Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-02-03
Progressive Vermont Towns.

| Progressive Vermont Towns.
The Rutland Daily News copies with
strong editorial approval an article on
the progressive and growing towns of
Vermont from the Barre Times. 1t saws:
There are few towns in this state
which are making decided progress, for
the reason that their business interests
and citizens are united as one man to
further the growth and prosperity of
their home town. The News has urged .
times without number, that the only
way in which any can enjoy substantial
growth and real prosperity is to have
entire harmony among the business in
terests at home. We think we are
violating no confidence in stating that
Rutland-as substantial and steady as its
improvements have been could have
done more if there had been entire I'M
animlty of effort and harmony of spirit
here.
Among the towns in Vermont which
are now and have been, particularly for
the last two ar three years, making pro-
nounced strides forward are Bethel.
Barre, Lyndonville, Burlington, Brattle-
boro; and there are others. There is
every reason why the growth in popu-
lation, amount of business, new manu-
featuring institutions, and in every other
direction, in Rutland, should have more
than duplicated the growth shown bv
any of these other towns.
The Barre Times says: burlington.
which worked 50 hard to secure the
headquarters of the Rutland railroad
and whose ambition was somewha
gratlfied by getting the treasurer's office.
Is now to lose that through the transfer
OF the system to the New York Central
Burlington tried and lost; too MANY
towns don't try and don't lose. And
even If the former did not secure the
prize it has the satisfaction of knowing
that it is not dead, that the spirit af
business aggression is still dominant anA
that there may yet be good results from
Its activity. To have tried and lost is
much better than not to have tried at
all. We have no patience with the
village, town or city which souches
back III the harness and declares that it
cannot do 1t, that the obstacles are to
great to be overcome That is the spirit
or the sluggard which admits defeat
before it has made the attempt
''Ot the 246 towns in the state we
venture TO say that ninetenths of them
are sluggards whose one desire is to slip
along i'll the same old way without
molestation and without the exercise of
the least trace of an effort Nermont's
stagnation-we dislike to use the word
Is the direct result of this don't-care. let
me-sleep sort of an inclination which
has been fostered until it has wiped out
all ambition
" ct there are spots in the state where
the infusion of new blood has worked
wonders. 1t has shaken off the lethargv
and in the face of decided opposition has
accomplished great results. Burlington
were its policy to be directed by a
certain class of its population, would
pass INTO quiet, peaceful city, whose
desire would be the building up of
residential center for the rich. Barre-if
its happily out-grown desire to prevent
the introduction of new blood new
muscle and new brains had prevailed
would be country village as it was
twenty five years ago with cattle pastur-
ing beside the roads and the property
owners swapping stories in the village
stores. Fortunately for both cities the
progressive element prevailed and is
prevailing. The party of obstruction
had to give way. To-day Barre and
burlington and some other towns are
reaping the benefits. 1t is within the
possibilities of many other towns of
Vermont to jump from inactivity to
activity, from business stagnation to
industrial progress"
To the above list should surely be ad-
ded Bristol and Middlebury in this
county, as they have both grown fully
as rapidly in the past three years as
some of the towns named, and there is
certainly good reason to expect still
greater growth In the near future.
1t is not the policy of these towns to
hunt new industries. etc. with brass
band, as larger and Weather places
might steal the enterprises away. Ii is |
safe to say that the business men of this |
town are not asleep and are looking after |
several industries that may be secured in
the near future. If a healthy location,
exemption from taxation for "A term of
years, cheap power, lights, etc, and
material financial aid, will induce new
industries to locate here, they will be
secured.
500 REWARD 500
The readers of this paper will be pleased to
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