Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1918-03-01
GALE REPLIES TO
NEW HAVEN FLING
Results in Maple Sugar Orders
from Connecticut
Newspaper Mistaken in Its Notion that
Vermont Farmer Is to Keep His Sugar
I ''to Hum ~

Vermont Farmer Is to Keep His Sugar
L "to Hum ~
ATTORNEY John f. Gale of Guilford
recently received from Philip Hewitt,
now Of New Canaan, Conn, who worked
for him at the Gale farm in Guilford
few years ago, an editorial from the
New Haven Register which borrowed
trouble about Vermonters and their
coming maple sugar crop.
Mr.. Gale wrote Mr.. Hewitt a reply to
the editorial, which Mr.. Hewitt sent
to the Register, and the reply was
printed in that paper. The result has
been good bunch of orders from Con.
necticut, which Mr.. Gale has turned
over to maple sugar makers.
The editorial in the Register, entitled
Vermont s Approaching Ordeal, was as
follows:
off Mr.. Hoover has figured on the
Vermont 'sugarin Off as factor in
the relief of the sugar shortage he
will be disappointed, for the Green
Mountain boys have sent down word
from the snowdrifts and maple groves
that maple sugar is going to be kept
right at home. this year, and that the
rest of the country will have to worry
along without it. This may or may
not be creating market. But if this
report be true, the country will look
for a falling off in importations of lux
uries into the country of the lost r.
"How will Vermont arrange to pay
for the Ford and the melodeon9 In
other wears the owner of the maple
grove could dispose of his product for
from 80 to 40 cents a pound, and with
that money buy cane sugar at eight
cents TO pour on his buckwheat cakes
and sweeten his coffee. Net profit,
about 400 per cent, and fairly good
business for the simple uncuturcd
farmer, the ignoramus in the world of
business.
Within n few weeks now the Yer
montcr is going to have n terrible eco
monte problem put TO him for solu
ton. Shall he keep his beloved sugar,
the pride of his heart and the product
of his trees, buckets, evaporators and
saptank, or shall he yield to the temp
tation to amass real money! These
long winter evenings in the real Yer
monter's home are given over to get
ting out the scalloped moulds for the
cakes, polishing up the stirring kettle,
and preparing the cans and bottles for
the syrup. When the news of the de-
termination of the Vermont farmer to
keep his sugar ito hum, penetrates to
the outside world there will be a bull
market on the product, prices will
bound upward faster than did those on
wheat when the war broke.
"Then will come the test, the ter
rife and trying mental ordeal which
takes place in the mind of everyone
who has something to sell there is
steadily increasing demand when to
unload. How high will the price have
to go to bring out the sugar? The New
England frmness, obstinacy else
where, will be tcsted-and the farmer
can t get his cane syrup for his cakes
at any panic prices. He will be be-
tween the devil of commercialsm and
the deep sea of syrup.
Following is the text of Mr.. Gale S
reply to the above:
"Gale Farm, Guilford, Vt.
".Jan. 81, 1918.
''P. J. Hewitt, Esq,
"New Canaan, Conn.
"Dear Phil:-Your favor of 2Sth
inst. with clipping from the New Haven
Register is received. This editorial is
not to be taken seriously. All news
paper men have to provide a certain
amount of filling for their papers, and
it is Just as legitimate for Connect
cut editors to amuse themselves by
talking about Nermontcrs as it il for
Vermont editors to call attention to the
wooden nutmeg, that Connecticut ped
dlers used to sell
If weather and snow conditions are
favorable there is little doubt that
moro maple sugar and syrup will be
made in Vermont this spring than for
many years, and more will be sold
than usual. The price is not likely to
be much, if any, higher than last sea
son. Cane sugar has been sold here at
10 cents Il pound all winter. when, there
was any to sell, and while we have
been short at times, vet there has been
no complaint.
Vermonters are all white folks, and |
are willing to divide as long as they
have anything left. All are much in |
terested i'll winning this war, and we
will even contribute our 'Fords and
if necessary. Our folks
have been wickedly hoping that Spain
would join with Germany, then we
would send another delegation of Yer
monters over there and trim her up
again, 1t is apparently only the fear
of this which keeps Spain out of it.
Don Z hesitate to order your maple |
goods as usual.
every truly yours,
"JOHN +. GALE"