Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-09
WHAT OUR NElGHBORS SAY.
Public Utilities in Vermont-An Index
OF the States Progress.
F,rom the Enosburch Standard)

Those State papers which have been
harping upon the string of Vormont's de-
| cadence, and have taken up the habit of
echoing the walls of humorous mctropoli-
tan papers regarding Vormont's degencr-
ate and unprogressive condition. have re
ceived many and severe shocks during the
past number OF months I'm the pubca-
ton of the several census bulletins.
Nearly every one of these reports. which
have been issued from time TO time, have
demolished by official facts and figures
the fine-spun theories and elaborate criti-
cal essays of these disgruntled journals
and have shown Vermont to be we'll up
In the front rank of the States of the Tn
ion in almost every line of activity and
progress
1t is easy enough to theorize and make
charges and allegations of a general char
actor, but 1t is not so easy to maintain
! these statements against the unassaila bio
figures obtained from official accurate and
! painstaking investigation and research.
/ And up to the present time Vermont has
not suffered In comparison with her sis
ter States from the publication of Stats
tics, unless 1t be in the scarcity of sa-
| looms and distllleries.
Perhaps the best index of a States ma
terial progress is the number and variety
of public utilities to be found in the cities
and towns within its borders, meaning by
this, the extent to which the different
municipalities have taken up the installa-
tion of water works. electric light plants.
sewers, parks. street railways. telephones
and other public works which contribute
to the health, comfort and general well
being of the people
Ana in this. as in other important mat
tors. 1t is pleasure, and should be n mat
ter of pride to Nermonters, to know that
Vermont is In the van.
The Municipal Year Book for 1902 is
LII,
ing company of New York. gives the
population, assessed valuation. principal
officials, and ownership of public utilities
and information regarding the water sup
ply, sew erage, electric lighting, street
cleaning and sprinkling, etc, in all incor-
porated places in the United States and
in all New Finland towns of 5000 popu-
lation and upwards. 1t is from this in
terestins and valuable publication that
the figures herewith given are taken.
The 10 cities and towns in Vermont
which come in the class having 90 pop.
uation or over are: Rarre, Bellows Falls
Bennington. Bratteboro, Burlington
Montpelier. Rutland, st. Adams St. Johns
bury and Winooski.
All of these cities ana towns have water
works, and it is shown that of the mum
Ter, So per cent are under public owner.
ship. The significance of this is demon
Strated hen it Is shown that this is tho
nlgueSt percentage OF puhllc ownership
of any State in the Union the next near
est being Michigan with SIS per cent
Or the New England States, beside:
Vermont, Maine has 1875 per cent undcl
public ownership, New Hampshire 5
per cent, Massachusetts, 75.S per cent
Rhode Island 53.S per cent, Cornectcu
"A per cent. The average per cent o
public ownership in the New Englarc
States is 6S.2 per cent
The high standing Of Vermont, II
which every place of over 5000 population
has water works, is further demonstrate,
when we find that Massachusetts. which
: Is often held up as model in progress
and advancement, has no less than seVc!
places. of an average population abou
that of Winooski. which are without waite
works.
In the matter Of sewerage it is show
that Vermont stands at the head Of tn
Union, with a percentage Of 100. the elite
and towns in the State of the class urde
consideration. al having sewers and un
DIET public control
Tic following table gives a list of tn
New England Middle and Central West
crn States. with the towns of over 800
population, the number having sewers
the number having no sewers, and TIL
percentage of those having sewers to tn,
whole number of towns:
50 Va