Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1890-10-16
ANEW JERSEY EXPERIMENT.

1t is not in Vermont alone that the
farmers are having a hard time. What
is true here is probably equally true in
all the eastern states. The competition
of the West, in which whatever is pro-
duced is produced in large quantities,
from soil naturally fertile and easily
cultivated, has driven the eastern farm
ers to the wall in many of the staples.
1t has probably struck Vermonters fOrci-
bly, and painfully to hear great deal
said about the decadence here, while
there has been much less talk about such
decadence in other eastern states. They
have doubtless reasoned that they were
worse off than their fellow-farmers in
Massachusetts, 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 more prosperous
condition. On the contrary, the fact can
be easily explained by the relatively
larger number of persons in other states
| living in cities and engaging in manu-
featuring or other business. In Maine,
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Con-
necticut and New York the 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 population of their inhabi-
tants in cities, the papers see and hear
less of the condition of the farmers, and
SO give them less attention. Yet, right
under the shadow of these cities, are to
be found essentially the same conditions
as are observed in Vermont. In the
staples, the West is the master, while the
local farmers are left to depend on their
resources for supplying variety of less
important products.
These conclusions are suggested by a
short article in recent number of Hdr-
per's Weekly, entitled "a Farmers EX-
pertinent" The writer prefaces his de-
scription with a statement in substantial
accord with this view of the position of
the eastern farmers. 'For twenty years
past, farming pure and simple has been
getting less 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
referred to. Surely, Vermont farmers
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 condition. The writer goes
on to speak of an interesting experiment
by which a number of towns away from
any railroad are to be furnished with
railroad facilities, by means of which
the small fruits and vegetables of the
section may be marketed with fair
profit. A young man who knew some
! thing of engineering, after trying in
vain to interest the people in building a
railroad of twenty-five miles, which
would have cost some 100000, decided
to build to build the road in sections, a
little at time. He formed company
called the Rockaway Valley railroad,
and got the farmers along the line to
subscribe for the stocks and bonds.
They paid these subscriptions partly in
money and partly in work and material.
Where the grading was not too heavy
each farmer has done the grading of the
road as it 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 roll
ing stock. The men work with will,
under the direction of the foreman who
is also vica-pres d lit of the company.
''These men, | dare say, when working
out their road tax can kill time and do as
little work as the oldest soldier who
ever shirked his task An era of hope
fulness has set in all through the section.