The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-09-05

The Middlebury Register thinks Com
missioner Valentines colonization
scheme is probably not practical, or, II
practical, is of doubtful utility, and that
Vermont's only hope Is In creating a
market for her own, by the establish
ment in the State OF manufactures. The
Register says some very sensible things
in defence of its position, but closes an
able editorial on the subject thus EN-
couragement Of manufactures, not Of ag-
riculture, is apparently the mission Of
the commissioner, If he has any mission
at all" Here is where we think the
Register 10 mistaken. The act under
which Mr.. Valentine has taken the steps
which have brought about this discus
sion is entitled can act providing for
the appointment of commissioner 10
investigate the agricultural and manu-
featuring interests Of the State, and de-
wise means TO develop the same" The
first section Of the act provides for the
collection Of Information in regard to the
agricultural interests and productions OF
the State, and It's live stock interests /;
and the second section provides that the
commissioner shall take such action as
oCCn bCob SdlOulhbCu W DIluK lue
agricultural advantages of the State to
the knowledge of the people of other
States and countries and "induce them
to purchase, lease or labor uron unoccu-
pied or abandoned or other lands or farms
for thepurpose of cultivating such lands, +"
etc. The third section provides for the
possible establishment of "a bureau or
commission of immigration.
We do not expect everybody to enthuse
over the scheme proposed by Commits
sloner Valentine. The commissioner
himself wishes it to be understood that
he is not committed to any fixed plan OF
action. He has put this plan before the
people in such a way as to invite discus
sion, and it is only by full and free dis.
cussion that the best results can be
reached. This is the only definite plan
proposed. 1t seems to us desirable that
it shall be given fair hearing. That
Commissioner Valentine has not covered
all the points IN the act we will admit,
but that his true mission" is to do ex-
actly what he has done and is doing, it
seems to US the act itself conclusively
shows.
The above is from the Free Press,
WhlCn luTtneT says Ibis from the Dos
ton Traveller puts the Vermont farm
and farmer problem in new and rather
attractive light
THE removal of Vermont farmers
from lands which have been owned by
them or their ancestors for many years
is not in all instances because of poor
ness Of soil, or inability to make living
by cultivating it. They have made
money enough to live on in comfort and
ease in the neighboring villages, the
young folks do not care to stay at home,
having been educated at college or high
school, and they sell out, and move away.
The purchaser is often neigbboring far.
mer who has prospered, and using ma
chinery now cultivates two farms, leav-
ing the old building on one of them I'M
occupied, and giving an appearance Of
decay to the neighborhood."
Whether true or not 1t is nice to think
that the farmers up in this section of the
country have abandoned the old home
steads because they have made money
enough to live on in comfort and ease in
the neighboring villages. We very
much fear, however, that the farmers
will not recognize the picture as true
one.