The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-03-25

6lA less lndn IN looO ana one less ludu
in 1850
or the FIVE Grand Isle county towns
two show a smaller population than
that Of 1900 one less than in 1910,
one less than in 1920 and one less
than in 1860.
OF the ten Lamoille county towns
two show a smaller population than
that of 1850, three less than that Of
1860 and one less than that of 1870.
OF the seventeen Orange county
towns two show a population less
than that Of 1891, four less than that
of 1891, four less than that of 1900,
six less than that of 1910, two less
than that of 1920 and one less than
that of 1880.
OF the eighteen Orleans county
towns one shows a smaller population
than that of 1880, two less than that
of 1910, five less than that of 1850,
three less than that of 1860 and one
less than that of 1870.
OF the twenty-seven Rutland county
towns six show smaller population
than that of 1891, four less than that
of 1900, three less than that of 1910,
one less than that of 1920, four less
than that of 1880 and three less than
that of 1850.
OF the nineteen Washington county
towns three show a smaller popula-
ton than that of 1920, seven less than
that of 1880, four less than that OF
1910, one less than that of 1850 and
one less than that of 1860
OF the twenty-three Windham coun-
ty towns eleven, or almost one-half
show a smaller population than that
of 1891, four less than that of 1900,
two less than that of 1910, two less
than that of 1920 and one less than
that of 1880.
OF the twenty-four Windsor county
towns six show a smaller population
than that of 1871, eight less than that
of 1900, three less than that of 1910,
one less than that of 1920, one less
than that of 1880 and one less than
that of 1850.
| Four towns show unbroken gains
from the beginning, Colchester, Der
by, Richford, St Johnsbury, but Rich
ford appears first in the census OF
1900. One town, Guilford, has lost
steadily with each succeeding enum-
Grafton.
Eighty towns and cities, or nearly a
third of the total number showed
gains during the past decade, but
only in few instances did this rep
resent the maximum population in
the history of the town. The gains
by counties during the past decade
,are as follows: Addison, two; Ben.
nington, four; Caledonia, five; Chit
tenden, six; Essex, one; and one UNI
organized town: Franklin, three
Grand Isle, one; Lamoille. seven (;
Orange, eight; Orleans, nine; Rut-
land, thirteen, Washington, seven /;
Windham, seven; Windsor, ten
1t Is not an easy matter to analyze
the causes of the losses shown. The
losses after 1910 show, probably that
emigrants came in up to that period
many Revolutionary soldiers seeking
homes in the new state. Large mum.
bers of young men left Vermont to
settle the Western states and others
were attracted to the mill cities OF
New England. The slump in rural
towns after 1850 probably was due in
part to the coming of the railroads
which naturally drew manufacturing
industries to towns along their routes
At one time there were a good many
small mills and factories throughout
Vermont. The stage routes wer,
abandoned, and the towns Off the rail
road gradually declined.
With the increasing possibilities o
agriculture and fruit growing fol
the development of our water pow
ers and the growth of the summer
tourist business there ought to be (
turn in the tide OF late our gains
practically have been limited to
handful of villages and cities contain
ing manufacturing enterprises. Th'
thing for Vermont to do is to fac,
the situation sQuarely and seek L
find remedy.-Montpelier Juornal.