The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-10-09

able fear of, competition from any new
accessiOns to the population, unless they
come merely as summer visitors, that it
is likely Vermont is doomed to grow
chronically worse instead of better, for
there is hardly any possibility that the
old fossils, barnacles and incubi that
have clung so long to their pet theories,
will ever shake themselves loose, and see
the truth as others see it. What Yer
mont needs to-day more than anything
else is a greater number of men of liberal
and progressive ideas"
The matter of immigration in its bear
ing upon the welfare of Minnesota was
the subject recently of an editorial arti-
Gle in the Minneapolis Journal. We
commend the following extract to the
attention of certain Vermont journals
and a certain class of Vermont people:
The Board of Trade yesterday very
properly indOrsed, with emphasis, the
proposition for the organization of
State Board of immigration. The immi
grafton meeting, recently held by the
men of the Red River Valley counties at
Hallock, indicates that the subject is
ripe for consideration. Despite the re-
dictionary opposition of few country
newspapers, desirous of keep
ing people out of the State, the immigra-
tiOn talk is greatly increasing in volume.
1t is noticeable that live, hustling, sub
stantial towns in the State are becoming
such because the lands in their vicinity
have been settled and occupied by farm
ers. AS wild lard is settled and turned
into productive farms, the value of all
lands in the vicinity is enhanced more
or less, with the portion improved.
Every farmer knows that. Land values
have enhanced largely in southwestern
Minnesota the past year or two, because
many actual settlers have gone there. In
an interview, published in the Fergus
Falls journal, VIM. Hoefling says: L am
satisfied that the right kind of man
could, by making trip to Northern
Germany, induce a good many families
with small means to come here and build
themselves pleasant homes. We have
some farmers of that class now living in
the towns north of us, that came here
with small means, and they are doing
nicely. | am informed that lot of men
with means were in this region last fall
to take up some land. They came from
Southern Iowa, now thiclly settled, to
find homes for their sons and daughters.
They am told, were well pleased with
the country, but found no encourage
ment. The city's main interest lies in a
good, healthy farmers trade, and we
must strive to encourage and enlarge it.
What is needed is systematic encourage
ment. That can be best accorded
through prOperly-organized immigra-
ton bureau, under a practical wide
awake, well-informed business man,
thoroughly acquainted with the State.
Had such a bureau been in operation the
past four or five years, 1T would have
been possible to have secured for this
State large portion of the substantial
immigration which poured into Wash
ingtOn to enrich and develop that State.
These immigrants passed through our
own State, where they would have OBJ
tanned first-class farming lands accessi-
BILE to markets and at reasonable prices.
,ThAse opportunities must not be neglect
ed. The present is the best time, always,
in which to do a thing. The encourage
ment of immigration is equally beneficial
to farmers, to mechanics, to business
men. That is the recorded experience
of this nation"
Vermont has spilled her milk of the
kind over which the Earth is crying, and /
for which the Minnesota people are clam
oring. The Journals eXhortations and
the EdrtHs tears, with the Boston Her
dldS statement of disagreeable fact,
are instructive and fit matters for refec-
ton. "The reactionary opposition of a
few country newspapers" in Minnesota
is standing in the way of wise move
ment for the advancement of the States
material interests as it has done IN Yer
mont. In Minnesota 'the main interest
of her cities lies in good, healthy far
mer's trade" That is the case in Yer
mont. Minnesota is moving to establish