Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-11-26

ment practical working basis for the promotion of the
common veal is the chief industrial problem confronting
the members of the Legislature in particular well the
people and taxpayers of Vermont in general
We know what it means to conserve the public health,
and have solved the problems of sanitation and wat
supply and general health have few States in
the Union, Vermont having been pioneer in the establish
ing Of State laboratory of hygiene for the benefit of every
community and every individual in the State We know the
necessity of keeping young men and young at
home to help develop commonwealth. We appreciate
the desrabty of trading at home instead of other States
well of encouraging home investments and home loans
and home enterprises We readily how it would
njme State have marble and granite and lumber
worked into finished products elsewhere instead of here at
home. where the benefit of the employment of
skilled labor and in various other have shown
progressive tendencies a State.
Vermont like every other State has neglected however
to adopt combination of the progressive ideas manifested
in the different directions enumerated by making it OBJ
jec to devote the development of watepower to the
creation and upbuidng of home industries Here
grandes possibilities of growth and development State
speaking for industrial standpoint well from the
point Of view Of Vermont summer
We need electric energy in the illumination and beauti
flying of rural resorts well for the development of
industries and the adoption Of the most modern machinery
and methods farms We need electric energy the
villages scattered all this State We need it for fur
ther big industries in manufacturing centers and
ture has put in hands the of utilizing vast store
of white COAL which, unlike the hard coal of Pennsylvania
and the soft coal of regions elsewhere in the country
The grievous neglect of our State whole to
slider these great possibilities seriously is all the
inexcusable in view of the fact that few communities like
Moisve and Swanton and ardwck and others have shown
far enterprise than of the larger communities
by developing power for their own benefit not only
for purposes of illumination but also for the encouragement
of industrial development. Those live communities have
pointed the for the whole State and reminded of the
truth and presenday application Of that old aage what
man has done can do"
Let briefly consider these special instances of
power conservation, and from them to general pol
icy which be utilized for the whole State The develop
men of Lake Lamoie through the artificial creation of
beautiful body of water serving not only of
constant power but also attractive location for sum-
visitors in cottages is manifesy of far greater
value to people the State whole than hun
dred times the money invested in great power for
transmission almost entirely into Massachusetts, and Rhode
Island and Connecticut for the upbudng of those States in
stead of
What we need not only to encourage the development
of Lake Lamoles in Of other communities in Ver
mont where similar projects possible at comparatively
small expense, but also the adoption of means Of
couragg the great hyroeectrc plants like those of the
New England Power company the Deerfeld river and
elsewhere to seek to develop industries Vermont that
shall their power instead of building up industries in
other States.
Taking up these projects in order the great question is
how encourage other communities in Vermont to de-
veop water power have Morrisvle and Swanton and
Hardwick? Well have established State laboratory to
help towns ascertain whether their water supply is polluted
and determine other questions of sanitation and health
We have provided State forester to help develop forestry
private lands well State preserves. We have fur
nished State college extension work for farmers
Why should have State engineer ready to help
point possibilities and locate hydrOeectrc
plants and map Lake Lamoles that shall work
cusvey for the upbuidng of the communities in which
they are located?
You probably conure visions of great expense when
you this question: but fortunately the State
University has both civil and electrical engineers and with
but slight increase in expense both those departments
could be ready call for communities in all parts of the
desiring start the conservation of water power for
their benefit
When we consider the large and far-reachng results
that secured very slight expense by utilizing the
civil engineers thus already in this State
becomes evident that the coming Legislature will be sadly
remss if negects to adopt promptly to pro-
mote the development of hydro-elecrc by the
spective of State wherever this possible
and to provide whatever legislation necessary to enable
towns combinations of towns to finance public works of
this sort.
On the hand outs