Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-01-23
VERMONT FARMS FOR
/ RETURNING SOLDIERS
Green Mountain State Offers
Opportunity For Men Wishing
to Engage in Agriculture
Land Cheaper, Value of Prod
{, ucts Greater Than In West.

:; Last October Governor H. r. Graham
Appointed E. s. Brigham, State commits
gloner Of agriculture, and F. H. Bickford.
State farm labor agent, to represent Ver-
mont on New England Committee to
present to Secretary Of the Interior
Lane the opportunities which exist in
New England for returning soldiers. The
New England committee arranged with
the interior department for a hearing In
Springfield. Mass, January T. and Willis
N. Cady Of Middlebury, e. N. Connal of
Newport. F. W. Dunklee of Vernon and
o.. L. Martin Of Plainfield we're appointed
as additional delegates to this conference.
WHERE DOES VERMONT COME IN?
The question Of interest to the people
of Vermont is,-How does Vermont fit
into the plan Of Secretary Lane? The
plan outlined in the secretary's report
coutemplates that the Federal Govern
ment and the State Governments. In CO.
operation. will purchase tracts of waste
land in 5000 acres or more, including
swamps which need drainage, cut-over
bands and arid tracts which need re-
clamation, that these tracts will be re-
claimed and made into small farms so
that soldiers may be colonized thereon.
having about 100 farms in each colony.
~ wash the opinion of the Vermont COM
iynittee, and so communicated to the Fed
eral authorities that we have no tracts Of
5000 acres or more in one block which
would lend themselves readily to this
plan of the secretary, but that Vermont
does offer to the returning soldier the
best possible opportunity for acquiring
q home on the land.
~ MANY FARMS FOR SAILS
During the first year of the war,
, census was taken of two blocks Of six
towns each in two sections Of the State,
one being located in the Champlain VAL
ley and the other in more hilly section.
The question was asked Of each farmer,
, It's your farm for sale?" An average
Of 2Oes replied in the affirmative. This
Illustrates that we have in the State many
Yarns which are on the market. An in
lvestigation has shown that the prices
Of these farms will not exceed. in many
cases, what 1t would cost to replace the
buildings now built. Therefore, the re-
turning soldier may find in Vermont an
opportunity to acquire a farm ready to
OCCUPY, with the land cleared. which may
be bought for less money than 1t would
cost under present conditions to make
but a portion Of the improvements
which have already been made.
LISTERS SHOULD TAKE CENSUS
The committee believes that the best
procedure for Vermont is to take a cen
sus Of the farms which we have for sale,
preferably through the listers next April
and to have the agricultural depart
sment investigate such farms and as
certain such facts about them as pur-
,chasers would desire to know. Then the
publicity department of the State should
advertise these farms in such way that
they will be brought to the attention OF
1.-THE returning soldier and such assist
lance in the way Of advice on the part
;of the State should be given to the re-
turning soldier so that he may secure a
lHbod title of land ana so that he will be
LOCATED in such a way that there will
lbe.a possibility for him to succeed.
SHOULD APPEAL TO wESTERNERs
Not only should this opportunity appea
to- the returning soldiers, but to young
.Afaxmers in the West, where land has
now reached very high price. Land IL
Iowa now sells for from $3.50 to $500 PEI
acre. Land in Vermont can be bough
for much less, yet an acre of potatoes il
1913 was worth $179.4O in Vermont ant
but $95.76 in Iowa; an acre Of oats wa!
worth $3.50 in Vermont and but s26,SS IL
Iowa: an acre Of barley was worth s47.4
in Vermont and but s26.7S in Iowa; al
acre of corn was worth se46O in Vernon
and but 1882 in Iowa. although Iowa i
located in the famous corn belt of tn,
United States.
vermont's cheaper land, its create
value Of farm products per unit. base,
on nearness to market, should appea
to the returning soldier or to anyon
,eise seeking an opportunity on the Ian
ma It Is the opinion Of the committee tina
Vermont has but to make known it
opportunity in order to attract many PEG
pie to buy the farms which she has 70
sale