Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-10
VERMONT AS IT u.
succfnt Summary Of the states
Characteristics. History and Prog


The following excellent short article on
Vermont is taken from the Americana,
published at New York by tho Scientific
american. 1t gives a brief summary of
the early history Of the State, and shows
how exceedingly careful those Interested
were at the time, in keeping the control
OF the governing power in the hands Of
the people.
40 the author expresses Il: 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 noun.
tain'), from Able de Vermont OF France. .
one Of the New England States; Is bound
ed on the north BY the province Of Que
bee. Canada; on the south by Massa-
chusetts, on the east by New Hamp-
shire. and on the west by New York.
1t has an area of 1855 square miles, OF
which 30 square miles Is water: situated
between lat. a minutes ~ seconds and
IS minutes o seconds - degrees N. and
between lon. II minutes 33seconds q de-
grees w. @ minutes IS seconds and
minutes q degrees E. from Washington;
the State is 1915 miles in length, width
on northern border $50 miles, on southern
border Al miles. with irregular lines for
its eastern and western boundaries
average width SIS miles. The apparent
discrepancy in the mean width Is caused
by the Great Bend in the Connecticut
River. The geographical center Is in the
western part OF the town Of Mortified,
about 10 miles southwesterly from the
capita.. Montpelier in Washington
County.
AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE.
Vermont Is a State Of diversified in
dustries; agriculture and manufactures
based upon natural resources being par
amount. Ira Allen. in 1898, wrote: You
ask me II the Vermonters are good ag-
riculturists? I answer. they have not
made many geological experiments, nor
have they occasion. as the soil, with q
little cultivation. furnishes them with all
the necessaries OF life in abundance,
such as wheat, oats. rye. barley, cts
They have no necessity to Introduce fore
Ign grasses. where every hill and valley
affords heritage spontaneously, and ev-
cry plain permitted to remain a few
months untouched becomes a meadow"
While the development Of the States
natural resources. and subsequent IN
crease Of manufactures has enlarged its
commercial Importance. Vermont has
been and still remains an agricultural
commonwealth. The relative lmpor
lance OF its products change with the
generations, During the years 1850 to
1880 the breeding of Merino sheep was
En item Of great volume. and IL still, but
Of lessening value. Morgan horses are
known everywher as a Vermont product.
The wool clip in 1910 was reported at
369o.23 pounds; In 1900. 1.SS3. 255 pounds.
Value Of the dairy in 1910. s2.Os.737; in
1900. 363. 81, 427. Oats and potatoes COM
pared by the two periods were relatively
equal: wheat and several other cdops
had almost disappeared. Corn had dou-
bled in amount and value. In 1900 the
value Of all farm products was o.s92.
In 1902 the appraisal Of 5.aU.Soe acres
personal property. 341,96e,o s6.
There are four mountain ranges in the
Satte,-the Green Mountains. which ex-
tend in a north and south direction. lying
. little to the west Of its geographical
center; the Taconic. nearly parallel. sit
uated In the southwestern part, extend
ing from the Massachusetts, line north
to Addison County; the Red Sandrocks
lying along the east shore Of Lake
Champlain, forming foothills to the
Green Mountains: the Granite elevations
that are not properly range, but ex-
tend southwark from Canada for about
two-thirds Of the East Side" Up to 1850
iron mines were a source OF profit along
the Taconics. gradually reced!ng In i'm
portance and the industry was aban
doned about 1880. On the western slope
OF these mountains lies a belt Of slate
rock from five to ten miles fide, and
extending 30 miles south Of West Castle
ton. situated In two States. The slate
product Of Vermont is second only to
that OF Pennsylvania; income In 1901.
81. 1872 191, -Quarries first extensively
worked in 1858. In tho counties OF Ben
ntngton. Rutland and Addison. marbles
Of pre- eminent quality and beauty Of
colors abound. the industry centering at
Proctor. in Rutland County. Vermont
supplies more marble than all other
States combined; value OF the annual
product. in 1910, being over 100000. The
zone Of activities fer granite lies In