New Hampshire to
the selectmen of 100 towns, 108 reported
in aggregate of 1857 deserted farms. His
plan of procedure is TO issue publica-
ton giving terse description of each
abandoned farm for sale in the state,
the price demanded, and terms of pay
ment offered. Also setting forth the
advantages offered by New Hampshire
for settlers. In Vermont it is proposed
to establish experimental colonies of
Swedes which, if successful Il is hoped
will increas its population by bringing
thousands of Swedish immigrants TO &C.
cupy and improve those sections of the
state now nearly deserted. The Commits
sioneI of industries has just completed a
tour of inspection through the state IN
company with the, Swedish immigration
agent, Mr.. Nordgren, who expressed
himself as being satisfied that the farms
of Vermont were better adopted for &C.
cupancy by Swedish immigrants than
the lands of the West.
A very significant fact in connection
with the agitation of the question and
which it is the main purpose of this ar.
ticle to call to the attention of our far.
mer consli uents, is that many letters are
being received from former residents
who have gone West, expressing their
willingness to return and reoccupy the
old farms that they left il they can be
obtained on as favorable terms as the
officials Of the state represent. The
population Of the hill towns OF Berkrhire
has been greatly diminished during the
last decade OF western emigration. Many
farms have been abandoned and there is
a feeling of unrest among the farmers
of those sections for which we are will.
ing to acknowledge there is csuse. But
farmers OF the Berkshire hills, in view
of the testimony of those who have left
and wish to return, before deserving the
old farms and homes will it not be well
for you to reflect on what you would be
obliged to leave behind and carefully
consider the disadvantages to which You
must be subjected by locating on the
new lands of the West According 10
present quotations Of the Chicago mar
ket the prices of the leading grain pro-
ducts of the West are as follows; Wheat,
30 cents corn 81 cents and oats 19cents
per bushel. Deduct the cost OF trans
portation TO that market, consider the
exhorbitant rates of interest exacted on
mortgages OF western lands, the scarcity
and consequent high prices of building
materials, the damages liable to be sus-
tanned by blizzard, cyclone and floods,
the ritks assumed OF locating in an un.
healthy region, the loss of social, educa-
tional and religious privileges which you
now enjoy, and in what respect can you
expect to be benz flied by the change 2
Berkshire is becoming more famous each
year as a summer resort for the people
of its neighboring cities; they arc com
ing in rapidly increasing numbers, in
vestng their capital and making bette
markets for the products of its farms !.
associations are being formed for more
oNtee'oy au'eiuoinB tDe advantages
It possesses for a summer home; it is in
close proximity to markets that are al
ways ready to receive a choice article
of farm produce and pay fair price
therefor; its roads are good, transpor-
tations facilities much better than in
the new states Of the far West, and it il
impossible TO see under the present con.
dition of farming interests in the West.
the practicability Of our farmers leaving
their old friends and associations, and
going thIther with such evidences Of IN
certainty as to what the results will be
as we fad In ~ leliers mentioned irr
cor nection with thus al icls.-BerEshiT
Mass)., Courier.