The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-03-24
PEOPLE DRIFTING
FROM THE TOWNS
Statistician Tells St. Adams Club That
VerrnOnt's Losing POpulatiOn-Ad-
vises Prompt Action.

ST. ALBANS. March 24-W. F.
Rossiter of Concord, \. H., author of
the famous RoSsiter report on Vermont,
published 10 years ago, spoke before the
ST Adams City club last evening, and
devoted himself TO a discussion of Yer
mont conditions. based upon a study of
census figures and his own observations
a. a part-time resident of the state every
year.
Mr.. Rossiter. who is one of the coun-
try's foremost StatiSticians, has just come
from Washington, where he has been en-
gagged in advising with federal authorities
over the reapportionment of congressman
in accordance with the 1920 census. He
has also been the head of a committee
whose services were enlisted by Secretary
Hoover to investigate and reorganize sta
tistical work of the department of COM
mprce.
Mr. Rossiter contended that all is not
well with Vermont, that the drift of pop
ulation Is away from the state for GER
tain reasons and that Vermont must act
forcefully and determinedly to check the
forces of decline. showing that the pOpu-
lation increase in Vermont III the past
so years is only the same as the absolute
increase from 1890 TO 1900, and dcclar-
ing that had the population of the coun-
try increased at the Vermont rate we
would have only 10000, 900 people in the
country now. or less than the actual to-
tai in 1910. The problem of population
decline now tends to center III our towns.
In 1900 there were seven towns showing
a decreasing population; in 1910. eight
in 1S20-36: in 1S40-9S; in 1S50-l06
in 1SG0-139: i'm 1S70-149; in 1890
100; in 1920-1SG. The changes might
indicate mere shift from county to
town but this is only a small part Of
the problem, although it is in progress.
If all the maximum OF town population
be utilized, the population of the state
in 1920 would exceed 10000. he said.
This would give the state % per cent
more people than it really has; Orange
county. 81 per cent more people than
actually reported in 1920; Addison,
Windham and Windsor, about 30 per-
cent"
Mr.. Rossiter pointed out that the ex-
captions TO the decrease are practically
in the 10 largest communities, Burllng-
ton. Rutland, Barre, Montpelier, st. Al
bans. Bennington. Brattleboro, Bellows
Falls and Colchester. There are, he said,
about 81. 900 less people in Vermont out
side the 10 largest towns and cities than
there were in 1850. The increase in the
latter has Appropriated 10000, hence.
the 10 cities and towns have made good
the loss and contributed the states in
crease of some $4,000 since 1850. The
number of towns under 800 population
in 1850 was 30. and in 1920 was IA In
1880 one-third of all the towns had
population of under LOCO, while III 1920
-1.IsJ towns. much over One-haIf were
under 600 The towns with population
between 1000 and 1000 have remained
about stationary.
Vermont has sent an undue number of
sons and daughters to other states. Mr..
RoSsiter declared. In 1910 the total ma
tiveS i'm Vermont and Elewhere num-
bercd 4O7 $40. OF these 80 Six-tenths
per cent resided outside OF Vermont. or
157 40. For every 1000 leaving. about
300 entered Vermont. leaving the state
worse off 105. 900. Adding the cost of
rearing and educating those who have
left To their value as individuals to thes
state, Mr. BOssiter declared that this mi
grafton represented a money loss of
$500 500. 600
Coming to agriculture Mr. RoSsiter
showed that there had been a decrease of
II per cent in the number of farms in
the state from 1910 to 1920
Congressman Frank L. Greene said a
few words bearing out the facts which
Mr. ROsSiter presented, how vital they
arc to the state, and urging that means
be sought to remedy the conditions de
Scribed.
Ex-Gov. Z. c. Smith. mayor presented
n motion which was carried asking
Governor HARNESS to appoint Il commit
tee to take into consideration all the
facts of Mr. R0sSiter'S report Others
who spoke We're Judge Frank /. Fish of
Ner@ennes. Attorney General Archibald
Of Manchester and W. d. Chandler,
president of the club.