Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-09-27
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER II, 1919.
VERMONT.


icana, published at New York by the
Scientific American. 1t gives a brief
summary of the early history of the
State, and shows how exceedingly
careful those interested were at that
time, in keeping the control of the
governing power in the hands of the
people.
AS the author expresses it: 1.-THE form
of government was very democratic in
character"
The result was State that has ever
since been the pride of its citizens, and
highly respected by all.
VERMONT, "Green Mountain State
(Old Style French Virdmont. "a
green mountain'O, from Able de
Vermont of France; one of the New
England States; is bounded on the north
by the province of Quebec, Canada; on
the south by Massachusetts,, on the east
by New Hampshire, and on the west by
New York. 1t has an area of 1866
square miles, of which 430 square miles
surface is water; situated between lat.
40 "A and As O. AZ N. and between
Ion. II SO and 730 rs w. e. 95 and s.
20 E. from Washington); the State is
1875 miles in length width on northern
border 80 miles, on southern border Al
miles, with irregular lines for its east
ern and western boundaries, average
width 81. 5 miles. The apparent discrep-
ancy in the mean width is caused by the
''Great Bend in the Connecticut River.
The geographical center is in the west
ern part of the town of Mortified,
about 10 miles southwesterly from the
capital, Montpelier, in Washington
County.
AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE. Yer
mont is State of diversified industries;
agriculture and manufactures based
upon natural resources being para
mount. Ira Allen, in 1898, wrote: You
ask me if the Vermonters are good ag-
ricuturists? | answer, they have not
made many geological experiments, nor
have they occasion, as the soil, with a
little cultivation, furnishes them with
all the necessaries of life in abundance,
such as wheat, oats, rye, barley, etc.
They have no necessity to introduce
foreign grasses, where every hill and
valley affords heritage spontaneously,
and every plain permitted to remain a
few months untouched becomes q
meadow" While the development OF
the States natural resources, and sub
sequent increase of manufactures, has
enlarged jts commercial Importance,
Vermont has been and still remains ar
agricultural commonwealth. The rela-
tive Importance of its products change
with the generations. During the year;
1850 to 1880 the breeding of MerinC
sheep was an item of great volume, anC
is still, but of lessening value. Morgan
horses are known everywhere as Yer
mont product. The wool clip in 184I
was reported at 1899, 235 pounds; il
1900, 1888, 253 pounds. Value of tn;
dairy in 1910, $2,0O8, 1877; in 1900, 1853,
25l, 427. Oats and potatoes compared
by the two periods were relativel,
had almost disappeared. Corn hat
doubled in amount and value. In 100
the value of all farm products was S33,
$40, 1872. In 1902 the appraisal o
5,207, 300 acres for taxation purpose
was $12O, 831 ;O99; personal property
SAL, 956, 365.
NATURAL RESOURCES. - There ar
four mountain ranges in the State, til
Green Mountain, which extends in
north and south direction, lying littl
to the west of its geographical center
the Taconic, nearly parallel, situated i
the southwestern part, extending fror
the Massachusetts line north to Addiso
County; the Red Sandrocks, lying alon
the east shore of Lake Champlain
forming foothills to the Green Mount
aims; the Granite elevations that ar
not properly range, but extend south
ward from Canada for about two third
of the East Side" Up to 1850 iro
mines were source of profit slong tn
Taconics, gradually receding in import
ance, and the industry was abandone
about 1880. On the western slope G
these mountains lies belt of slate roc
from five to ten miles wide, and extend
ing 30 miles south of West Castletor
situated in two States. The slate pre-
duct of Vermont is second only to tha
of Pennsylvania; income in 1901
81, l62, l91, -quarries first extensivel
worked in 1858. In the counties of Der
nington, Rutland and Addison, marble
of pre-eminent Equality and beauty Q