St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1892-03-03
VERMONT'S INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS
DURING THE YEAR 1901

shown so great progress in the way
of building up new enterprises anc
extending the operations of those al
ready established. The Board o
Agriculture has recently taken few
statistics, gathered from report:
made to the board by the clerks o
transactions in farm property anc
the ablishment of new manufactur
ing. Reports have been received
from 22O towns. A full report would
undoubtedly increase considerably
some of the results found, as few o.
the towns that it has been impossi
bic to get reports from were among
the largest in the state. The reports
received show that 1854 farms have
been sold during the year, of this
number 252 were of the class known
as unoccupied farms. In most cases
the purchasers of these unoccupied
lands were persons who wanted
them for homes. A good feeling is
reported as prevailing among the
farmers and a slight increase in price
of real estate is generally claimed.
The sales made have been quite gen
eral throughout the state, the mum
Der sold i'll each county being; Wind
sor, 2SS; Orange, 219; Washington,
1919; Windham, 16S; Orleans, 159;
Franklin, 100; Addison, 1879; Gale
donia, 1875; Rutland, 90 !: Chittenden,
81; Lamoille, 81; Bennington, Sc !;
Essex, 40; Grand Isle, g.
The town of Barnard leads the list
with a sale of SO, farms of which 81
were of the unoccupied class. In
many localities it is claimed that the
purchasers of the farms are young
men of the town, in other localities
it is found to be young men who
have for little while tried farming
in the new West and returned to
find in Vermont what they had
sought for elsewhere, the best place
to secure a home and surround them
selves and families with the greatest
number of advantages at the least
expense. The following extract from
a man in Breckenridge, Minnesota,
is a fair sample of many received
within the past few months. 1t
illustrates both the ignorance in re-
gard to Vermont and the feeling for
their own country. Under date of
Feb. 3rd he says: Il want to learn
about Vermont. Is it too cold to
raise wheat, corn and beans? Is it
very rocky and billy? Is the land
badly exhausted and run down?
Please send me the pamphlet issued
by your board, as l would like to see
what you have to offer. l don't like
this miserable prairie country and
want to get into a more attractive
place" The fact that Vermont can
raise wheat, corn and beans, as well
as every other crop adapted to her
latitude, and place her record in all
at or very near the head, is coming
to be understood, and the fact is
bringing customers for all farming
land that is for sale.
NEW MANUFACTURING.
The reports to the Board show
that $741 600 of capital has been in
vested in new manufacturing plants
during the year 1891. This does
not include the working capital re-
CURED to conduct the business.
There has also been quite large in
vestment of capital in extending
already established,
that is not here included. The new
plants were giving employment Jan.
1 to 2197 persons. In view of the
fact that since 1850 the census re-
ports credit US with an increase of
of less than 10000, the
large increase the past year which
must come from employing this addi-
tional number of persons makes a
pleasant and striking contrast
These new industries have been scat
tered through the entire state and
the range OF products has covered
wide field. The leading branch of
has been in the line of
wood products. The following towns
nave put in new plants under this
lead: Bristol, Panton, Lincoln,
Arlington, Lyndon, Searsburg, Bur
ington, Canaan, Guildhall, Lunen-
ourgh, Swanton, Westfield, Barton,
Benson, Mendon, Clarendon, Chit
enden, Fayston, Moretown, Marsh
leld, Waits6eld, Warren, Berkshire,
Vernon, Stratton,
springfield. Bridgewater, Plymouth