The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-01-30
wINpHAM COUNTY STATISTICS.
Something Abou tn Red Spots on Com
missioner tin Map.

Something Abou tn Red Spots on Com
missioner tin Map.
A study of the map. recently issued
by Commissioner Valentine, for the pur-
pose of showing the location Of Yer
mont's abandoned farms, might lead one
to suppose that Windham county was
tending toward impoverishment. In
this connection it IS interesting to COM
pare the past with the present, with the
idea of determining the extent of loss
from the abandoning Of the hill farms,
for it seems to be conceded that the river
farms have gradually increased in value,
while the population and wealth has
continued to grow in the larger towns.
Statistics prove that Windham county
has decreased in population in the last
80 years 219 though her grand list has
increased during that period $62 800. In
1861. the population of the county was
26 9S2, while last years record made it
20, 1853 The grand list was $91 662 in
81, and 1854 1862 in 80 Within radius
OF 20 miles, and including BrattlebOro,
there are a dozen prosperous savings
banks whose combined desosits amount
to about 10000 600. BraJtleboro alone
contributing over $4,000 of this
amount. In 1880 the population OF the
county was just one less than the num-
Der returned last year, and the grand
list was $SS006. These figures, while
not showing dn increase in population,
do show conclusively that the wealth OF
the country has materially increased,
which fact is further demonstrated by
the increase in number of loan agents,
who find the State fruitful ground for
active canvassing.
The above appears in Sunday Repu6-
licdn letter of Jan. 10. The correspond
ent appears to be somewhat iu error in
part of his figures, but iJ is apparent
that the compositor is responsible for a
share of it. By the "Iast years record"
| is evidently intended the last census; by
1861. 1861. The figures given, 26,9S2
and 26.783 correspond with the popula-
lion of WIndham county in 1860 and in
1880, showing loss of 219; but the per.
iod covered is 90 years instead OF ~, as
stated by the correspondent. The CORE
spondent has also been misiDformed
about the river farms, OF which he says
it seems to be conceded that they have
"graduaIly increased in value" Several
of the best river farms iu the West Riv'
err Valley have been sold within the last
two years for half or less than half their
former value, and plenty of others are
for sale at the same low rate without
buyers. The correspondent says that 10
1880 the population of the county was
| lust one less than the number returned
last year. This rather surpasses com
prehension. The nearest approach to
anything in the census returns OF the
ten decades to correspond with this
stat ement is that in 1880 the population
of Windhsm county was just three more
than in 1910. There was an increase OF
727 in the population of this county dur.
ing the last census decade, or from 1871
to 1880, while there was loss during
the same period in Chittenden, Frank
lin, Washington and Windsor counties.
The two former, though suffering loss
of population, do not advertise their
cheap lands for sale on Commissioner
Valentines map. Franklin, Chittenden,
Addison and Grand Isle are the only
counties having no red towns on the
map.
The red color means nothing further
than that the towns 80 shaded CHANGED
to have one or more of the board of list
ers willing to cooperate with the Com
missioner in the effort to re people the
farms, and intelligent and honest enough
to report, in answer to the Commission
er's circular, the true condition OF the
farming lands in their towns. Thus the
towns of Newport, Barton, Craftsbury
and Glover are the only towns in Or
leans county colored red, showing lands
and farms for sale at from So to $40 per
acre, vet these four are among the
wealthiest and most thriving towns in
that county. 1t is not probable that
four other towns in Orleans county
could be named that have not more land
and farms that can be bought at the low
prices named than the four which are
colored on the map, These towns re-
ported the facts to the Commissioners;
the others did not. Had all the towns
reported the facts, like these four, II
is evident that Orleans county
would have been colored redder than
Windham.
There has no doubt, been an increase
in the wealth of Windham county, as a
whole, notwithstanding the depreciation
IN the selling of farms, but not to the
extent indicated by the increase in the
assessed value of property, which, under
the iron clad inventory law, went up
from 81, $3.50. 072 in 1880 to $12, 462, 1857 IN
1881; ali, of course, without any ma
terial change in actual values, the H.
crease showing only bow much less re
gard many people have for honesty than
for an oath and the penalties of perjury
I-BrdttlebOro Ph9nir.