The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-03-15
The States Industries.

TOWARDS the close OF December last the
state board of agriculture sent to the clerks
OF the 243 towns in the state circular let
ter OF inquiry as follows: Has any new
industry been established in your town
since January /, 1892? II so, what is the
character of the business? How much cap
ital invested in it? How much help is en-
ployed? How many farms have been sold
during the year? How many, il any, OF
these farms were previously unoccupied?
Give name and post-office address OF the
owners OF any farms, with fair buildings
thereon, which are unoccupied, either by
owner or tenant?" Replies were received
from 234 towns. Those failing to report
were small, and unlikely tc materially
change the summarized statement which
has been prepared From these replies it
Is shown that the total number OF farms
sold during the year is 1914. OF this num-
Der, 1872 were previously unoccupied. AS
compared with 1891, an increase OF $50 farm
sales is thus shown, The sales OF unoccu-
pied farms for the year in the several coun-
ties have been as follows; Addison, q Ben
nington, 6; Caledonia, q; Essex, 4; La
mobile, 8; Orange, 32; Orleans, IL; Rut-
land, 8; Washington, %; Windham, Al /;
Windsor, go. The total number of unoccu-
pied farms reported is 1916. OF this mum Der,
Addison county has Is; Bennington, 26;
Caledonia, 4s; Essex, Z; Lamoille, I; Or
ington, 30; windham. "a; Windsor. 49,
Chittenden, Grand Isle and Franklin coun-
ties report no unOccupied farms. or the
376 farms reported as unoccupied, 1t is
believed that not over 200 are OF long
standing, the remainder being Temporal
rily without tenants through variety Of
causes. These returns show that S8l3, 800
has been invested in new industries or in
enlarging plants already in operation. These
new Industries give employment to LOO
persons. The nature Of these establish
ments is varied. Creameries have been es-
tablished in IL towns, cheese factories in g.,
Hartford. The granite and marble indus
tries show many new firms, while corn-can-
ming factories, several single mills, ma
chine shops, bobbin and spool mills are
found in the list. At Westmore the Will
loughby Lake Improvement Company has
been organized with capital Of $50 900 for
the purpose OF building summer resort.
At Ludlow, 100000 has been invested in q
new wooden mill. Burlington and Mont
pelier have invested 900 in brass foun-
deries. Burlington also has match fac
tory, with $15, 900 invested, and new lum.
Der company with capital Of $25, 900. Mil
ton has new plant for the manufacture OF
excelsior; Moretown chair-stock mill;
Randolph screen factory; Barton a la
dies underwear mandatory. BrattlebOro
and Bethel have enlarged their jelly and
shoe manufactures, and Bennington has
Increased the capacity OF Its hosiery and
jersey mill. The granite industry was
nearly paralyzed by the protracted strike OF
last summer, and in several localities where
it was proposed to open up quarries the
work was postponed. But, taken as a
whole, 1t Is shown that in 1892 more farms
were sold, more new industries opened up,
with more capital invested, than in the
previous year, which indicates a healthy
condition of both the agricultural and man.
ufacturing interests Of the state By per.
sOnal visits and by correspondence with
members OF the board are convinced that
"there seems to be little excuse for com.
planning, but good and substantial reasons
for an earnest effort to help forward all the
various enterprises that are under way, to
have faith in the state, belief that the i'm.
proved course has but fairly begun, and
that an era of prosperity is before us, the
extent Of which is to be largely dependent
upon the individual efforts Of our citizens"