Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-05-14
VERMONT'S DEVELOPMENT.
FARM SALES, NEW INDUSTRIES AND
SUMNER TRAVEL IN ,e5.
1917 Farms Sold, 1901, 500 Invested in
Now Industries, and $500, 900 Left in
the State by summer Tourists
More Advertising Advised.
To the Chairman and members of the
Board of AgricIlture:

To the Chairman and members of the
Board of Agriculture:
/ herewith submit my annual report
upon statistical matters relating to the
industries OF Vermont. Reports have
been received from the town clerks of 1872
towns, and answers returned to the fol-
lowing list of questions:
l. How many farms have been sold in
your town in the year 1895?
Note-(Return as farms all transfers of
real estate of five acres and over, with
farm buildings thereon)
2. How many. If any, of these farms
were unoccupied?
8. Has any new industry been started
In your town since Jan. 1, 1895? If so
(a) What is the kind of business done?
(b) How much help is employed?
(c) How much capital is invested?
4. Has there been any additions made
TO existing industries, If so, how much
capital has been invested and how many
additional persons employed by such eX-
tensions?
3. From the sales made of farms the
past year, should you judge that the value
of farms were higher, lower or unchanged
as compared with two years ago?
g. What, II any. new industry is in pros
pect for 1896?
Note-Use additional sheets whenever
necessary in answering the foregoing
questions, and add any information con-
nected with the farms and industries of
your town that may be of interest.
From the reports received 1t is found
1877 farms have been sold during the year.
of this number 1873 were previously unoc-
cupied. This number Is n little less than
has been found in preceding years, and IL
Is quite likely largely due to the fact that
less number of towns have reported.
Previous reports have been made from
the returns of go to 235 towns; the less
mn it.al 1n lie I
think, due to my not sending a second,
third or fourth time for them when they
did not arrive. on account of the pres
sure on my time of other work, l only sent
out the blanks once.
The sales of farms for the past five
years have been as follows:
1881 Observation-Disclosures.
lssZ
1885
1874
1870 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ....lbU
To the fifth question as to the present
value of farms as compared with other
years, 1873 town clerks report mo change;"
% that It is higher, and 90 that 1t is lower
in their respective towns. The towns re-
porting an advance In value are generally
those located favorably and usually near
some large manufacturing interests, and
those In which a lower value Is reported
are our smaller towns remote from the
gain and loss are about equal, and that
the average value of Vermont farms has
not varied much for the past three years
1t is quite generally believed by business
men that investments In well located
farms in Vermont at present prices are
safe and the tendency toward lower val
ues that has been going on for the past 20
years seem to be about checked. 1t seems
reasonable that when other lines of bust
ness improve that the value of farms will
be greater than at present. The year 1925
has been the least profitable to the farm
ers of any year in a long time. Low prices
have prevailed for all farm products, and
In many parts of the State the dry wealth
err Of July and August and the severe
frost in May made very great reduction
in the hay crop of the state. Notwith-
standing these unfavorable conditions, the
courage of the average farmers of the
State has not failed, and but little COM
plant has been heard at the institutes
held about the State. IT has been noticed
that a large number of young men have
entered upon farming during the year.
An Improvement in methods of farming
has been noticeable. The work of putting
in cYeameres has gone forward, and the
evidence leads me to the belief that the
condition Of the Vermont farmer will not
suffer in comparison with that Of farmers
In other States.
NEW INDUSTRIES.
The reports received show that during
the year 500 has been invested In
new manufacturing enterprises, and that
these new enterprises are furnishing en-
ployment to 1910 persons. For tho past
FIVE years the investments In new indus
tries and persons employed has been as
follows:
1881, s TAI 900 invested, 2,197 employed
1892, $4,000 invested, LOO employed
1893, 40l, 500 invested 600 employed
1894. 700 invested, 1913 employed
1895, 1901, 500 invested, 100 employed
These enterprises are distributed among
the counties as follows
Capital Employed.