Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-11-23
DO YOU KNOW THIS?
FACTS ABOUT VERMONT THAT HER
PEOPLE SHOULD STUDY.

'Green Mountain 10y Iells why Ner-
Emonters Should BE. Content to Remain
in This State-some Things in Which
We Excel All Others.
Several weeks ago the REGISTER re-
printed a letter that first appeared in the
Miller's Review of Philadelphia, in which
G.. II. Russell of Poultney, under the
pen name of "Green Mountain Boy eff
)fectually squelched one John Stark, who
I in the same publication had spoken dis
paragingly of this state and her indus.
tries. In a recent issue of the Poultney
Journal Mr.. Russell gives some further
interesting facts about Vermont. Here
is his letter in full:
Editor journal Il had no idea when |
very hurridly answered JohniStark's let
ter in the Miler's Review, that it would
wake up three of Nermonr's live editors,
but still they come, besides several let
tiers congratulating indeed to the Green
Mountain Boy; and now the Middlebury
Register sends me copy of that wide
awake and spicy journal and note they
think that answer to John Stark wolti
copying. Now then, to keep the ball
rolling and awaken pride within the
breasts of Nermont's worthy sons and
daughters, | will give few more Stats
tcal facts, and some more of the pro-
auctions of Vermont. which every one
that reads ought to know and feel proud
of, but which am sorry to say COM
paratively few do know; and if | get too
previous or too bounteous or too eXag-
gerative, | hope the wise rof. Il. will
correct me. First, how many people in
Vermont know that the death rate in
( Vermont is less than two per cent and
less than any other state in the union?
San Francisco's death rate is % or was
in 81, and if | am not mistaken the state
of California averages 8 per cent. Nc
Nally's and the Peerless Atlas will sub
stantiate this statement; the Peerless
says Vermont is prominently an agr-
cultural state, the soil in many parts Civ
ing great yields; the percentage Of i'm
grOved farm lands in Vermont is greater
than that of any other state excepting
Illinois and New York. Vermont eX-
ceeds all other states as a dairy state.
Think of that, boys, when you get to
hankering for the sunny south, with its
poor soil and neas. The dairy product
of Vermont in 1895 amounted to 2G000.-
600 pounds. Vermont produces seven
Fights of all the marble quarried in the
United States and more maple sugar
than all the other states combined.
Pennsy lvana has 2S, 931 900 acres of land
and water, and had every advantage
over Vermont in navigation for one
hundred and siXty-five years before Yer
mont had railroad. Vermont had lit
orally to hew its way to prosperity. The
whole state was one VI st forest, and to-
day with only G,12l. 600 acres Of land and
water, it stands first as a dairy state 1t
requires good soil, good pure water, and
great crops Of grain. hay and grass, to
run this great business. 1t also requires
lots of energy and brains. Something is
needed to make it Il success besides sour
krout and beer, | can assure you; and
thank God there is the needed stimulus
to do this great work, right in this glori-
Gus old Green Mountain air and her
bounteous springs of the purest and best
water on Gods earth. Pennsylvania S
highest mountain is Mount Rattanning,
and it rises to the proud height of 100
feet. Nermont's highest mountain,
Mount Mansfield, is 1886 feet high, and
is an everlasting monument of glory.
KillingtOn comes next, besides eighteen
other peaks in Vermont that are each
over $500 feet high. How often while
looking at the barren hills, the greenless
hills, the almost treeess hills and mount
aims of the sunny south, and the vast
barren Rocky mountains of the Pacific
coast, picture in my mind the grand
and ever green mountains of old Yer.
mont; and wished, with my heart in my
mouth, | was back in Gods country.
} used to wonder before | left Vermont
and Travelled over the sunny south anG
} in the glorious climate of California, as
we read about, why our soldiers of the
} Rebellion said when they put their foot
again on New England soil "Thank God
} we are again in Gods country" | have
ceased to wonder since | travelled al
over that country, which even the ma
tives themselves will acknowledge aftel
becoming residents of Vermont, is no
where compared to Vermont forthe com
, forts and luXuries of lie. Think of tn,
terrible floods and cyclones, and droughts
starvation of thousands of cattle anC
sheep, reckless way of living, poverty
J stricken people and no end to the thous
and and one discOuragements in thos
: wonderful eldOrados we read about bu
never find except in Imagination, and onl,
realize their utter lworthlessness whel
we get there and live among the Roman
: and have to live as they do
Then, my friends, you will forget the few
hard days we may have In winter, ant
will again remember that our cattle o
sheep do not starve in Vermont, no
does the average citizen hunger for foo'
or raiment; and that for the many bless
lngs with which Vermont has surrounds