The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-11-30
In Behalf Of Vermont.

The spirit of the Green Mountain
boys is once more in evidence Their
descendants are vigorous in defence of
Vermont. They are attacking some
more or less prevalent ideas concerning
the state as place in which to live
and TO do business. 1t appears that, at
a meeting of the Greater Vermont
association, one Of the speakers, dis
cussing the decline in rural population,
asserted that the average Vermont
farm was small that the building COM
pared unfavorably with the farm build
ings of other states, that Vermont was
lacking in modern facilities to make
life worth living in rural regions, and
that the state was behind the times
in general The address would seem to
have been tinged dark blue by that
poison of pssimism that marks so
much discussion of New England af-
fairs, and especially of the troubles Of
New England.
In this case no time has been lost in
mobilizing the forces of fact and reason
able optimism. The publicity bureau
maintained as a part of the states ctiv
tiles has supplied the ammunition aimed
at the force OF doubt and misunderstood
ing. Here is soAe of the hot shot fired
in defence of the Green mountain
state:
Vermont farms are not small. They
average las acres. the average for the
entire country being l4S acres. Yer
mont farms are productive. They
raised crops in 1910 10 the value Of
eGS n0n 0on r,t tu.I,,dsnrr fba 100000.
of the salesof meats and live stock In
1920, Vermont's average yield Of corn
per acre was greater than that of any
other state in the union. Only four
states east of the Mississippi river
raised more tons of hay per acre than
did Vermont The Vermont dairy in
dustry is so highly specialized that
milk trains run daily both to New
York and Boston, and the state sup
plies large part Of the milk consumed
in those cities and others.
But it might still be asserted that life
in Vermont was hard and unsatisfac-
tory even if the figures concerning
crops and farms were accepted unchal-
lenged. For that reason further COM
parsons are offered. They show that
the average value of farm buildings in
Vermont is above that in many states
1t appears further that only eleven
states exceed Vermont in the number
of farmhouses in which there is run
ming water. This statement refers 70 |
the actual number irrespective of area
and population and Vermont is one of |
the smallest Of the states. The percent
age Of farms reporting electric lighting |
systems is larger in Vermont than in |
many Of the other states. Vermont is bet |
ter of in this rsptec than are states in
regions which are supposed to be the
home OF widespread prosperity. Among
these states are Wisconsin, Illinois,
Ohio, Indiana and Minnesota
Only ten states report a higher rural
telephone development in proportion to
the number of farms than does Yer
mont.
Comparisons such as these are Of /
value beyond the confines of Vermont.
There is abroad a very general impress
sion that the New England farmers is
necessarily deprived Of many comforts
and conveniences that are at the com
mand Of farmers in other sections of |
the country Il Is a good thing 10 be
reminded now and again that there Is a
brighter side to rural life in New Eng
land than is sometimes pictured. for
conditions in Vermont are much like
those in other New England states.
Life on the farms in this part Of the
United States has its drawbacks. There
are MANY things where improvements
Is possible. But when IL comes 10
with the rest Of the conn
try It i likely to be found that. con
trary TO popular impression. New Eng
and has nothing 10 fear. She has ad-
rsntages that in many cases more than
,fTsei the advantgcs.-Boston Tran
script.