Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1890-09-26
NermOnt's Abandoned Farms.

The report OF the Commissioner
of Agricultural and Manufacturing
Interests of the State of Vermont to
the Legislature has just been re-
ceived. The report opens with a
review of the methods adopted by
other States III this kind of work,
and statement of the fact that As
soon as possible on assuming the
duties of office the Commissioner
issued blanks calling for information
within the scope Of the act creating
the commission. The information
gathered from this blank was of no
value whatever. Another blank
was issued which was sent to the
listers. This blank was moro of a
success than the first, yet the infor-
NATION gathered was very mesGre,
that pertaining to quarries, mines,
manufactures, water power, ETC.,
being of little value. In the matter
of abandoned farms, however, re-
PORTS were full, interesting and
instructive. This fact determined
the line of investigation for the
first year of the Commissioners
service. The result of inquiries
regarding so,called abandoned farms
IS too well known to need repeating
1t Is to say that of these lands
there are 100000 acres, or about 10
per cent. of the arabic acreage of
the State, that are either not cult.
waited at all or only partially cultiva.
ted, and that could be bought some
months ago for from 50 to IS an
acre. The Commissioner admits
that portions of the abandone / lands
are rocky, badly located, and in
some instances worn out. Such
may well be left to grow up to
timber. But the greater amount is
not worn out, and can be made as
fruitful as lands near by, which are
successfully cultivated. The steps
leading up to the consideration of
the Swedish immigration question
have already been fully set forth in
the HERALD. The report speaks in
the highest terms of the Swedish
Immigrants as fine, strong, healthy
body of men and women. They
paid their own passage and railroad
fares. The transportation from
railroad stations and temporary
entertainment were supplied by the
people of the towns where they 10.
Gated. Interpreters, assistants, sta
tioncry and Post Office stamps they
all wanted to write homo at once)
were furnished by the Commissioner,
and the expense was taken from the
$4,000 appropriation and which he
considered legitimate expenditure.
From this fund was also paid Mr..
Nordgren for four months time
aud expenses, amounting 10 total
of $3.50.
The colony at Wilmington has
been continuous success. So with
the Swedes at Weston, who are we'll
and happy and have sent for friends
to join them. The Vershire colony
was less successful, but its members
remain in the State and are doing
we'll.
The report devotes considerable
space to the question of msnufac.
lures. In March a circular was
issued calling on the listers for in
formation relating to manufactures,
quarries, mines and the products of
The dairy. The result was disap.
pointing, as less than half of the
owns were heard from. The Com
missioner does not believe in sub.
iidizing manufactures in order TO
ecure their location among us, but ,
links the small manufacturing !
Industries should be encouraged az 4
ar as possible, and strongly urges ,
ho re.enactment of the law, repealed |
few years ago, exempting new
'utlays from taxation for five years. I
Town action in making known a
ABILITIES for special manufacturing I
Industries, and the giving of what 8
yer aid NAV he rauuirad m aacura :