Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-02-22

the building up of these western en-
plres. whose power, wealth and in
fiuenre are of inestimable national
benefit.
Vermont never was more prosper
Gus in the world. The people were
never so we'll housed; the savings
banks never began to have the
amount Of deposits they have TODAY;
never have had so many fine school
houses; increase in libraries in the
last decade has been phenomenal, 80
towns out of 247 towns having libra
rles today; and the benefits that the
people of Vermont are enjoying are
equal to those Of any commonwealth
of the country
To be sure, the birth rate is low.
but we would suggest that it is not
good taste for anyone in Massachu-
sets to read the riot act to Vermont
ers on birth rate. Unless statistics
are misleading, the American element
is just about as prolific in Vermont as
in Massachusetts. We might suggest
an explanation or reason why New
York city gained 81 900, 900 in popu]a-
ton while the gain in the whole state
of Massachusetts was less than $780,
900. These questions, of course, all
have their relative relations and are
explained when their causes are I'M
derstood.
We have no gold or silver within
the burders of Vermont. We have
one copper mine. which cannot be
worked until copper is more scarce in
Arizona, Montana and other great
copper states. We have m rhle,
granite, and sla'e and those industries
are being developed as fast as the de-
mands Of the country at large allow.
No state in this Union is more
economically administered than Yer
mont, or has more modern systems of
administration. Compare our insane
asylums with those of Massachusetts,
or any other state; our states prison,
house Of correction and industrial
school; our jails are all first class.
most of them new buildings. Instead
of dry rot in Vermont, we are lead
ing the strenuous life in more ways
than one. Take this village. with
only $780, 900 grand list, population
of 1900. W. have ust built school
house which, with the grounds. cost
S37, 0OC. We will wager a hat that
you can't equal that in any village in
Massachusetts of the same size and
wealth. Compare the tax rates of all
the progressive and enterprising vii
ages of Vermont Start at Newport
and go to Brattleboro on the east side
from Bennington to Richford on the
west side, and you will find that they
are taxing themselves heavily for
modern improvements.
We have one of the best grade
crossing laws in the country. Our
law is better than Massachusetts, as
IF ooponoIc aho1i rb Of 90 mo n
grade crossings every year. We have
one of the best public service laws ir
the United States, far better thar
Massachusetts and equally as good as
Governor Hughes public utility law
in New York. We expect the pres
ent legislature will appropriate yearly
about $500, 000 for improved perma
nent highways. 1t is admitted by
all we'll posted automobiles thai
Vemont is far and away ahead OF
New Hampshire, rural New York an1
Maine in the character of it's high
ways.
It is not fair or just to measure
Vermont with Massachusetts,. The
increased wealth of Massachusetts rs
500, coo. coo year. Vermont is only
about 5000. 900 year. You might
just as we'll compare Boston with
New York city. The increased
wealth in New York is $500, 900, 900 &
year and with Boston not one-tenth
part of it.
That article is founded entirely or
the impossible. II hunts out the de
fects of our state and magnifies then
and minimizes the great progress tina
has been made. My knowledge O
Vermont covers 40 years and l an
somewhat familiar with the progress
of the other New England states
Take it all in all, I am not ASHAMED
to have our state measured up besid,
any other state, but in saying this thu
conditions must be carefully analysed
We are an inland, mountainous state
We have no large rivers like Maine
We never can compete in the develop
ment of electrical power with thos
commonwealth which have might
rivers. We are far removed from tn
sea coast and the cost of transports
: ton for crude materials is large. w
never shall be great manufacture,
state like Massachusetts, Rhod
, Island or Connecticut, The Almight
, never designed Vermont for such de
velopment, but it is the ''Switzerlan
of America. has the most beautiful
J mountains of any state in the Who'll
{ Union, and in time will become tn
! most favored spot for tourists an
for men of wealth to find leisure AM
t rest from the busy turmoils of cit
life.
And last, but perhaps best Of all, lie
me add that progressive spirit is az
tuatlng everyday life in Vermont a
. the present time.
6 -.