Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-01
To the Editor Of the Free Press;

Complying with your request to do so,
will give a brief statement OF the origin
progress and present status Of tho work of
the Board of Agriculture, with reference to
advertising the resources and advantages OF
Vermont The idea OF engaging i'll this
line OF work originated during the winter
III etings of 1890 and 81, and was due
without doubt, to meeting 20 many peopb
while holding these meetings, who express
ed regret that the commission established in
1858 had been abolished at the $500 session
Of the Legislature, and that nothing had
been provided t. take its place. There
seemed to he very general desire that
something should be done to stay the emil
grafton from the State, and il possible,
briug in people from out5ide, ard belief
that the low price ct which farms could be
bought and the numerous undeveloped lines
OF industry on every haud offered attrac-
tons for labor aud capital of substan-
ta character. The board were in full
symLathy with those views and frequently
uanvassed the situation TO see if anything
could be done. No definite plan was pro
posed or means suggested until the meet
iugs of this season Lad closed and while on
the train from Marshfeld to Montpelier
having held the last meeting at Cabot the
light previous it vas ascertained by COM
son, that there was uneXponded a portion
Of the appropriation to the board. If my
memory is correct either Mr., Chaplin or MIR.
Sanford suggested that this money be used
10 publish somothiag IN regard to tho nd
runtages of Vermont. \ question arose
mere as TO whether or not tho governor and
auditor would consent TO such uae OF tho
fund Toward the last Of March Gov.
Page called a meeting of the board at Mont
pelier to consider tho matter aud to ascer-
tain how much money was available. 1t
was found that there was about %6OO un-
expended, and it was there decided TO use
il in collecting aud publishing statistical
aud other matter In regard to the state in
order to make as much as possible Of tho
small fund available, the members OF the
board arranged a division of the labor and
agreed to ench do the part assigned with
put compensation for services, and 10 in
sure the carrying out of the work there ar
ranged, Gov. Frge volunteered to meet
from his private funds any deficit that
might occur.
The result Of the work arranged is quite
generally known. Matter descriptive OF the
various counties ofithe State was collected
also articles upon the leading industries and
statistics bearing on the urdeVeoped re-
sources of the state includiug its unoc
CGl)lSu mug lhhb, ltS ULNAS 'SipJ-N dAel
res and mines, its idle mills md unused
water powers and were published in n
pamphlet of 112 pages Five thousand
copies were printed and circulated in this
torn aud the same matter was furnished
the press OF the State i'll the form of supple
ments aud about 20, coo of these We're cir
culated. To help out financially, little
paid advertising was taken and the 70 or
more farms described i'll this issue paid a
small fee. IN this way the work don
within the means at commend and no one
was called upon for any contribution ex
cent the mem 5ers who contributed their
Tins.
The result of this arst effort was to At-
tract quite general attention 20 the State
and awaken and interest in its welfare by
residents aa also by Nerpontars outside tue
State Letters of inquiry were received
from nearly every State in the Union, de-
string to know more definitely in regard to
some particular feature. Ny list shows
from 200 to 800 inquiries o. this nature
that came from this first publication. These
letters were all answered as fully us Circum-
stances would permit.
In December, 1891 it was decided to take
u review Of the year and inquiries were sent
to each town clerk TO ASCERTAIN the number
NJ farms sold during the year, and what
IL any, new lpuudlEles ma peGu eSLdOl4sneG.
The result Of those inquiries were furnished
to the State press and very generally pub
lished and also embodied in the biennial re
port of the board. In the summer of 1892,
under very much the same conditions as the
first, so far as financial support WAS con-
cerned. a second pamphlet was prepared
and en- edition of 90, 600 printed. Inquiries
made in preparing this second pamphlet
showed that about 60 per cent of the farms
described in the first had been sold. Some
Of the same matter published in 1891 was
reprinted and considerable space given to
describing places favorably situated to en-
iertain summer travel. This pamphlet was
circulated largely through the same chan
nels as the previous issue, and viii say that
the organization OF the Sens Of Vermont
in the various cities has been one OF the
avenues of circulation, and the one from
which has come many gratifying letters.
commencing the efforts being made and
often expressing hopes or intentions OF re-
turning to the State at soma time 10 make