The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-09-24
Vermont and the West.

Editor Of the Waterman 1t seems that
since the census returns for 1890 have been
received, showing that Maine, New Hamp-
shire and other New England States have
been steadily advancing in population,
wealth and prosperity, while Vermont is
actually retrOgrading, that the wide-awake,
progressive element of the people of the
latter state are coming to the front to de-
wise some plan of action to prevent the hill
towns from relapsing into a wilderness.
The decline in population of many towns
that We're prospecting in bygone years is
painful and alarming, and some active steps
should be taken to arrest this tendency to
decline and death, or a large part of this
beautiful state is bound to become almost
depopulated. The desire to emigrate to the
large cities and towns and to the distant
West, where fortunes are so easily made
Qn imagination), appears to have become
almost "A mania with the people in some To-
calities in Vermont. The advice given by
Horace Greeley to Ego West, young man.
and grow up with the country" appears to
have borne abundant fruitlamong the Green
Mountains. Vermont has sent her people by
tens of thousands to the West and they
have always given a good account of them
selves. Many have become wealthy and
honored, and many are still struggling with
misfortune, poverty and debt, beyond the
Missouri river, in the drouth " states, en-
during the blighting heat of summer or
Drawing the terrible blizzard in win
ter, hoping and waiting for one good
farm crop, upon the proceeds of which they
may make one visit to the old folks who re-
main on the old farm among the green hills
Of their native land.
| will not undertake to say how much or
how we'll large per cent of those people
would have prospered had they remained
in New England, but had they practiced
the same self denial, displayed the same
perseverance and energy there that they
have here, they would have had good homes
near churches and schools, and would have
been an important factor in advancing the
material interests of their state.
The plan to colonize Swedes in Vermont
l believe is a good one, but emigration bu-
reaus in Scotland, Norway and Denmark
would accomplish much. The state ought
to advertise literally and judciously in the
suburbs OF the large cities East In this
way the best class of small farmers can be
reached. And they would make very de-
sirable citizens. For a" boom " that will
amount to anything, money must be used
| literally in advertising, and it ought to be
done at once. Let the state appropriate
money literally in the right direction, and
It will add value to every acre OF land in
the state, wherever it may be. The farmers
ought not TO object to a tax for that pur-
pose, for it is sure to pay them many fold in
| the end.
1t may be asked OF me If Vermont is such
good state why /, being Vermonter,
| L
came West like the other eastern people
here, to make money, and that l know all
about the obstacles in the way of farmers
getting rich. speak from experience and
| from wide acquaintance, and can con-
scientiously give this advice: "Young man,
stay East. Buy you farm. Be honest,
be Industrious, and you will get rich"
Improved farming lands In northwestern
Missouri, from which l write, are worth
from $40 to $50 per acre, and are OF course
now beyond the reach of most young men.
Nearly all the land available for farming in
the western states is already occupied and
much of it that is occupied is of no account.
There is general stampede from some
parts of Kansas, Nebraska and Dakota, and
loan companies which have been so unfor-
tunate as to take large tracts OF the land
being thus vacated on foreclosure proceed
ings and otherwise, are forming syndi-
cate to advertise and get people to resettle
| there.
! Yes, Vermont is good enough for me. /