The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-03-03
VERMONT OPPORTUNITIES.
The Springfield (Mass.) Union in
recent issue said:

of Vermont at the annual dinner of
the Brooklyn Society of Vermonters
deserves to be needed by the people
of the commonwealth and the other
New England States as we'll. The Gov
ernor declared it was the duty of Yer
monters to teach their sons to remain
at home and that parents should
qualify their children to make use of
the natural resources of their native
State, so that it would be unneces-
sary for them to go to the large cities
of the country to make their living
Especially is it the duty of Vermont
ers he said, to instruct boys in the
art of farming, since the Green
Mountain State must always be main
tanned an agricultural State. In re-
futing the statement that there is no
profit in farming, he referred to one
farmer VINO made $4,000 last year by
raising apples. The Governors re-
marks were ably supplemented by an
address by President Thomas of Mid
dlebury college, who is doing much in
his way to promote the advancement
of that commonwealth.
1T is ODE hoped that the younger
generation of Vermonters will give
heed to the advice uttered by such
men. Too long has it been the custom
of Vermont youth to seek their for
tune beyond the confines of their ma
tive State and beyond the borders of
New England. 1t is time that the ad-
vantages that lie on it's hillsides and
in its beautiful valleys were better APP
preciated. If the part which YER
monters have sustained in building up
other States from Massachusetts to
California, were definitely known the
showing no doubt would be surpris-
ing. Every American city is the bet
ter for its admixture of Vermont
blood, and Springfield, among others,
is proud of its flourishing society of
Vermonters. All the same, when
Westerners are talking of starting mi
grafton eastward to buy and reclaim
abandoned farms, it is time for Ver-
monters to open their eyes to the pos
sibilities that lie at their own doors.
There is profit and happiness to be
had on New England farms, if the
seekers after these blessings will on
ly order their work Alright"
Governor Prouty is a good press
agent for the State as well as a good
Governor, and his remarks at the
Brooklyn dinner have attracted much
attention. The Journal does not think
that the Governor intended to give the
impression that Vermont must always
depend upon agriculture as its most
productive industry If this paper
remembers correctly manufacturing
already surpasses agriculture in the
value of it's products, but he did mean
evidently that agriculture always
must be one of our chief pursuits 1t
is certain that our farms may be
made to produce much more than they
do at the present time.
There always have been opportuni-
ties in Vermont for energetic, wide
awake men, but they are more appar-
ent now than they were fifty or twen-
! ty-fve, or even ten years ago. 1t is
inevitable that in State constituted
like our own that the great cities
should attract some of our brightest
young men. The country always has
been feeder to the city, and, to a
certain extent, always will be, but il
is possible to check this exodus. When
we are able to offer good opportuni-
| ties here at home for men of brains
, and ambition to make money, fewer
young men will seek their fortune in
the West or in the cities. The oppor-
! been able to make the fact as plain as
! it should be made. This work is be.
ing done by the newspapers. 1t is
being done by State Superintendent
Mason S. Stone and the able men in
! his corps of speakers. 1t is being
done by our capable Commissioner o.
Agriculture, O. l.. Martin and his val
liable assistants.
In this connection the followine
paragraph from the Ludlow Tribune
is Of interest:
NO benefit results from the holding
of these so called farmers meetings
about the State. at which is served {
lot of old antediluvian hash talk anC
ancient ot."-White River junction
Landmark.
This is pretty radical statement
with which the Tribune cannot agree
If the recent farmers meeting at Cav
endish can be regarded as typical
then 'antediluvian hash talk and an
! cient rot have not been prominen
features on Commissioner Martin
programs the present winter. Certain
ly, there was a lot of practical com
nonsense ia what the two afternoon
speakers had to say on topics that ap
and dairy sides of farming"
The Journal believes that both Nj
Martin and Mr.. Stone are preachin
practical industrial gospel that
of the greatest value to this State.
believes that if the Landmark wi
take pains to investigate the work be
ing done it will be willing to adm
that it's Characterization was unjus
Mr.. Martins work seems to this par
er to be conducted on intelligent line
and exceedingly beneficial.
We need more missionary work I
show our people that the land of OF
portunity lies on our own hillside
and in our own valleys. The MOI
preaching of this sort we can have I'll
better 1t will be for Vermont.
LET US BE FAIR.