Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-14
VISIT TO HIS NATIVE HEATH
what n Son of Vermont Saw on "a
Trip Through the state.

To the Editor Of the Free Press:
was born in southern Vermont and
lived there until twenty years old, knew
about every farm and tho owner, their
style of farming, their habits and carrying
on of their farms, I have been through
many parts OF the State since that time.
Where some of these farmers lived we're
good farms at that time. but since then
the farmers seem to have gone
backward. The old people gone, some
buildings gone to decay. othors torn
down and removed Towns where were
good farmers with money ahead have
all gone over the river. and the class
that filled their places were of a different
material and Il seemed to one what was
wanted was backbone and grit to bring
them up to their former state.
Many farmers, when lived there, had
out farms. kept large dairies They would
work until dark. come home. eat their
supper then go out and milk twenty COWS
perhaps. This made 1t hard for women.
Girls did this at that time for $L25 per
week. They did not seem to have much
system.
But they have one rule that most fol
lowed. 1t was crime to rise before the
sun did. There was plenty OF real estate
for sale In these hill towns.
My next stopping place was Brattle-
boro. I drove stage team from Fitch
burg to Srattleboro. driving the time
Vermont and Massachusetts, was build
ing and have been there and through
there man times since. One there
In those days, and now. can we'll see tho
difference IN the times. Stages coming
and going night and day. teams from
all parts running there, people coming
from all adjoining towns to trade. A
great place for summer visitors. l.;
might be compared to a town where
everything centered.
When the Valley r. r. was built the
village people expected great things, but
It was death blow to their hopes. The
travel passed through instead OF stop
| ping at Brattleboro. What could see
| is that l do not think Brattleboro has
gone ahead as It should. The best i'm
provement was the electric railroad. 1t
looked as though the travellers and So
| journers would enjoy it.
In passing through Putney and West
minister I saw no Improvement. Put
ney furnished. at one time, a good deal
of trade to Brattleboro. Farmers brought
their corn there TO the market
My next stopping place was Bellows
| Falls. Here could see great improve
| ment in twenty-five years. The water
| power and junction of railroads has
brought it and made it n business centre
Farm machinery, paper making and
other manufactures have made it n live
town.
My next stopping place OF any ac-
count was Rutland. city OF Over
1000 in 1890, probably con
cradle larger number now Thu
people We're pleasant. all seemed hap
PLY employed. the buildings were KEEP
up and state OF thrift among the in
habitants looked though they wer'
not worrying about anything AZ time
wore on.
I found one thing in the State tina
might be called Il curiosity. A town o
fifty inhabitants or less with all tn
para phernalia for town business, Abou
thirty voters. If on a division of ques
ton, as in Massachusetts whore Their
are so many parties. each party woul'
receive very small vote.
remained longer in Rutland thai
some places as wanted to see the farm
and see their management and | was sur
prised at the low prices. from 5000 t
5000. A farm of 100 acres, fair build
ings. rural FREQ delivery, $500. A goo
2O-cow farm from $3.50 to 5000. Woo
lots from 5000 to $780, from three TO scve
miles from railroad. Butter factories i
plenty, not far to the school in man
places, but some distance to church. o
most farms the case looked to me like this
The Inhabitants had got somewhat dis
oOuraged with the times and taken wha
the good God gave them and felt salts
fed, they were living easy and comm
around at the end OF the year muc
: poorer. ! could see no fault with tn
= soil. all that was needed was backbone
grit and good judgment. more syster
about work and all business pursuits. \
fault OF the soil could I see.
IT Is n wonder to me that people wit
, | families in our own crowded cities do M
. take up some OF these neglected farm
There is no better class of people tina
= in Vermont. They have the name of be
= ing social. friendly. and neighborly I
sickness or health by all outsiders. I
- summing up It was my conclusion this
> tho reason farms were so low and
plenty were because they were long di
tances from market villages and railroa
centres.
i KNOW WHAT IHe nave W lHc
While Sc per cent. OF all classes fail
: business, the farmer believes In pawn
his honest debts. Hence but few failure
/ will not stop to talk furthermor
IS but 20 on to Burlington on the way
l. Canada
10 Perhaps 7 may give you my views
n success in farming and what in needs
u later,
J. Burlington Is a hne place, splend
10 views, a fine place for summer peopl
h near the lake, where all advantages ca
l. be reached by steam and boats.
r The people we're intelligent. bright-lool
J. ing social to strangers. gentlema nj
ic and all business people and Arms SCENE
er more on an equality with employees th7
l. come places I had been through. TT
lie buildings were kept up, which is a sis
)e Of prosperity. I have had this RENAL
made by friends I knew from the eas
"Yon will find Burlington a nice place
| did.
have seen some good crops IN caste
Il Canada, but their style OF farming