Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-07-03

Inc physician KNOWS that the seat OF disease is often
remote from the point where symptoms manifest them
Selves that his diagnosis go deeper if he would reach
the basis of trouble and effect a
We sometimes discuss surface problems of the hill towns
of Vermont with the idea that the rubbing of little
tuous ointment will save their troubles of both spirit and
body and bring back bounding prosperity and growth These
towns will again thrive but not of think
We overlook the that country is comparatively
and that still undergoing a rapid process of re-
adjustment to changing conditions When the slow stage
coach displaced by the steam railroad many stage
house. with it's lore of traditions and "reminiscences great
fell into decadence. Many landlord country av-
like Otheo found his occupation gone may easily
picture him bewailing the decay of his whole region
If the stage bonface of old could lived
era OF the auto tourist and the search for the beautiful in
our hills he would have realized that the decay of the ay
side Inn was only temporary and that the country
y adjusting itself to developments, preparatory
growth in a different form.
So of the hill towns Vermont as well as others
that worship the gods of the Valleys suffering temper
eclipse When the pioneers this region they
naturally settled on the lands drained by nature, and cult
waited the soil just above the swamp line The removal
the Misunderstanding forests with their chens
and grateful shades and the development of lands
more easily labe caused many rough meadow the hill
side TO be given to past rage
In like manner industries which the backbone
we'll az the blood and of of country villages
have either beer absorbed by greater fish, obeyng
modern business development have sought locations
closely connected with transportation This loss has
ly Slapped village communities of eblood but has also de-
prived surrounding farms of income from honemarets
AS the automobile tourist is helping reincarnate the
landlord Of the stagecoach and carrying life and
tvy to rural communities the high Of living and
industry is forcing to study how may utilize
what had to treat land we'll as how we
increase the productivity of that already cutva
ton We looking to hill towns and realizing that in
the not distant future rapid multiplication
population of the United States will demand the careful
tivation of every foot of soil available
What shall do for these hill towns in the mean
time? 1t is written that shall not live by bread alone
and has been well said that sefsacrcng can
find grand field for labor in Of the temporarily de-
cadent hill towns of loved But this not all
Along with not little learning need much patriot
ISM Our towns need the missionary capitalist than
sef-Sacrificing young student
By Of illustration extreme and therefore easily
appreciated suppose the of Rhode Island when ask
ed for credit help complete proposed new railroad into
Providence, had said Though cannot help you capital
send you few educated missionaries and even civil
engineers from colleges to stay with you The railroad
needed trained and engineers but its fundamental
was far deeper, and all work stopped.
The Vermont community that has lost local indus
tries and is struggling for existence may have even an
abundance Of good soil 1t may also have the possibilities
of vast waterpower running to waste But when began
down. holders of money said they would longer invest
Conditions that stop investments in community
prevent people from oanng money there where credit
draws the line growth stops and decay begins.
The fundamental problem of Vennont's temporarily de-
cadent town how to improve its credit and here
all be missionaries to all communities in commonwealth
We must stop egislatng capital out of Vermont
One looking to the encouragement of capital
help develop Vermons natural has already been
naugurated under the administration of Governor Fletcher
in the exemption from taxation Of money loaned five per
cent by individuals. Many believe that this should sup
pemened by act extending the provision to money loaned
for Vermons development by banking institutions so more
money be available Certain is that party platforms
in 1912 demanded that the individual be put on an equality
with banks not that banks be Disseminated against in con-
nection with loans The credit system supperen
all this is worthy of consideration by itself later on
When we have made it possible under favorable
conditions for the young TO develop farms and our
waterpower and industries to spring up so
that our communities may have products SELL then
the problems of better schools higher salaries for teach
and the Of the auto truck for improved TRANSFORMATION
OF freight where railroads CO. and more expensive
roads and keeping youth in Vermont other
questions will point to Their solution