Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-11-18

of alarm. nor don't know" but of con-
fidence and satisfaction that our agricul-
tural status was never more cheerful
than now.
The pioneer work upon this question
was done by the state borad OF agricul-
ture As long ago 1878 the annual re-
port OF the board contained an article
(page 1922 by Mr.. J. II. Putnam entitled
The Depopulation of the Rural Dis
tricts." The article contained only local
facts, a narrow Interpretation, and pes
smistic attitude, but It showed that me
thinking was being done touching the So
cial side OF Vermont farm life.
The first important step Of the board
in the direction of advertising some
of the advantages possessed by YER
mont" This was commenced in the
spring of 1891 when a pamphlet Of ll2
pages was published at the expense of the
board for this purpose, and five thousand
copies OF 1t were circulated directly and
twenty thousand more copies by the aid
Of newspapers.
| In 1892 10, 900 copies of a similar pam
phlet were issued, Besides delectable de-
| scriptions in choicely coined adjectives
of Nermonts scenic beauties and charm
ing attractions this booklet contained
/ some valuable facts which were the re-
| suit OF thorough investigation by the
| board. Those bearing directly upon our
subject have been mentioned The book
| let also contained Hst Oh summer re-
sorts and some facts OF new Industries
which had come during the year. This
| effort gained the attention OF the state
| Legislature, as We shall later see.
Bearing the title Vermont" in 1898
poetic portfolio of several excellent illus
trations OF Green Mountain views was is
sued by the board. This contained no
statistical material nor descriptions Of
farms for sale The result of these publ
cations was to materially increase the
sale OF unoccupied farms as well as other
desirable farms. and to attract city board
ers to the summer hotels.
Continuing the series, pamphlets were
published in 1895 and in 1903 These con-
tanned lists Of desirable farms for sale
and lists of summer hotels Though the
issue of 1908 had been somewhat criti-
csed as advertising against rather than
for Vermont interests. IT is generally con-
sidered that these publications have been
a profitable means OF showing the true
advantages OF the Green Mountain state.
and that thus many desirable purchasers
have been attracted to Vermont.
The last work which the state board
did was to print in its report for 1903
an article entitled The Status of Rural
Vermont" by the writer of the present
article. The article presents the popula-
ton, the economic and the character
status of the rural part of the state. and
to this end six diagram maps OF Vermont
population changes. The interpretations
of the article are based on statistics of
population change. farm products, road
milage, taxation and church membership
and attendance.
great deal is due to the business
skill and enterprise of the leading YER
mont railroad lines and other commercial
industries in the way of keeping Vermont
advertised to the larger world around us.
But the state legislature has been a
strong factor in the work of investiga-
ton and agitation which has created a
growing demand for Vermonts desirable
unoccupied farms.
Believing that the so-called abandoned
farms presented a serious problem the
Legislature of 1883 appointed Hon. A. b,
Valentine of Bennington commissioner
, of agricultural and manufacturing inter-
ests of the state Of Vermont" The object
of this commission was to Investigate
i these interests and to devise means Ii
develop the same" a further act was
, passed requiring the listers to procure
, certain statistical information for the use
of the commission" An appropriation OF
$4,000 was made for the new work.
Mr.. Valentines first work was to send
; sets of questions to the listers, or assess
ors of taxes. for statistical information
/ | touching the status of Vermont agricul-
ture. Referring to the reports of the lis
ters he said; In the matter of abandoned
farms, so-called. they were full. interest
ing and instructive" Yet Governor w, II
Dillingham;, in his message of 1890, had tC
make an apology for the commission be-
cause of its dearth of needed facts. The
a | figures given in the report so far as they
. are pertinent to the subject, have already
, | been quoted. But Mr., Valentine Went
, further than to investigate, he experiment
, ed. And herein is the chief interest OF
his work.
, He had observed the immigrant colonies
! of Swedes in Maine. upon state land and
! under state direction, and also the UnioI
, | Pacific railroad colonies in the West
} After getting adequate facts from the
. | towns listers as to unoccupied lands, tn,
| owners, prices, exact locations, and tn,
STABILITY of the same. Mr.. Valentine go
, John G. Edgren, an efficient Swede from
= | Nebraska, to come to Vermont to learr
, | its conditions in order to determine If Il
, | were best to colonize Swedes here. Mr.
Edgren was enthusiastic for such a scheme
a | as was also the commissioner who
thought he saw in the Swedes good farm
5 ers, educated and desirable citizens. Mr.
: Edgren was directly sent to Sweden to ge
/ | immigrants. Parts of q selected familie,
: reached New York April 23, 1890. Thes,
We're settled in three colonies: at Whining
ton, Windham County; Weston, Windsor
. | county; Vershire, Orange, County. Only
fifteen women came. The total of men
women and children was So at first ant
[ | twelve came later. The Weston colony
I brought their pastor. All were educated