Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-02-20
VERMONT CENTURY AGO.
Data Published by Carey's American
Pocket Atlas in 1906.

Pocket Atlas in 1906.
Helena, Mont, Feb. 70, 1892.
TO the Editor OF the Free Press.
I own a copy of Carcy's American
Pocket Atlas, published in 1896. Sone uc
your readers may be interested in a de-
scription of Vermont at that date, so I
enclose a copy of it. The Atlas contains
10 maps.
Yours truly.
w. F. DARLINGTON.
VERMONT.
Vermont is naturally divided by Vor
Mons, CT the Green Mountains, which
gives name to the State, running from
north to south. Fer the purpose of civil
government, 1t is divided into the follow
ing counties, viz:
WEST OF THE MOUNTAINS.
Counties.-Bennington; chief towns. Ben
nington, Manchester: Rutland. chief town,
Rutland, Addison, chief towns. Ad-
olson, Middlebury; Chittenden, chief
tonws, Colchester, Burlington.
EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS.
Counties.-Orange chief town. Newburyt
Windsor, chief towns. Windsor, Wood
stock; Windham, chief towns, Newfanc,
Putney.
New counties organized in 1896, Franklin,
Caledonia. Orleans, Essex.
These lie along the Canada line. and
made a part of the counties of Orange ami
Chittenden.
These counties are divided irto 2i9 towns
or townships, most of which are incorpor-
ated with the privileges usually annexed
to towns in New England.
Lakes and Rivers.-Few parts OF tho
world are better watered than this state.
perennial fountains rise or almost every
farm
trins in various directions, which, uniting
from many rivers of various magnitude.
that fertilize the lands through which they
pass. and furnish an abundant supply of
seats for mills and foundries. There are
Il rivers which fall into Connecticut river
from the east side of the mourtains-throe
run north to Lake Memphremagog, light
empty into Lake Champlain and two fall
into Hudson river.
Clinate.-The earth Is generally covered
with snow from the middle of December TO
the middle Of March. and in some high
lands, to the depth Of -four or five feet.
Since the ountrv has been cleared tho
winters are milder. Vegetation advance
in the spring with great rapidity.
Soil and Production.-This State Is gen.
orally hilly and some parts mountainous,
but not rocky. Its soil is of all the var-
ious kinds, and adapted to wheat, rye.
corn. barley, cats, peas, flax, hemp. ana
all sorts of edible roots. 1t is a fine grass
country and the inhabitants raise, ard
send to Boston and New York markets,
some of the finest beeves in the United
States. They make butter and cheese Of 4
good kind, and in considerable quantities
for n new country.
Minerais.-Iron and lead ores cf several
kinds. pipe clay. which has been wrousnt
irto durable crucibles, and q~1arries Of
white, grey and varigated marble, have
been found in different parts of this Sutte.
The trade of this State is principally with
Boston, Hartford and New York; TO which
places the inhabitants export horses, beef,
pork. butter, cheese, wheat, -four, iron,
Rails. pot and pearl ashes.
The principal articles manufactured n
this State are iron, maple sugar, corn spir-
its. beer and the domestic manufactures Of
clothing.
Population and Charectcr-The people
are an Industrious brave, hardy. active,
frugal race.
L:terature.-In no country is common cl-
ucation more attended to. TIL conduct e
this people, in this respect, is certainly
laudable and exemplary.
Chief Tov ns.-WindsOi on the east and
Rutland on the west side e the nouns
taips, both nearly in the center of the set
tied parts Of the State from north TO sou h,
are. according to an act Of Legislators, 10
be alternately TIE seat of government III
about the year 800. Both are fourishlng
- NA'fb H'p'' $500 AAtAAA'AA'ftANF
each.
Bennington, situated near the southwest
corner of the State, is the lorgest town.
remaining a house for public worship. a
court house and goal, and nearly 5000 in.
hahitants.
The western bank of Connecticut rirot
is lined by n large number Of pleasant,
thriving towns. There are various towns
on the rivovs end Lake Champlain west Of
the mountains.
Fistory.-lu the late war between Brit
ain and the United states the i0hatitnn'a
of this territory took a very early and ac-
tive part. Immediately on the news NJ tho
battle of Lexington, "A company of volun-
tcers, under the late General Ethan Allen,
attacked and took the British garrison Of
Crown Point and ~Ticondcr0ra. General
burgoyne In a letter TO the British minis.
try, written at Saratoga, makes tho fol-
loving observation: The inhabitants OF
the New Hampshire grants. a territory un-
peopled and almost unknown In the last
var, now pour forth by thousands, and
hang like dark clouds on my left"