The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-06-16
ADVERTISING VERMONT.

or means suggested unJll tne meetings OF
this session had closed and while on the
tram from Marshfield to Montpelier,
having held the last meetings at Cabot
the night previous, it was ascertained by
comparing our individual accounts for
the season, that there was unexpended
portion of the appropriation to the
board If my memory is correct either
Mr.. Chaplin or Mr.. Sanford suggested
that this money be used to publish some
thing in regard to the advantages of
Vermont.
Toward the last of March Gov. Page
called meeting of the board at Mont
pelier to consider the matter and 10 as
certain how much money was available
1t was found that there was about 5000
unexpended, and it was there decided to
use it in collecting and publishing sta
tistical and other matter in regard to
the State In order to make as much as
possible of the small sum available, the
members of the board arranged divi-
sion of the labor and agreed to each do
the part assigned without compensation
for services, and to insure the carving
out of the work there arranged. Gov.
Page volunteered to meet from his pri-
vate funds any deficit that might occur.
The result of the first attempt was to at
tract general attention to the State, and
awaken an interest in its welfare by resi-
dents and also by Vermonters outside
the State. Letters of inquiry were re-
ceived from nearly every State in the
Union, desiring to know more definitely
in regard to some particular feature.
My list shows from 200 to 300 inquiries
of this nature that came from this first
publication. These letters were all
answered as fully as circumstances
would permit.
In December, 1891, it was decided to
take a review of the year, and inquiries
were sent to each town clerk to ascertain
the number of farms sold during the
year, and what, if any, new industries
had been established. The result Of
these inquiries were furnished to the
State press and very generally published
and also embodied in the biennial re-
port of the board. In the summer of
1892, under very much the same condi-
tons as the first, as far as financial sup
port was concerned, second pamphlet
was prepared and an edition of 10000
printed. Inquiries made in preparing
this second pamphlet, showed that about
60 per cent. of the farms described in
the first has been sold. Some of the
same matter published in 1891 was re-
printed and considerable space given to
describing places favorably situated to
entertain summer travel. This pam
phlet was circulated largely through the
same channels as the previous issue, and
l will say that the organization of the
Sons of Vermont in the various cities
has been one of the avenues of circula-
ton, and the one from which has come
many gratifying letters, commanding
the efforts being made and often ex-
pressing hopes or intentions of return
ing to the State at some time to make q
home.
At the last session of the legislature
this department of the work of the
board was made part OF their required
duties and the appropriation for their
use increased from $500 to $4,000 a
year.
In organizing the board of 1892 de-
cided to make the industrial and Stats
teal work feature by itself and created
the Office of statistical secretary TO take
it in charge.
Since the new organization statistics
were taken in December and January
similar to those of the previous year and
furnished the State press and also pub
liShed in catalogue of the untenanted
farms of the States, of which an edition
of 5000 was issued April l, and contains
descriptions of about 200 farms of this
class that are for sale. Also a publica-
ton in 81 pages that has been issued for
the Worlds fair at Chicago, agreeable to
a resolution of last legislature requiring
it. This work contains numerous views
of Vermont scenery and industries. The
plates occupying 80 pages, and descrip-
tive matter and alternate pages, $4,000
copies of this book have been printed.
In March blanks were sent to the
listers of each town asking for agricul-
tural statistics covering the production
of each farm, in dairying, sheep-raising
and maple sugar. The returns from
these inquiries are now being received
and will form the basis of report at
some future time.
AS to results to the state from this
work it is difficult to make any statement
based upon reliable data. l believe it is
generally conceded that much of this
discomfort of the people with the state
has passed away. Emigration from the
state has nearly stopped so far as my in
formation goes, and often as one travels
through our towns, are found people who
have recently come there, either from
the West or from the cities of the East,
and established homes, bought farm,
undertaken some new industry, or sim
ply made for themselves home in which
to live. These instances are not isolated
but quite common, and many of the new
enterprises reported for 1892 have come
from this class. At no time since this
department of work was undertaken
have there been so many inquiries for
Vermont farms as at present. Since
issuing our farm catalogue April l, about
$50 letters have been received from the
people outside the state, who have ex-
pressed wish or intention of locating
in Vermont. A letter recently received
from one who advertised farm in the
1892 pamphlet, shows something as to
the demand for this property and also of
the nature of the circulation which has
been given to these pamphlets. After
referring to other matters the cores
pondent says: "The farm advertised in
your last year pamphlet is sold; had be-
tween 40 and 80 inquiries for it scattered
from Maine to Montana"
The Board Agriculture has no DISPOSE
ton to claim credit in these matters
only as one of several forces that have
been striving for the same end. The
press of the state is recognized as pow
erful in this work and almost without
exception, their influence has been on
the right side. The boards of trade in
the various cities and towns have done a
great work in their respective localities,
az also have many of Our nublic-sniritad