Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-04-23

quire established INDUSTRY, ana II Is not
based on the ease with which the pro-
moter can induce It's people to invest.
The opportunity for progress is based
on the type of man found here. He is
level headed earnest type that has
made good all over the world, and he
can be induced to remain, and many of
those who have acquired wealth and ex-
perience outside are ready to return,
both as residents and as builders Of in
dustries in the old State which now is
30 fittingly ready to go forward.
The present situation seems very ia
vorable to re-opening up this great
question OF industries, With a view of
seeing what may be done for the general
welfare of the people of Vermont.
AS a manufacturer it seems to me
that there are many evidences that a
certain kind Of industriaism will be a
great boon to the people. cannot
speak for all Kind OF industries. In fact
should be very much inclined to speak
against some kinds On the other hand,
there are some that would thrive here
under conditions that would result IA
vorably. not only TO the workers and in
vestors but to many others, such as
I
provement in the home market.
There arc many industries in which such
results may be obtained For instance.
there is scarcely any Industry in the
State of Connecticut that could not
thrive in Vermont and more than half
Of the Industries of Massachusetts could
| be favorably located here. OF course, 1t
| is not proposed to change Vermont into
! an industrial state in which there would
| be herding of undesirable people.
Neither is there to be recommended any
kind of industry in which the workers
are not favorably conditioned Further
more, 1t is idle to suggest making YER
mont the place for the manufacture of
anything into which the cost of trans
porting the material into the State and
out would constitute a large portion of
the total selling value of the product
| There is an erroneous idea that is al
together too prevalent; that towns of
| Vermont are Handicapped on account of
shipping facilities. There are many in
dustrial lines in which Vermont's ship
ping facilities are good enough. This
is also true regarding the power ques-
ton. Power may be generated by coal
|
unimportant. Not that shipping facilities
are not important; that power is not
required. but that these two elements are
relatively small compared with the other
elements in which Vermont towns have
a distinct advantage over other places.
The shipping problem is not a serious
| one for Vermont This Is particularly
true in lines in which the competitors
may be scattered in equally remote
places from the center of their market.
For instance. if the market for their
product extends through all the indus
trial States of this country and Europe,
the mere matter of location in Vermont
would not constitute a handicap that
! would seriously embarrass the Nermonter,
especially if the only competitors In
his line We're located, one in Missouri,
another in England, and other places
equally remote from the center of the
market
1t must not be inferred that Vermont
is restricted to making those things in
which the material is a very small part
of the value of the product, as in watch
making and the manufacture of very
fine machinery, for even heavy ma
chimes may advantaSeously be produced
here. In fact some of its most pros
porous Industries produce machines that
weigh about two tons each 1t is in
this latter class of machinery that Yer
mont has already demonstrated its abil-
ity, and is now capable of greater ad-
vancement. 1t has some very striking
examples of this kind in the towns of
Springfield and Windsor, to which
special reference will be made.
HOW TO DEVELOP INDUSTRIES.
1t is one thing to show that Vermont
needs industries and it is quite another
thing to show the way by which in
dustries may be built up. Yet it is not
such a difficult problem as it might
seem to one who is not in touch with
the subject,
| There seems to be a rather royal road
to travel toward the realization of an
! Industrial Vermont, an industrial Ver-
mont that will meet the desires of all
the people, one that will furnish good
market for the home agricultural pro-
ducts, and also place in which the
residents may find congenial occupa-
ton.
In order to point out this road it will
be necessary for me to refer to existing
examples. But before doing SO l wish
to plead guilty to a gross ignorance
regarding the other Industries In the
State. Perhaps many will readily pardon
me fer this ignorance, for | think that
as a people We are not thoroughly in
touch with each other. Cur business in
terests do not draw us together. Some
OF rs are best known outside of our own
| State, and many others have local in
terests that center around or near their
home town, SO that there is very little
that keeps us in communication. In
4 view of this general condition, per-
haps / will be pardoned for taking 1t
for granted that very little is known
about the Industries | shall describe.
The royal road to Industrial Vermont
is not short road in fact It is a
rather long road, but 1t Is fairly safe
ano easy road. The short roads TO in
dustrlal success are unsafe and are
routes by which very few succeed IN
getting through
There are for towns along the Con.
necticut river that are now enjoying a
wholesome Industrial growth; Springfield,
, Windsor, Bellows Falls and Brattleboro
| Springfield made the best record as a
| town according to the last census. Wind
made rapid strides industrially, and Brat
teboro has also within a recent period
gone forward with flying colors.