The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-01-20

Ereal peneNulenCe ana design ha
assigned to the man Of industry, whel
! he is first making a settlement in tn
uneultivated parts Of America and il
J two or three years he acquires a yer,
comfortable and independent subsis
tence for a family, derived from nS
Iother source but the earth and his owr
industry"
The same authors description Of the
activity and enterprise which eharac,
terized the Vermont settlers reads like
the prospectus Of Western Board Of
Trade "A spirit Of activity and en-.
terprise is everywhere found in a new
State. Depending upon their own in
dustry, and having nothing to expect
from speculation and gaming in public
funds, or from the errors or vices of
government, the views Of the people
are directed TO their own empIoyments
and business, as the only probable
method Of acquiring subsistence and
estate. Hence arises a spirit Of uni
versal activity and enterprise in busi-
ness. No other pursuits or prospects
are suffered TO divert their attention;
for there is nothing to be acquired in
any other way. Neither begging, or
gaming, or trading upon public
funds, measures, and management can
be profitable employments to the
people who live at a distance from
wealthy cities and the seat Of govern
ment. The only profitable business is
to pursue their own profession and
calling. To this pursuit their views
become directed; and here their activ-
ity and enterprise become remarkable.
No difficulty or hardship seems to dis
cou.ze them; and the perseverance of
few years generally serves TO over
come the obstacles that lay in their
way at first. Ii is only those who
are Of this enterprising spirit who
venture to try their fortunes in the
woods; and in few years il generally
raises them into easy and comfortable
circumstances"
1t is a temptation to parallel many
Characterization and praises Of early
Vermont with familiar boastings Of
of Western historians and promoters,
as each new territory from western
New York to the Pacific slope has
been hailed as the country Of mans
perfect dreams. The climate Of YER
mont is the most healtful and invigor
ating * the world; the woods and
streams produce game and fish in
abundance never witnessed elsewhere;
the mean period of human life ex-
ceeds that Of the ancient and popu4I
lous countries Of Europe; the soil ex
nibits a power Of vegetable life never
exceeded in any part Of the globe; the
political institutions guarantee per-
feet freedom and protect all classes in
perfect enjoyment Of every right and
the population is made up
If the brave and hardy, the sifted and
selected Of older societies. All this is
Western and stamps the
men who made Vermont with the un- /
mark Of the Western /
pioneer.
Vermont was the first Northwest in !
he manner Of it's settlement and in |
he character of its population. 1t {
vas opened for possession just when /
he American people began their /
apid march toward the Pacific. 1t [
ook nearly 200 years Of American a
ettlement to reach and people the 1
alleys Of Vermont. Southwark the Q
rorgess has been fully as slow, and +
he ragged line Of settlement hugged o
lose to the summit Of the Appalach- j
ans. After the Revolution began the Il
reat migration, which is the out c
tanding fact in American history, a
,hich peopled the vast convex Of the .
ointment from the western slope Of a
he Alleghenies TO the foothills Of the y
.ockies. From Plymouth and Massa- D
husetts Bay TO southern Vermont the 4
dvance Of settlement was scarcely a B
lile a year. The settlers were few;
ldians held the country and the soil D
as forbidding. The forests were 4
ogged with vines and brush, and 1t G
,ok a man a lifetime to clear 30 b
-res. On the prairies q strong plow d
nd four horses changed virgin soil "
to fertile farm in one season There q
frontiersmal's advance was 20 70 d
miles a year. It was this physical oi
.ct which enabled the nation % take =.
,ssosion II the vast mid-coHtineHt v
fourth The time which had been s.
auired for the conquest % the At S
ntic slope III
The territory q Vermont is not Vi
airia bnt i far surpasseE lower New s.
irland r. agricultural pozEbiii'iea 81
tire Cannerticut md Charpa.n -
urtries ard The iHrumerrble narrow 81