Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-30

census the value of produces of Vermont
shops and factories showed an increase
OF but per cent. in five years, tho small
est Increase shown for any state In the
Union. This figure compares with "A ma
tional Increase Of nearly per cent.
Experience seems to indicate that 1t
would be waste Of energy, ana per-
haps of capital. to endeavor to Increase
textile or similar classes of Industrial en-
terprise In a State which has never taken
kindly to manufacturing In general. The
| waterpower of the State should, OF
course, be conserved and utilized. and TO
that extent manufactures OF the special
! tied and ingenious sort could be profit
! ably encouraged. The returns OF the
| last Industrial census reveal the interest
| ing fact that almost half OF the entire
power generated In the State was Sc
! cured from water wheels. Maine alone
among the States exceeded Vermont in
the proportion of watcrpower utilized for
| Industrial purposes. When this natural
| advantage has been perperly exploited
| and utilized, Vermont should advance the
| value of manufactured products from n
meagre per cent to figure indicating
more normal growth
| If the Greater Vermont association Is
| to accomplish its purpose most effective
| ly, It will bear in mind the tendency of
the State throughout its long and honor
able history. to remain principally agri-
| cultural. Vermont should turn her atten-
ton to the opportunity which exists to-
| day to degree never before known of
catering to the enormous urban popula-
ton almost at her doors. Within scarce
! ~ more than IL hours ride of st. Johns
bury 100000 people reside in cities ex-
cecding 5000 inhabitants. The general
movement from the country to the city.
never more marked than at the presen,
time, increases the demand for staple
articles of food almost TO urgency. Many
OF these products Vermont is pre-emi-
nontly qualified to furnish.
The increasing tendency of the nation
toward Industrial operations upon ar
enormous scale carries win II the ever.
present possibility Of periods of depres
sion, uncertainty, and lack of employ
ment There is, moreover, the tempta
ton, SO clearly revealed in the recen
labor troubles at Lawrence. to import
aliens of q score of races, ignorant Of
American ideals and traditions, and thus
to increase In some of the States the pos
sibilities of unrest, poverty, and distress
Agricultural states Ike Vermont. al
though they may possess less aggregat,
wealth, have it within their power to Sc
cure stability, excellence OF population
and individual prosperity.
These may in the end far surpass The
highest achievements of industrial com
nunities.
If the new movement in Vermont shall
lead to intelligent and progressive agr
culture, to conservation OF antural re
sources and Of scenic charms. to the I'm
migration to the state of high quality
Of citizens-tired Of the servtude and eX
element of the cities and of !ndust ria
life--and to a determined purpose to tax,
advantage of the needs of the other
States which have abandoned agricul.
ture and turned their attention in fever
ish fashion toward Industrial develop
nent. the years to come may easily find
the small and beautiful Green Mountain
state one of the most contented. prosper
Gus. virile communities among the North
western States. In the long run, grea,
aggregate wealth and rapid increase OF
population. drawn from all quarters o!
the world, may prove a poor test of per.
, | manent DrOsDeritv