The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-11-25

lAo aQullcCAOn " hAAC OHAOA III AAsAs
There was trouble with New Hamp-
shire, which claimed all the territory
in Vermont, and there was further
trouble with New York. At one time
il seemed as though there would be
war, but the adoption of the federal
constitution and the election OF
Washington as president changed the
aspect Of affairs Prudence and jus
tice prevailed and Vermont obtained
her rights as state, and was the
first one admitted after the original
10. While her statesmen never felt
satisfied because the state was not
made part of the original Union.
still they were so near to the original
as to really be a part of Il, and they
have allowed history TO declare that
their claims were just and that they
acted the part OF patriots in defend
ing them. OF the Aliens, the Bakers,
the Warmers, the Chittendens and
others who were instrumental in
bringing abou. the final result much
has already been written. During
recent years important papers and
records have been discovered which
have made their actions seem all the
more commendable Even what was
long supposed to be the treachery
of the Aliens in negotiating with
England is seen in different light.
4 paper drawn and signed at the
time fully explains all that was done
and tells why it was done. Unable
to defend themselves by force of
arms they adopted diplomatic means
and succeeded. 1t is altogether pro
bable that Ira Allen had another mo-
tive in mind during his negotiations.
If the colonies were defeated Yer
mont would not have been a rebel
colony in the eyes of Great Britain
and her people would have Jared
better than those of any other col
ony. Allen was so far seeing and
so thoroughly understood what might
result that the explanation that Allen
bad this possibility in mind seems
plausible, and does not reflect upon
him, even If 1T is true.
During the past 20 years and more
the trend Of migration has been city
ward, as has been pointed out many
tines. Vermont has no large cen
tiers OF population to attract with
their opportunities. Burlington, the
largest city, has barely 10000 inhab-
itants and the others, though i've,
wealthy centers of business activity,
would rank only as villages or Dor
oughs in many other states. Yer
mont's agriculture has suffered sew
erely in competition with the prod
ucts Of the cheap lands of the West.
1t was impossible to produce and sell
food products for the prices at which
| they could be produced and sold by
western farmers. Consequently agrl
culture became an Improbable pur
suit The young farmers we're fore
ed to go where they could make their
labor pay. They went West. Yer
mont has seen her cotton and wooden
industries transferred to where
transportation rates will not con-
sumo so much of the profit of manu-
facture. She has seen her profitable
wool industry go first to the West
and next TO Australia. She has seen
| the leadership in the production OF
lumber go to other states. She has
seen important metal industries aban
| doned because of the discovery else
where OF richer deposits which could
be worked at less expense She
| has seen her sons scatter through
| the nation and engage in great indus
trial enterprises which have brought
wealth and fame to the states Of
their adoption And she has wept
because those sons were no longer
hers, In the sense that they were do.
ing their work within her borders.
| The type OF men who grow up among
| those hills are wanted elsewhere and
the export OF men continues. The
| Green mountains are making their
impress upon the world elsewhere
But even though the census tables
are discouraglng and a drive over
| some OF the hills brings to light many
Instances OF deserted homesteads,
Vermont Is still an industrial center
OF Importance. II has the largest
marble quarries and the largest mar
BILE manufacturing concern in the
world Around Rutland are located
the inexhaustible quarries of the
Vermont marble company which are
producing annually a vast amount Of
wealth for the state The mountains
around Barre, Hardwick. Woodbury.,
and other places are producing gran.
| iie The quarries and shops at Barre
are the most important in the world
On the west side OF the state are de-
| posits OF slate which produce as beau
tifu stone OF this sort as can be
found anywhere. The meadows and
| hillsldes have the most fertile land
| that lies outdoors The free land Of
/ the West Is exhausted. Whoever
goes there now must pay the price.
| Vermont needs to take prompt and
vigorous measures 10 advertise it's re-
sources in this direction. The dairy
products OF the state have long been
famous. The Morgan horse has been
adopted by the government as the
type necessary for n perfect war
horse. Her sheep will some day
come again to their own. And what
more Is required? Prosperity can
be based upon these resources which
are ready for development
There is one thing MOTE which Yer
mont can do that will benefit the
entire country. particularly the noise
worn, nerye-racked denlzon OF the
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