Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-07-23
THOSE ABANDONED FARMS.
some suggestions Which Could he Carried
Out with Profit


out with Profit.
At this season of the year the attention
of city people is most easely attracted to
the abandoned farms about which so
much has been written during recent
years. No lesson is so successfully
taught as that impressed upon the mind
by object teaching, and during the time
when the customers for these farms are
in the country in thousands is the time
to sell the goods; for the three or four
weeks stay at a summer boarding house,
breathing the pure air and getting health
and strength from various sources. fur
nishes them with a sample of what might
be enjoyed from May till November upon
these abandoned farms. While there
may be some doubt in regard to the adj
vantages derived by the farmers from
the sale and use of neighbOring farms
for farming purposes. by which farm
products grown are brought into com
petition with their own, there can be no
selfish objection even to the reoccupancv
of these farms by wealthy people, either
as permanent residences or as summer
homes. for it will prove a financial bene-
tit to the neighboring farmers and to the
state. They come not to make money,
but to spend it, and the list of occupa-
tions that participate in the distribution
of it would include about every avocaton
followed in the state. On this account
it is matter of importance to the public.
as well as to the persons who sell the
farms and the stock and tools to equip
them.
In view of these facts and others that
might be cited we think the farmers are
performing not simply personal act but
one of public importance, when through
their efforts an abandoned farm is sold
for this purpose. Many such have been
sold upon which ten times the purchase
price has been Immediately expended by
the purchaser in equipping, building and
heautifylng until it has added to the
reputation of the entire locality and
portion OF the money expended has
found its way into the pockets of about
all the surrounding people who had any
thing to let or sell. And the spirit of
such things is contagious. When one
such person has located in certain
locality and become interested in his
/ place he talks about it to his friends. and
they in turn begin to look for similar
place. There are towns where the as
sessed valuation has doubled and that at
a low rate of assessment, too, by the eX-
pendtures of wealthy people upon
abandoned and productive lands.
Not only farmers but everyone should
become interested in pointing out to
these people, who are now in the country
in such great numbers, the advantages of
locating in their midst.
Call attention to the farms and to the
delightful building sites that can be
found in all the rural sections of New
England. See that they are not driven
away by demanding fabulous prices for
these opportunities to locate and spend
their money, for the purchase price is of
little consequence compared with the
money to be spent later. Make them
feel that they are wanted and appreciated
and humOr some of their cranky notions,
for their money will build up and
beautify rural New England as nothing
else can do. IT will make a better mar
ket for all the farmer has to sell, and, at
the same time, will add to the income of
the grocer, the stable keeper, the carpen-
ter, the mason, the doctor and the min
ister, and in general way TO the wealth
and attractiveness of New England. 1t
will also be benefit TO the purchaser OF
such farm, for ii will add to the health
and happiness of himself and family and
prolong his life Mirror and Farmer.