Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-07-23
THE CHAMPLAlN Valley.


Described by "a Resident for the Benefit of
Outsiders
We find in the American Cutivator
following, written by II. NJ. Porter of
Addison:
The Champain Valley is one of great
historic interest, and as one takes a
hasty view of the ruins of the old forts
at TiconderOga and Crown Point, on the
New Y FORK side of the lake. he is very
forcibly reminded that there was time
when three different powers claimed
this section of our land, even without
counting the Indian.
The walls of the extensive stone bar
racks in the fort of Crown Point are
standing in much better condition than
at Ticonderoga, with the four stone
chimneys of the $50 feet long, two-s story
building still nearly intact. The same
may be said of one of the walls. Nature
favored the builders wonderfully. Right
on this point of land, where the fort was
needed is a. curious. natural. quarried
ledge of stone in block form and in great
variety of sizes and shapes. 1t is so we'll
adapted for the buildings that the ham
mer had to be but little used in the con.
struction.
The Vermont side of this valley in
Addison county, in which are the towns
Of New Haven, Addison and Nergennes.
Is one of the almost wholly agricultural
sections of New England, and withal a
very pleasant section TO live in. Ia
times past this was section where. by
horses, sheep and kline. the farmers
made and saved considerable money.
They now generally mourn the loss of
good times, and are anxious for a change
threatening to vote "agn the govern
ment' if it doesn't come quick. How
ever, there are no abandoned farms Just
here, and whole farms with fair build
ings, on either side of the lake, sell at
SD to 500 per acre. The dairy is now
the main source of revenue. Butter and
cheese factories abound cheese last wear
paying much better than butter.
In the lake-bOrdering towns. many
farmers sold their hay crop in large pro-
portion, netting them at the barns the past
season IS to SO per ton. only for good
and extra qualities. The farmers. as a
rule, reseed to grass much oftener than
in Massachusetts. tOpdressng being the
exception. Oats seem to be the heaviest
grain crop.
This section of the country has evil
IDENTIFY had its continuous rainfall for the
past month beyond some other sections
of New England. preventing much plant
ing on clayev soil. which here abounds
and causing the highways to be in a most
aggravating condition. However, the
rainfall has caused large and rapid
growth of grass, and is evidently prevent
ing the caterpillar from doing the extern
sive damage threatened a few weeks ago.
The apple tree bloom in this and Rut-
land county was good, and no complaint
is heard of the setting of the fruit. At
Bristol, in a gap of the mountain range,
east Of New Haven, and under the shadow
of Mr.. Abram, 1000 feet high, in the
town of Lincoln, is found a thriving viii
lage that does not complain of hard times.
1t thrlves on the death of mankind. as ii
has one of the largest burial casllet shops
in the country. so it is claimed. The
same town is, however. about to start
another industry, to assist mankind in
living, namely, a good sized condensed
milk factory.