Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-12-01
FACTS ABOUT VERMONT.


Resources and Opportunities, published
by legislative authority for use as
supplementary reader in the public
schools. The volume is written by Wal
ter II. Crockett of the state publicity
bureau.
The new material in the book in
cludes comparisons of agricultural
products at the time the last census
was taken, with similar products half
a century or more ago. The value of
farm property in Vermont increased
from $7s,449,737 in 1850 to $145,399,-
72S in 1910. The average value of
Vermont farm was $2,646 in 1850 and
$4,445 in 1910. The average value of
farm land per acre was $1,000 in 1850
and $3l.l7 in 1910. The total value of
live stock was $12, 643,2 1928 in 1850 and
800 ,642, 1876 in 1910.
Vermont s importance as a dairy
state is not a recent achievement. In
1850 Vermont produced 12,137 $50
pounds of butter, ranking sixth in pro-
duction, and being surpassed only by
the states of New York, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. The same
rank was held in 1860. The amount of
butter made increased until 1880, de-
creased in 1890 and 1900, and showed
notable increase in 1910, the produc-
ton being 35,393,ls7 pounds, almost
twice the amount made in 1900. There
has been decrease in the amount of
cheese made. In 1850 Vermont ranked
third in the production of cheese, a
rank maintained in 1860 and 1870, al
though the amount decreased. In 1860
Vermont made more cheese than all the
Western states, exclusive of Ohio.
Vermont. ranked second in the pro-
duction of maple sugar in 1850 and
1860, but since that time has ranked
first. The largest amount reported was
in 1890,
Hay is the only crop that shows a
steady increase from 1850 to 1910,
while rye has decreased in amount each
decennial period since 1850.
By far the largest potato crop re-
ported was s,s69,45l bushels in 1910,
when starch factories fourished.
In 1850 Vermont ranked eighteenth
in amount of wheat raised, and in 1910
the rank was forty-first.
I. I
second in the production of hops, al
though at that time New York pro-
duced about nine.tenths of all the hops
grown in the United States. After 1870
the decline in hop production was rapid
in this state. In the early period of
Vermont s history considerable fax
was grown, and as late as 1860 Yer
mont was the largest producing
state in New England. A curious fact
is disclosed in the census report of 1860.
when Vermont is said to have grown
623 bushels of sweet potatoes. In 1910
Vermont ranked fourth in the produc-
ton of silk cocoons.
The Vermont manufacturing estab-
lishments in 1910 numbered 1853, com
pared with 1919 in 1850, but the vol
ume of business transacted had in
creased nearly eight fold during sixty
years, while the capital invested was
fourteen times as large in 1910 as it
was in 1850. The total value of Yer
mont's manufactured products was re-
ported in 1910 to be $5,O53, Ala. There
was a great slump in manufacturing
| during the second war with Great
Britain and the period Immediately
following, and it was not until 1910
that the total of 1910 was surpassed.
A wooden mill was established at
Bennington before the American Revo-
luton. While the number of wooden
mills has decreased in the last half
century, the amount and value of goods
made have increased largely.
AS early as 1884 a paper mill was
erected at Bennington and it is said
that much of the paper used at AL
bany, N. Y, prior to the erection of a
mill at Troy, was obtained at Benning
ton, being transported ON horseback
through the forests.
In 1910 there were in Vermont 2Oj
tanneries, 125 distilleries and 26 linseed
oil mills.
In connection with the water power
] resources of the state, information is
given concerning the principal lakes
and rivers of Vermont, including the
size and area of the lakes, the sources
direction, length and drainage area of
the rivers.
The department has written the edu.
cational authorities of each state and
territory asking if book of this kind
has been provided, and so far as can
be learned from the replies received
Vermont is the first state in the Union
to furnish the pupils of its schools
with information concerning its re.
sources and opportunities.
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