The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-02-15
FACE COVERED WITH pIMPLEs
NO "pRY ROT" IN VERMONT
Olin Merrilrs Answer to New Eng
land Homestead Article.

Following is a rousing letter writ
ten by Olin Merrill of Enosburg Falls
in reply to a recent article which APP
peared In the New England Home
stead.
There is no more dry rot in Yer
mont than in western Massachusetts,
northern New Hampshire or Maine.
and you might continue clear
through New York state. This Is true
of all the older rural sections OF the
United States, also Iowa, probably
the finest agricultural section in the
world where IS per cent OF its S.
900 square miles of territory is till
able, and the soil Is of such character
that crops can be raised from that
per cent.
We might turn around, and from
financial standpoint ask what is the
trouble with Massachusetts? Why is
1t that Boston and Massachusetts,
have lost control of all the great
railroads? Where is the Atchison
and Topeka, the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy? Where have they gone?
Why was II necessary for the Boston
and Maine to go into hands OF New
York fnanciers. 1t is well known
that all OF the great financial inter
ests which used to be controlled by
Boston capitalists have been trans
ferred to Wall street in New York.
OF course, this is not abnormal so far
as II relates TO Boston, as the centra-
lizing tendency OF financial interests
in New York touches the whole coun-
try.
Why Is it that Massachusetts, al
lows Detroit, Mich, to make 60 per
cent. OF the automobiles OF the coun-
try, Why is II that the Stevens-Dur-
year and Knox companies are out
classed in the manufacture of auto
mobiles by firms in Michigan. while
the facilities for manufacturing au-
tomobiles are equally as good in
Massachusetts as in Michigan
Water seeks its level So does
Everything else. The young men and
women that are reared in Vermont,
after finishing their education natur.
Tally turn to those avenues OF bust
ness which afford the greatest return
The census just taken shows, beyond
any question, that the centers OF pro
lgress and prosperity are those domin
ated by manufacturing interests. You
feel the effects OF this in Springfield
also in Hartford and all through the
Connecticut valley. We can match
our towns with any of those In Mass
achusetts OF the same population. A
large number Of criticisms that are
passed upon Vermont are WHOLLY
without warrant.
have just been reading bool
entitled Expansion OF New England
II shows how the great west has beer
populated by New England people
You will find that Vermonters as wei
as other New Englanders have beer
the bone and slnew OF the west ant
have performed enduring service II
the building up OF these western EN-
pires. whose power, wealth and infiu
: ence are OF inestimable national bene
! At.
Vermont never was more prosper
Gus in the world. The people wer
never so we'll housed; the sayin
! banks never began to have tn
. amount OF deposits they have today
! never have mad so many fine schoo
houses; increase in Libraries In tn
! last decade has been phenomenal, Is
towns out OF 247 towns having libra
. les today; and the benefits that III
u people OF Vermont are enjoying al
G equal TO those OF any commonwealth
II Of the country.
J. To be sure, the birth rate is 10,
4 but We would suggest that II is n,
- good taste for anyone In Massach
sets to read the riot act to Vernon
ers on the birth rate. Unless stati
tics are misleading. the American ell
nent Is just about as prolific In We
-. mont as in Massachusetts. We mig
suggest an explanation or reason, wi
New York city gained 100000
* population while the gain in Il
r. whole state OF Massachusetts, W,
DC less than 100000. These questions.
ie course, all have their rel
IN live relations and are explained VIII,
lg their causes are understood.
IN We have no gold or silver with
the borders OF Vermont. We have O
ne copper mine, which cannot be VOL
ne ed until copper is more scarce in A
Oh iona, Montana and other great &C
is per states. We have marble, gram
at and slate. and those industries a
ne being developed as fast as the
~ nands OF the country at large.
at NO state In the union Is more Q,
nd nomically administered than "
in mont or has more modern systel
ID. OF administration. Compare Q
Mt insane asylums with those In Mas
he chusetts, or any other state: G
states prison. house OF correct
and Industrial school; our tails 4
all FIRST class, most OF them M
~ buildings. Instead OF dry rot
vermont, we are leading the strel
co QUA life In more ways than Of
Take this village, with only s6C
"a. 900 Grand list, population OF i2
ls We have just built schoolhou
no which with the grounds cost $3.50
~. We will wager that you can't eul
ey hat In any village In Massachuse
ng OF the same size and wealth. Co
cd pare the tax rates OF all the progr
al. sive and enterprlsing villages OF V
he mont, Start at Newport and 20
A Brattleboro on the east side, m
70. Bennington to Richford on the W.
w. side. and you will find that they
or. taxing Themselves heavily for mod,
ON improvements
.ha we have ono OF the best grs
crossing laws in the country. {
law Is better than Massachusetts.
~ Il compels the abollshment OF
y many grade crossings every year.
I'D. have one Of the best public sery
US laws in the United statos, far bet
ny, than Massachusetts, and equally
lrs. good an Gov Hughes public utl
AID law In New York. We expect