The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-02-24
State Patriotism and Home
Industries.

The story goes that whenever an autopsy
is performed upon deceased citizen OF
Chicago the examining surgeons invariably
find upon the heart, in indelible characters,
this inscription: " am for Chicago-trst,
last, and all the time" The fact that every
man in that great and wonderful city is
filed with the spirit of this sentiment,
manifesting it upon every occasion, both in
word and deed, accounts for the existence
OF Chicago as 1t is to-day; explains more
than any other one thing how il is that
Chicago, city whose years scarcely num-
Der forty, has secured the Worlds Fair.
What an advertisement for town. thirty
years ago comparatively unknown, that it
is to be the location of an exposition which
the world shall visit and in which the
world shall place a hundred million
dollars. This is the achievement of men
having common purpose. Nor should we
lose sight, in this connection, of the fact
that prominent Vermonters-the Keiths,
the Spragues, the Warmers, and others
were among the pioneers of Chicago.
The time is ripe for some utterance upon
the subject named in the heading of this
article, in its reference to Montpelier land
to Vermont); not that it is among the pos
sbilities for Montpelier ever to approach
Chicago's phenomenal attachments. 1t is,
however. possible for her people to exhibit
the spirit to which Chicago owes her great
ness. This the town has of late begun to
do. There is room for further DEVELOPMENT
|
tive; she needs more push" She lacks
somewhat the elements OF local pride, unity
of purpose, that venturesome tendency
! (call it recklessness, if you will, } which in
duces men to run greater risk in the hope
| of greater return. Not that we condemn
careful management in all the affairs of
business life. Montpelier has an enviable
reputation for the possession of this very
quality. But there is a happy medium,
adopting which she may advance more
| ron lu xpith If
this end her board of trade, assisted by
private enterprise, can largely contribute.
Montpelier can have, and ought to have,
more and greater diversity of industries,
and nothing will 80 much tend to bring
them as encouragement of those the town
already has. Begin with the wives and
daughters and urge that, except in cases of
absolute necessity, they shall buy their fab
RIGS in Montpelier rather than send to dis
tant cities for much that can be had as
cheaply at home. Possibly room for selec-
ton in some particular class may be limited;
nothing will tend to increase it like patron
age. Offsetting this slight disadvantage will
be the satisfaction OF knowing that the
money paid out remains in Montpelier, that
some part of it will be more than likely to
be expended for something which shall be
for Montpelier's welfare, instead of going to
swell the commerce of another market.
Let business men in the state conduct
their affairs on the same general principle
| certain to be beneficial to her interests and
| theirs. If, for example, merchandise is
needed that Montpelier tradesmen or man
utacturers cannot supply and Burlington's
can, why not ask our neighbors for quota
tons? The location of the Queen City is
such that she may furnish at wholesale
many things besides coal at prices which
should make her competitor Of more dis
tant markets, If we cast our bread upon
her waters, we are sure to find it, and that
| too after not many days.
Montpelier has some industries that Bur
lngton has not,-and may have more.
Freer commerce in one direction is certain
| to result in increased traffic in the opposite
| direction. The boards of trade may con-
tribute largely to this end by concerted ac-
/ ton looking to the procuring OF such rates
| of transportation as shall make ii pos
sible for these points to purchase of each
other many OF LIES necessaries at figures
| which shall compete successfully with those
of Boston and New York. Isn't the project.
with all its possibilities of local benefit,
worthy of careful consideration and faithful
trial?
1t is difficult to estimate or conceive of the
result in the aggregate, when;every citizen,
| filled with local pride and stripped of envy
of a neighbours success, shall "chip" his
mite toward the maintenance, development
and increase of home markets. Montpelier
will overcome her besetting sin by the
efforts of men imbued with the general ideas
herein advanced. Natural advantages, ex-
emption from taxation, and offers like that
of Martin w. Wheelock, for the encourage
ment OF new business, will prove irresistible
attractions to manufacturers and result in
the establishment here of industries which
shall vie with industries in cities where
rentals are higher and labor more dear
The increase of population, which must nee
essarily follow, means increased trade over
the counters of Montpeler's many and en-
terprisng merchants. Ii means also local
improvements which shall make this village
still more attractive TO summer visitors
with money to spend and TO men OF means
with money to invest.