The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-09-24
Commissioner Valentines Report.

ing interests, has just been issued. Major
Valentine has taken the public into his con-
tidence from time to time during the past
two years, and the salient points of his re-
port have already been published. 1t will
therefore be unnecessary to do more than
quote few Of the more significant para
graphs.
The report opens with the statement that
the attempt to obtain information in answer
to the hrSt two circulars sent out by the
commissioner was a failure because the
listers neglected to comply with the re-
quests Incidentally the fact is mentioned
that the expenses of the bureau of statistics
and labor in Massachusetts including the
department of manufactures, is SIT 300
per annum, and the expenditure under it's
board Of agriculture is $4,000 per annum
In the matter of abandoned farms the COM
missioner found the reports of listers rea-
sonably complete. The report says that it
is safe to say that there are 100000 acres, or
about ten per cent of the arabic acreage of
the state, that is now abandoned. There is
no account made in this estimate of lands
once cultivated but now grown up to for
ests or which nave become a part of other
farms and are not considered available for
settlement. The beginning of the tendency
toward emigration from the state is found
at the time when the new lands in the West
began to be generally taken AS early as
the year 1887 perceptible diminuton of
cultivated acres was observed. The year
1910 found the tide from the state fairly in
motion.
In this connection a letter from Hon.
| Edward Crosby NOV deceased) is pub
lished. This letter touches on the popula-
ton of the town of Marlboro in 1884. The
thrifty and prosperous condition of the
farmers and the happy social life of the
town at that time are graphically described.
Then the letter says The western fever
set in about 1887. and one by one caught it,
and in the next twelve years desolatiOn be-
| N take tlp Olqpp pf thrift nd
| left in 1917, and even up to 1855 or go
! there was not such marked change as has
taken place since. There has evidently
been a steady decline in the town up to
within three or four years. In fact, the
! fever burned itself out, and to-day there is
but remnant left; yet the soil is there,
| and with proper care much of it can be
made to produce as of old, and, with the
| same industry practced as in olden times,
! the wilderness can be made to blossom
| and the desert become fruitful field
| The town now seems to remain about
stationary as to number of inhabitants, yet
l believe there is growing impression all
| over the state that the lowest point has
been reached, and more confidence is felt
and expressed in Vermont farming |
think it is evident that our young men be-
| gin to realize that man with small capital
can do better and be more comfortable in
| Vermont than West"
The war had its influence on the depopu-
| ldJlOu Vi lub SUdIt. lie commissioner eS-
| Inmates that not one-half of those who en-
tered the army from Vermont ever returned
as permanent residents. The facts that the
fertile land of the West is being worn out
and that fertilizers are obtained from the
dairy in Vermont without cost, are quoted
as encouraging for farming in this state
| The work of the Horse Breeders Associa-
ton in raising the standard of horses is COM
mended.
The history of the settlement OF the
Swedish immigrants at Wilmington,
| Weston and Nershire is next recited at
considerable length. With this our readers
are already quite familiar. The Wilmington
colony is described as well contented and
prosperous, while that at Weston is also
doing well. One of the Swedes at Vershire
| went to Weston to live. The Vershire
colony was less successful The commits
sioner says OF this attempt at colonization:
" So far as the lands were concerned, they
were better than at either Weston or Will
mington, but we were mistaken about the
amount of work to be obtained by the new
settlers, especially in winter. 1t is evident
that those without money can not remain
idle many months, or work where there is no
immediate return, and make payment on
their lands. The Swedes fully appreciate
this, and had foreseen the difficulty men
toned. One went to Weston as before
stated one family is now in Bennington,
and seven others made their own arrange
ments to go TO Essex county, to make
homes for themselves there. They were
perfectly satisfied with the treatment in
Nershre, and left honorably and with a
good reputation for industry and honesty"
To this is added the following: g x-
perienCe confirms the truth of the state
ment frequently made by the commissioner
that, in order to make colony perfectly
successful in any town, the immigrant
without money must be located where he
can get employment when his own farm
does not demand his attention. Also
kindly and considerate treatment is indis.
pensable, and any attempt to overreaCh is
quickly detected and long remembered.
These people must be treated as intelligent
honest men and women, which they are, in
order to gain their confidence and secure
their permanent residence among us"
The report next refers to the circular sent
ont last March calling on the listers for in
formation relating to manufactures, quar-
ries, mines and the products of the dairy
The result was disappointing, as less than
half of the towns We're heard from. The
commissioner favors encouraging small
manufacturing establishments, which find il
profitable to utilize the water power of the
small streams, by exempting new outlays
7 from taxation. The question of freight
charges is thus referred to: The question
> of freight is an important factor in the es-
adjustment of any industrial enterprise
The manufacture of many heavy articles OF
, low value must be located on tide water, OF
! where competition for freight makes low
rates. Probably railroad companies are nc
more or less grasping than other companies
when opportunity offers. The fact, how.
ever, that railroads are favored by special
state laws granting them valuable fran
chises would seem to be reason why they
should consider the interests Of the people
doing business on their lines The commits
sioner is not prepared to say that they dc
. not take this into consideration, and it i,
sef-evident that but few manufacture;
could thrive remote from railroad facilities
1t is, however, unfortunate for the manu-
facturer to be so located as to be subject Il
, rates in excess of those charged competi
! tors in other sections. To illustrate: The
l freight rates for textile fabrics from Ben
! nington to State Line via Bennington &
Rutland railway seven miles, are seven
cents per hundred pounds. From State
Line to Troy, via Ftchburg railroad. twenty
nine miles, are eight cents From Troy u
: New York, one hundred tifty-six miles, they
are also seven cents Whether, under the
circumstances seven cents per hundred
pounds for seven miles is too high rate, OF
whether seven cents per hundred pounds
| for one hundred tifty-six miles is too low