The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-11-10

California ........... 2,47e
This does not look as though Yer
mont farm houses were generally old
and primitive" and those who have
travelled extensively through the Mid
die West tell us that Vermont farm
houses compare favorably with those
in the heart Of our great central farm
ing region. Fortunately the new CEN
sus figures furnish US with other in
teresting comparisons These stats
tics show that running water is piped
into 62.9 per cent Of Vermont houses.
No other State in the Union equals
this record and only two or three ap-
proach it. Only eleven States surpass
Vermont in actual number Of water
systems in farm houses irrespective Of
area and population and Vermont is
one Of the smallest Of the States. For
purposes of comparison the percent
ages for the States previously men
toned are given: Vermont, 629; New
Hampshire, 524; Georgia, 1.8; Iowa,
1873; Wisconsin, IL; Illinois, 112;
Ohio, 16.1; Michigan, ISL; Indiana,
ia; Minnesota, 6.3; North Dakota,
60; South Dakota, 1872; Kansas, 90;
SIT.
The per cent Of farms reporting gas
or electric lighting system, which in
Vermont, usually means the latter
system, is illuminating in a double
sense of the term, and is given here
with: Vermont, 11.4; New Hamp-
shire, lib; Georgia, Is; Iowa, 1872;
so; Illinois, 9.S; Ohio, 14.7;
Michigan, 7.9; Indiana, 10; Minnesota,
rs; North Dakota, 5.S; South Dakota,
Sc; Kansas, 81; California, 25.9.
Only ten States report higher per
,ent Of telephones per farm than YER
mont. The automobile is becoming
on Vermont farms and the
Der cent Of farm-owned cars is prob
Ibly greater than Of the villages and
titles Of this State. Although in the
Of values, the farmers have
uttered heavily, general farming con-
itions seem to the writer Of this |
.rticle far better than they were ten
r twenty or thirty years ago. The
verage farmer has more money TO ,
pend, his house and barns are better, ]
e has more labor saving machinery,
nd he wears better clothes. Much Of '
he old-time isolation is gone. After :
he days work is done he and his fam
y can go to the nearby village or city e
1r entertainment in an automobile s
yer a road that, II not ideal, is vastly I
etter than any he could use fifteen
ears ago. He takes daily papers and c
sads them. Vermont farmers are not II
Rubes," whatever the comic papers n
.ay say. They are intelligent busi- {
sss man.
There is much more now 10 induce
,ung men and women to stay on Yer :
ont farms than there was in 1900 or
1910, because financial returns are I
Irer and better, and much Of the old I
me isolation has passed with the :.
ming of the automobile Mr. Rossi- =
r mentions the need % teaching in "
e public schools some sense Of obi 7.
.tion 70 Vermont This If an excel =
NJ suggestion. and along this lire il
ay be said that the Legislature 81
Is authorized the preparation and q
.blication of book on the resources q
d opportunities q Vermont This y
ok has been used IN the schools since p
le and yhen Il was published no ~
her State in the Union was carrying y
this kind Of teaching.
The State department Of sgricul- =
re has been very active in promot- %
: cooperative ereameries, in investi-