Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-01-17

separate state out of Vermont was
mistake. Anyhow. the topography oil
the state is most unfit. Among states,
it is what the small. poor, back towns
are to their more fortunately located
sister towns.
Vermont has many waterpoWers'
but no great ones. Most OF her
streams are too small for manuiac-
turing on a large scale. A few
immense powers like those of the
Merrimack would be worth more than
all we now have, because OF the
economy of concentration. Even the
small mills and factories that formerly
dotted our streams 25 years ago are
decreasing in number now, because OF
the influence OF combination, which Is
the spirit OF the present. Vermont
can make little use of the great power
of steam in manufacturing, as she Is
too far removed from the coal mines,
and wood cannot compete with coal.
This factor of fuel, combined with the
distance from the iron fields aud the
cost of freighting the product back to
market, etfectually removes Vermont
from an opportunity to flourish by
extensive manufacturing. And man
ufacturing means great centers OF
population, with the attendants OF
trade, commerce and wealth. In
short, that tells the story why Vermont
does not and cannot keep pace with
her sister states in population and
Importance.
There is one hope, and only one, for
a great future for our state-develop-
ment of her mineral wealth. In
marble, granite, slate, tale, limestone,
asbestos and other minerals that are
becoming more and more valuable in
the arts every year, Vermont has a
distinct advantage over most eastern
states. Being near the markets, she
can compete successfully with other
sections. Her only metal
also add materially to
her future. Further investigation is
very liable to reveal the presence of
other mineral and metal products
that will bring her wealth. 1t is along
these lines that we may look for about
all the material growth OF our state
and nothing should be omitted TO their
full development.
We often hear it said that what ails
Vermont is the exodus OF her young
men, year after year, sapping her
strength and vigor by taking away the
promise of the future, leaving
of old people behind,
who are lacking in spirit and enter
prise. Undoubtedly true, yet this is
not so much cause as an effect of
causes. Young people will 90 where
are best. They are
lrawn by the dollars. If opportunities
we're equal in Vermont they would
remain here, but they are not. People
cannot live on delightful scenery or
even on pure water alone. Hence
hey drift to other states more favored
by nature and environment for indus
rial progress.
Nor is legislation so much at fault as
some suppose. The wisest laws would
not place Vermont on a plane with
or New York or Penn
'ylvania, simply because she hasn't
got it in her. Undoubtedly, certain
avs have had the effect of handi-
Gaping her, but Vermont never was a
horse anyway and wouldn't
De with the best training possible.
We think we have given sufficient
reasons why. The danger is that we
become discouraged as we Esee other
states speeding by and do not do as
well as we might. Vermont has a
place, though small one, in the
She labors under dis
Advantages that few others suffer and,
considering, has done very well.
Whatever artificial aid she can
receive from good legislation should
be extended, but Vermont can never
lift herself by her own bootstraps
pardon the ill-gendered comparison)
through legislation alone.