The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-09-20

Movement Which Is Beginning to FIJI
Vacant Land

/
Vacant Land
A recent bulletin from The bureau Of
plant industry. department Of agrieul-
tnre. makes some record Of The farm
situation in the bin regions Of south
crn New York state. It finds that while
there has been much neglect and some
abandonment 81 old farm lands, the soil
is easily subject 70 restoration in fertil.
ity aud is again beginning 70 receive
attention Il now seldom happens TINT
farm Hand in that state is sold for taxes,
and fnrther,
The movement toward the West and
the great development Of the large cities
during The last 20 years have fostered
and encouraged change and neglect ia
the East. In fact, many Of these
changes may be said 70 be the direct re-.
suits Of this movement which has now
not only reached is limits, but has
turned back eastward. Disorgauization
aud abandonment have ceased and reor-
ganisation and reconstruction have be-
gun.
Very interesting in this connection Is
the fact that many Of the rundown and
abandoned Hill farms Of vermontare now
being bought and occupied not only by
residents Of cities who seek quiet aud
an outdoor occupation in which to end
their days. but BY farmers, particularly
from New York state, wfo have accum-
ulated $1,000 or 5000, either az owners
or renters Of farms and who are in.
Yesting the money in the cheaper lands
10 be had on the slopes Of the Green
Mountains. The towns Of ludlow and
Plymouth. where they join IN tae hills
above the Black river valley, afford a
striking illustration Of this. Here Is 20
be found a large group Of one-time pros.
porous farms which were cut out and
developed a century and more ago BY
pioneers from eastern Massachusetts,.
Thoy were the homes Of numerous fam
lies socially conferred IA the elevated %.
cation Of Plymouth kingdom, where once
stood typical New England caureh
with galleries and high pulpit, and q
sunday congregation which 6lled II from
floor to ceiling. No further back than
ten and twenty years ago these farms
had become largely abandoned or only
ihdiferentlv worked by the few Of a
greatly enterprising race who had been
left behind IN the general abandonment
watch succeeded upon the opening Of
the FAR West and the great fall ia prices
and OF farm values following the end
Of the Civil war.
Some Of these farms were wholly de-
serted and the buildings left TO rot and
fall Others continued TO Be occupied.
but with every indication Of discourage.
ment, sloth and penury on the part q
those still holding possession. The COM
munity church, through whose broken
windows and unhinged doors the winds
moaned for years. finally disappeared
altogether q kindling wood for the few
iresides still kept warm in the bleak
region roundabout Now. a drive
through that locality reveals the exist
ence Of new life and industry in oe
cupation. Here IS farm once occupied
by the As, large family whose des-
cendants are scattered over the four
Of the country. Ten years ago
II was IN neglect and decay. Nov i
" 81 eftrffty cuitfvntion. assd ch4idrwn
are playing BY the roadside sight
new To the region since long ago. Who
are the occupants here2" the driver is
asked eYork state folks" be replies
The next farm. once similarly the home
OF a numerous aud prosperous family,
but long since abandoned or near aban
doHment, also saows the presence Of
new life Again the same question and
the answer Is again. York state folk.
And So Il goes until in this brief bill
drive some half.dozen York state fam
lies are located They have come in
very recently.
The same story i told Of al. They
had found themselves possessed Of means
which measured up small as against the
more expensive lands OF western New
York state, but which appeared large
IN comparison with the prices at which /
an extensive farm with tolerahle build
ings could be had in these abandoned
Vermont hills. They have come not in
old age but on the hopeful side Of ma.
turity, and not 10 rest. but IL work 4
They have been able with their small
means to buy farms and woodlands Of
several hundred acres each, pay for the
whole and have a little something left 4
for liquid capital Thep coming is Civ
ing new appearance 10 region which \
not long ago would strike into the soul I
II the transiently returning native a I
feeling of loneliness and despair like I'M (
% that inspired BY tne sigh Of the Iilac \
lush in the breeze over the tumbing /
,ellar walls Of the old homestead.
4 similar movement is to be noted in I
,ther Vermont hill towns Real estate /
lcalers In Ludlow. Chester. Bellows Falls I
ind so on say that York state folks
make up only part of ii These folks
IRE said to be harder to deal with than
me others they are mere careful in
heir purchases but there is the native
Who has acquired competence in the /
titles and wants to get back to the old
ife and scenes What the real estate
men fail to make iii commissions on the
FORK state folks, they make up on this
lass And there is tine city mechanic
Who has got q little ahead and is tired
ii facing the uncertatin future when
he city holds out to him. He also fig-
res in the movement which spreads up
through the hills from the West river
S well as the Black river valley and
% doubt more northerly through the
tate. High prices are fundamentally
working this Transformation and the
telephone and rural free delivery and
ther aids "a thp destination 81 fla old