The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-10-08

oI"PlOo' IL hoo PlOp"oiJ o1iuNh V Ol-
monters forcibly and painfully to hear
a great deal said about the decadence of
agriculture here, while there has been
much less talk about such decadence in
other eastern states. They have doubt
less reasoned that they were worse off
than their farmers in Massachu-
sets, Connecticut and New York.
This view of the case is probably not
correct. That there is not so much
talk in public print in other states on
this subject is quite true, but that is
not sure indication of a more pros
porous condition. On the contrary, the
fact can be easily explained by the rela-
lively larger number of persons in
other states living in cities and engag-
ing in manufacturing or other business.
In Maine, New Hampshire, Massa-
chusetts, Connecticut and New York
tn number of large manufacturing
cities is much greater than in Vermont,
by reason of being either nearer the
seaboard or on main lines of commerce.
Naturally, with larger proportion of
their inhabitants in cities, the papers
see and hear less of the condition of
the farmers, and so give them less at
tenton. Yet, right under the shadow
of these cities, are to be found essen
TALLY the same conditions as are OBJ
served in Vermont. In the staples, the
West is the master, while the local
farmers are left to depend on their re-
sources for supplying variety of less
important products.
These conclusions are suggested by
short article in a recent number of
Hdrper's Weekly, entitled A Farmers
Experiment" The writer prefaces his
description with a statement in sub
stantial accord with this view of the
position of the eastern farmers "For
twenty years past, farming pure and
simple has been getting les and less
profitable in most of the eastern states.
1t has now come to the point in some
sections when either new methods must
be tried or the farms abandoned" New
Jersey is especially referred to. Surely,
Vermont farmers should not count the
great distance to the large centers as
the chief cause of their condition, when
the farmers of New jersey, who are
within few miles of either New York
or Philadelphia, are in the same condi-
ton. The writer goes on to speak of
an interesting experiment by which a
number of towns away from any rail-
road are to be furnished with railroad
facilities, by means of which the small
fruits and vegetables of the section may
be marketed with a fair profit. A
young man who knew something of en-
gineering, after trying in vain to inter
est the people in building railroad of
twenty five miles, which would have
cost some 100000, decided to build
the road in sections, a little at time.
He formed company called the Rock.
away Valley railroad, and got the farm.
ers along the line to subscribe for the
stock and bonds. They paid these sub.
scriptions partly in money and partly
| in work and material. Where the
has done the grading of the road as ii
passed through his place. The cross
ties have been furnished in the same
way, and money has only been needed
for bridge timber, iron and rolling stock
The men work with will, under the
! direction of foreman who is also the
vice-president of the company. "Thest
same men, | dare say, when work. inc
out their road tax can kill time and dc
as little work as the oldest soldier who
ever shirked his task" An era OF
hopefulness has set in all through the
section.
Is there not suggestion for Yer
mont farmers in this? A small rail
road would bring life and fair meas
sure of prosperity to many town
Add to this critical, scientific study OF
crops, soil and markets, and some Of
these towns would blossom like gar
den. The farmer must first under
stand that farming is like any othel
business. The market is to be con
suited. What consumers want they
will pay for, and the wants of moderr
life are infinite.
AGAIN tho G.yahap