Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-03-03
VermOnt'S Industrial Progress
During the Year 1881.

a full share Of the prosperity and prog
ress which has come to our whole
country. Probably no year of her his
tory, in recent times, has shown so
great progress in the way of building
up new enterprises and extending the
operations of those already established.
The Board of Agriculture has recent
lytaken few statistics, gathered from
reports made to the Board by the clerks
OF the several towns, relative to the
transactions in farm property and the
establishment of new manufacturing.
Reports have been received from 220
towns. A full report would undoubt-
edly increase considerably some of the
results found, as few of the towns
hat it has been impossible to get re-
ports 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 feel
ing is reported as prevailing among the
farmers and slight increase in price
Of real estate is generally claimed.
The sales made have been quite gener-
al throughout the state, the number
sold in each county being: Windsor,
2SS Orange, 218; Washington, 1919 /;
Windham, 1858; Orleans, 159 /; Frank
lin, l30; Addison, 129; Caledonia,
125; Rutland, 93; Chittenden, S4
Lamoille, 67 Bennington, Sc Essex,
46; Grand Isle, 2.
The town of Barnard leads the list
with a sale of 50 farms of which "a
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 a
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 themselves and families with
the greatest number of advantages at
the least expense. The following eX-
tract from letter from man in
Breckenridge, Minnesota, is fair SAM
pie of many received within the past
few months. 1t illustrates both the
ignorance in regard to Vermont and
;he feeling for their own country. I'm
der date of Feb. 3rd he says; 81 want
to learn about Vermont. Is II too
cold to raise wheat, corn and beans
Is it very rocky and hilly? Is the land
badly exhausted and run down! Please
send me the pamphlet issued by your
Board as / would like to see what you
have to offer. / don't like this miser-
able prairie country and want to get
into 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
SAL 900 of capital has been invested
IN new manufacturing plants during
The year 1891. This does not include
the working capital required to con-
duct the business. There has also
been quite large investment of capi-
tai in extending manufactures already
established that is not here included.
The new plants were giving employ
ment Jan. to 2197 persons. In view
Of the fact that since 1850 the census
reports credit us with an increase of
population of less than 100000, the
large increase the past year which
must come from employing this addi-
'lonal number of persons makes
pleasant and striking contrast. These
new industries have been scattered
through the entire state and the range
OF products has covered wide field.
The leading branch of manufacture