The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-08-28
COMMISSIONED BATCHELDER,s RE-
PORT

Brief reference was made in the Ere,
Press of the 18th, to the fact that of the
l,342 abandoned farms reported in the
State of New Hampshire last August
30l are now occupied as the result of the
work of the State Commissioner of Agri.
culture and immigration. A later mai
has brought to us Commissioner Batch
elders report entire, and we refer to il
again, not for purposes or argument, but
merely to show what has been done in q
neighbOring State in the way of re-peO-
pleing abandoned farms, the situation
and surroundings are in many respects
similar to those prevailing in our own
State, how it has been done, and with
the thought in mind that some of the
| methods adopted there may be made to
apply here with equal effect.
The New Hampshire commission was
created after that of Vermont and on the
same general plan, the law being entitled
ian act for the development of the agri-
cultural resources of the State through
immigrations and other means" The
| same general results followed the estab-
lishment of the immigration bureau in
New Hampshire as in Vermont, although
the subject has been more favorably dis
cussed by the press and people in the
former than in the latter State. Regard
ing the wisdom of advertising to the
world the fact that many New England
farms were abandoned, Mr.. Batchelder
says:
1t was with more or less hesitancy at
first that we entertained the proposition
to advertise to the world that within the
borders of our State were hundreds of
abandoned farms, but recognizing the
business principle that no one comes to
ha hot s,
for sale, we entered upon the work, and
at no time have we had any reason to re-
gret the course taken.
First was issued the letter of inquiry
similar to that put forth by the Vermont
Commissioner, bringing in reports of
l,342 abandoned farms and tenantable
buildings in l54 towns. Then was pub
lished adescriptive pamphlet of 103 pages
containing map of the State and state
ments in regard TO its financial, educa-
tional and social advantages. The
adaptability of the abandoned farms to
various branches of agriculture was dis
cussed and special prominence given to
their advantages for summer homes. A
list of summer hotels and boarding
houses in the State was included in the
pamphlet and statistics given in regard
to them. A complete list of creameries
with their location was also included,
and numerous illustrations of typical
New England scenery. An edition of
5000 copies was published and 5000
copies have been distributed, having
been sent to all parts of the United
States, and even to Canada, England and
Sweden.
Over two thousand letters of inquiry
were received in response to these pam
phlets, and table in Mr.. Batchelder's
report shows that the three hundred and
one farms sold since this work was in
were located in various parts of
the State, seven being the largest num-
Der in any one county. In answer to the
question, what class of people are the
buyers of these farms Mr.. Batchelder
says that the class in general is good.
Those farms which have become occu-
pied for agricultural purposes are mainly
taken by Americans A large number
have become occupied by city people
who desired home in the country.
As we said in the beginning, these
are not presented for pur-
poses of argument but merely to show
what is doing in a nearby section of
New England to remedy the abandoned
farm evil. New Hampshire has protited
by following. in some particulars, the
lldi az ollSllldilg duopOeu ny NeImOnO'
This State may gain some points" by
studying the system adopted
by New Hampshire.
Meanwhile it should be noted that Mr..
report is magnificent testi-
mony to the value of advertising. The
State made use of exactly the same meth
ods that prevail in nearly every large and
successful business house in the country
in advertising what it had for sale, and
these advertisements have brought the
customers. Judicious advertising pays.
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