The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-07-26

l Sr1St ana saw mill, CnurCn ana a
= dozen dwellings,. j
= Corinth Corners in the south
western part of the town contains
church, school house, saw mill,
, and perhaps dozen dwellings,.
; East Corinth is situated on a
branch of Waits river, at the ex-
treme northeast part of the town.
1t is pretty and we'll shaded
street, abundantly supplied with
excellent spring water, and con-
tains church, graded school, a
fine brick hotel, three stores and
groceries, four blacksmith shops,
a saw mill, grist mill, harness
shop, tin shop, carriage shop, and
most important a convenient,
we'll conducted and successful
creamery. A cold spring obvi-
ates the use of ice, and although
an engine is provided, yet water
power is abundant during a large
portion of the year. These fav-
orable circumstances contribute
to lower the expense of the man.
ufacture, and the patrons have
received 26 cents per pound dur
ing the month of February.
CONCLUSION.
The town of Corinth was early
and rapidly settled, and fifty
years ago was one of the foremost
agricultural towns in this part
of the State. A glance at the
census returns for 1880 in Thomp-
sons Gazetteer, is interesting
and shows how greatly the lines
of farming have changed in half
a century. Sugar, $4,000 lbs,
wheat, 6,745 bushels, oats, 21,-
879, corn, 10, ,5O6, potatoes, II, ,S45,
wool, 20, 343 lbs, horses, $50, cat
tie, 3,4O1, swine, 1,673, sheep,
10,896, population 2,579. Then
the hillsides were covered with
herds of young cattle and f1ocks
of sheep; and the virgin fields
carried immense crops of grain
and potatoes. Many of the hill
tops that were then in pasture
are now covered with beautiful
groves of second growth rock
maple.
Butter making was of so little
consequence then that it was not
thought worth reporting in the
census returns. Now it is the
basis of agricultural income, and
conducted on scientific business
principles. Maple sugar making
though quite extensively pursued.
was then conducted on the most
primitive methods, and the pro-
duct usually of low grade, was
mainly used in home consump-
ton. Now with every modern
appliance, it is reduced almost to
fine art, and the product is
finer than the honey of Hymettus.
The maple sugar of Corinth, es-
pecially of Taplin Hill, has al
most national reputation. This
is an off year in sugar making.
The exigencies of national poll
tics have decreed the removal of
the bounty, and the trees ar on
a strike, but never fear, there is
future for the industry of fine
sugar making. Thousands of
our citizens, and western consum-
ers, will continue to demand and
pay good prices for the pure, un-
adu1terated maple.
The same general causes that
have reduced the agricultural
population and prospect of New
England rural towns have been
severely felt here. A large con-
tingent of the young men of the
town went to the California gold
fields, some never to return, while
many more have helped to build
up the great West, or have been
drawn from home by the fascina-
ton of village or city life.
During and after the war the
sheep industry proved very profit
able for time, and Corinth with
its fertile hillsides was especially
adapted to it.
The opening and active opera
tions of the copper mines stimu-
lated trade. Between 1880 and
90 the town passed through a
sort of transition period of severe
depression. Many of the older
and substantial farmers died, and
their estates were divided among
heirs resident in distant States,
and the farms sold for what they
would bring to men of limited re-
sources. Some good Corinth
money was lost in the sands of
speculationin the wild and wool1y
west. Beef hal dropped out
of sight, sheep raising was
becoming Improbable, and the