St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1905-09-27

Winhall, leaving Jamaica in a souther-
" direction and following the "branches"
around the mountains so as to terml.
nate the journey in a northeasterly |
direction. Here, 1900 feet above the sea,
is a beautiful valley hard to surpass for
inspiring scenery. 1t is surrounded by
mountains in all directions; on the west
is Stratton mountain, having an altitude
of over $500 feet, or more than three
times that of Mt. Tom, and on the east
is what is locally known as the Pinnacle,
having an altitude of $500 feet, or more
than twice as high as Mt. Tom, and in
the other directions the mountains are
| but little lower. For miles to the west
there is an uubroken trackless uninhabit
ed forest. In the valley, which is a
continuation of the place locally known
as Pixies Falls, there are about dozen
occupied farms. These extend more or
less up on to the mountains, but not
nearly as far as formerly-in fact, traces
of old farms may be found several miles
into the woods, and two or three miles
from any road there are still standing
among large forest trees stones of ceme-
terv that has long since been forgotten.
|
ever existed. These marks in the woods
of a former civilization indicate that
farms were abandoned very long time
ago.
Forty years ago the country within
10 miles of here contained more than
double the present number of occupied
farms. A certain farm that was bought
SO years ago for $1,000 can now be had
for $500, and its building and land are
now in very nearly as good condition as
then. This is a little above the valley,
and Others further up have deprecated
still more. Any one of those in the
valley can be bought for $1,000 or less,
that is from So to Sc per acre, including
disable buildings. All the places are al.
ways for sale. If anyone wants place
for a summer residence, with fine view
and plenty of mountain air, he can take
his choice for a small amount of money.
: None of the young people with energy or
, ambition remain on the old farms. 1t
. seems to be only question of time when
y all must succumb to the inevitable and
= surrender the entire country to the wild
= animals. In fact, the bears have never
fully surrendered to the advance of civil
4 cation in these parts, and now the deer
~ are becoming a serious detriment to
o. farming. They have destroyed all the
4 beets, turnips and pole beans, and then
~ they associate with the young cattle and
~ induce them to break fences and run
~ away. They are so bold that it is hard
~, ,s to drive them off when doing damage
- Shouting does not scare them, and a
person must approach them almost near
20 L;t kax11 ol,,b ~
u they will run. One young man got hold
;r OF one with his hands and attempted tc
10 bring it to the barn, but the deer was tc
"a strong for him. 1t must be fine sport tc
-. shoot them in the few days of oper
season, for if a person is not very gooc
~ marksman he can send farmers boy
b+ out with a rope to tie one to tree so a,
mr. to get good shot.
re- The people may fear the game and ifs!
laws, but they do not have very higl
&c respect for them. They are unanimous
ke in the feeling that the game laws are al
to imposition, and consider it an injustic
be that they should be compelled to rea
# and support herd of animals whc
or they are not allowed to modest or use
of Most OF them are too scrupulous to vic
,r- late the law, but very few are so cor
n. scientious as to report such violation
er There are many very fine trout brooks
A. but they have been fshed so much tina
only those well posted know where t.
find many trout. Fish and game wal
dens live long distance from here. l
m. requires but short sojourn here for on
to understand why this can never agai
be prosperous farming country, but
is an ideal locality for persons wit
sit means to establish fish and game pr,
he serves. The soil is fertile, but rough an
rocky, and far away from market. TIL
led climate is healthful and bracing, but til
est seasons are not quite as long as in til
wv lower country. There are many mic
ice maple groves-sugar orchards-goo
he places for trout ponds and good loct
ch tions for fine views. F. R. RICHMOND.
to Springfield, September, 1905.