Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-04-18
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS
FACTS AND OPINIONS GATHERED
FROM CONTEMPORARIES.
GET READY FOR OLD HOME WEEK.

The Interest which Is already being
manifested in the celebration of Yer
mont's Old Home week next August, Is
gratifying for variety of reasons. 1t
shows in the first place that the people
of Vermont are beginning to appreciate
what this annual home-gatherins of the
sons and daughters of the Green Mount
ain state will mean for their own progress
and prosperity as well as for the perpet-
uation of that spirit which has dominated
the Green Mountain boys.
In the second place this early interest
shows growing realization of the neces-
sity of thorough preparation for the OBJ
servance of the event. Work of this char
acter can not be done In day. Some of
the communities did not begin prepare
tions for their Old Home week celebra-
ton until the date was right upon them
and then it was too late to make adequate
arrangements. Other towns which had
been long at work advertising their
attractions for the week easily kept the
lead thus gained. Speakers who were
desired were found to have made previous
engagements to deliver addresses else
where, and tardy towns found themselves
in discouraging situation.
One of the influences that will help TO
make success of Vermonts Old Home
week celebration this year will be grow
ing and heathful rivalry between the
leading cities in the matter of the arrange
ment and carrying out of successful pro-
grams. That Burlington will need to
look out for her laurels in this respect is
indicated by various recent occurrences.
st. Adams has already shown COM
mendable spirit of enterprise by taking
steps in preparation for a still more
elaborate and successful celebration than
it held last year, and other towns are
vigorously discussing the matter. The
Rutland News, for example, says:
SIT is none too early for Rutland to be-
Gin plans for the Old Home week OF l9O2.
A celebration that will tempt many old
residents and kinsmen to visit Rutland
again may easily be planned. The success
of the first Old Home week last year was
such as to warrant its continuance as an
institution
Various Vermont associations in other
states are considering plans for a trip to
Vermont for the purpose of enjoying
reunions amid the scenes of their nativity,
and there will be spirited rivalry among
our leading cities and towns for the
privilege of entertaining them.-Burling-
ton Free Press.
THE GOLD PRODUCTION
DR.. Whitehead, the chief assayer OF
the Mint Bureau, is credited with the
prediction that the worlds gold produc-
ton next wear will reach 500. 600.
This estimate is based on the assumption
that the mines of the Transvaal will then
have resumed their full operation, and
that the rest of the world will hold its
own, Ii does not take into account pos
sble developments in Siberia, nor any
great expansion in the product of Alaska.
Twenty years ago the gold product OF
the world was less than 100000 900 per
annum, and during the thirty years from
1860 to 1890 it averaged only SIP OO0,-
600. The realization of DR.. Whitehead
prediction means practically, therefore
a quadrupling of the annual gold product
within twenty years. The estimate
moreover, is not wild one, for before
the Transv aal mines stopped working
the gold product had gone above $500,
100000. 1t is to be remembered, too
that considerable part of this enormou;
increase has not been due to the discov
cry of new deposits, but to new processe:
which have made profitable the working
of deposits which before had been re
gardeG as valueless. Science is still
busy in this direction, and it is said tina
there are hundreds of thousands of tons
of ore piled up at Cripple Creek, as no
worth the smelling. which would become
valuable if the scientific experts who arr
engaged upon this problem should iint
processes by which lower grade ore
could be profitably worked,
Taking into account how small par
of the gold product is in any way wasted
or lost, and that practically the whole o
this enormous annual output is perma
nent addition to the worlds supply, it i
clear that this great increase in the prod
uct cannot go on without involving vas
changes of an economic sort. Gold il
not merely thing of value. but practic
ally the universal measure of value, ant
it is in that relation that the amount o
the annual product becomes of great i'm
portance.-BostO Journal.
~oo%
a FRATERNAL ORDER DECISION.
The supreme court of Massachusett
has recently rendered a decision whicl
must have far-reaching effect upoi
some of the fraternal orders that pa,
sickness and death benefits. a maj