The Middlebury Galaxy

WESTERN VERMONT.

There are few sections of New England so little known to the business world abroad as western Vermont, and especially that portion of it which lies between Burlington and Rutland. And yet, a country from whose soil more wealth of every description can be extracted, more sublime and beautiful in its scenery, and possessed by a more enterprising and intelligent population can hardly be found in our common country. But for thirty years past, owing to the state of the roads, the great drift of travel from Boston to the British provinces has been through the narrow defiles of the eastern side of the mountain, and from our southern cities through the waters of Lake Champlain. But circumstances are now transpiring which will raise Western Vermont to that just and eminent stand of which she has hitherto been unfortunately deprived.

This region is about 64 miles in extent from north to south. It is bounded on the east by the lofty summits of the Green Mountains, on the west by Lake Champlain, a few miles beyond which, in the state of New York, rises in rugged and majestic piles the Adirondac range, the highest on this side of the Alleghanies, and presents to the beholder those grand and imposing features which, combined with the sublime scenery of the Green Mountains, so justly entitles Vermont to the appellation of the Switzerland of America. Between those lofty barriers lie the fertile valleys of Lake Champlain and Otter Creek. The former for nearly half the distance spreading out to the extent of about 16 miles in verdant meadows and pastures, and in fields prolific in the richest products of husbandry and ornamented with farm-houses and their appendages, which for convenience, freshness, and even architectural beauty are elsewhere scarcely to be found in our country. Stretching from South to North along this delightful champagne region is a succession of flourishing and populous villages, commencing with Rutland, then Pittsford, Brandon, Middlebury, Vergennes, and Burlington: most of which, especially Middlebury and Vergennes, possessing water power capable of propelling machinery to an almost illimitable extent. The county of Addison, of which Middlebury is the capital, is located in the centre of this region, and, since the addition of the opulent town of Orwell, it may be classed among those destined to reach the highest point of agricultural and manufacturing wealth in the State. In sheep husbandry she has already vastly outstripped every other district of the same extent in the Union, to say nothing of the Wheat, Corn, Oats, Potatoes and Root crops, which, from the reports of agricultural societies, will be found to surpass any others in the State.

Since the construction of the Rutland and Burlington Railroad has been rendered certain, our Eastern cities have begun to open their eyes to our great capabilities of augmenting their commercial and manufacturing prosperity. It will be seen from the numerous cards of men of business appearing in our advertising columns that they are courting our trade with eager solicitude. Very well, we say, let them have it. In aiding us so powerfully in the construction of our rail road they merit all we can give them. We are equally desirous of the advantages of the eastern markets as they are of our trade. The benefits will be mutual. The completion of the Rail Road will prove a crowning event in the history of Western Vermont.