Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Letter to Editor
May 26, 1859
New Hampshire Journal Of Agriculture
Manchester, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A letter from Hyde Park, Vermont, in 1859 describes the town, a jail fire incident, community response, local farming practices with detailed yields from a Moretown farm, and the sale of large oxen, highlighting Vermont's agricultural superiority over New Hampshire.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
Letter from Vermont
For the Journal.
AMERICAN HOUSE,
Hyde Park, Vt., May 15, '59.
Messrs. Editors:—Hyde Park is the shire town of Lamoile County, and the "American House" one of the most capacious and best furnished public houses in Vermont. The village is pleasantly located near the range of the Mansfield mountains. The streams around abound in fish, particularly the "speckled trout," which, by the bountiful hand of Col. Keeler, for two days past, we have been regaling our appetite upon.
On the morning of the 13th inst., the citizens of this place were suddenly startled by an alarm of fire, which proved to be on the roof of the wing of the jail. It being extremely dry, and the wind blowing fresh, the fire burned with great rapidity; but a general rush of men, women and children, each carrying a fire engine, (a pail of water) soon extinguished the flames, only damaging the building a few hundred dollars. One poor fellow, confined in jail for forgery, was relieved from his perilous quarters, in the absence of the jailor, by application of a sledge to the door of his cell, happy once more to breath the air, though saturated with smoke. A few moments delay, and the Jail, Court House and Academy, would have been in ashes.
The farmers are busy planting their corn, and nature is being robed in its green attire. A few days since I called on my friend Curtis Haskins, Esq., of Moretown, a practical farmer. His farm contains 250 acres. He cuts 150 tons of excellent hay; keeps 70 head of cattle—35 cows. Raised last year, 450 bush. of oats, 200 bushels of corn; sold one thousand two hundred dollars worth of cheese, $110 worth of hay; made three thousand pounds of maple sugar; raised four hundred and fifty bushels of potatoes; amounting in value, with growth of stock, to $2,262. Deducting amount of money paid out for labor, ($400,) leaves an income of $1,862. Mr. Hawkins purchased the farm a few years since for $6000. Such is but a moderate specimen of Vermont farming. Vermont is manifestly a better farming State than New Hampshire.
Those big oxen owned by Hon. Leonard Keith, of Barre, were sold a few days since for $350. They weighed 5200 lbs.
Yours truly,
K. DICKERSON.
For the Journal.
AMERICAN HOUSE,
Hyde Park, Vt., May 15, '59.
Messrs. Editors:—Hyde Park is the shire town of Lamoile County, and the "American House" one of the most capacious and best furnished public houses in Vermont. The village is pleasantly located near the range of the Mansfield mountains. The streams around abound in fish, particularly the "speckled trout," which, by the bountiful hand of Col. Keeler, for two days past, we have been regaling our appetite upon.
On the morning of the 13th inst., the citizens of this place were suddenly startled by an alarm of fire, which proved to be on the roof of the wing of the jail. It being extremely dry, and the wind blowing fresh, the fire burned with great rapidity; but a general rush of men, women and children, each carrying a fire engine, (a pail of water) soon extinguished the flames, only damaging the building a few hundred dollars. One poor fellow, confined in jail for forgery, was relieved from his perilous quarters, in the absence of the jailor, by application of a sledge to the door of his cell, happy once more to breath the air, though saturated with smoke. A few moments delay, and the Jail, Court House and Academy, would have been in ashes.
The farmers are busy planting their corn, and nature is being robed in its green attire. A few days since I called on my friend Curtis Haskins, Esq., of Moretown, a practical farmer. His farm contains 250 acres. He cuts 150 tons of excellent hay; keeps 70 head of cattle—35 cows. Raised last year, 450 bush. of oats, 200 bushels of corn; sold one thousand two hundred dollars worth of cheese, $110 worth of hay; made three thousand pounds of maple sugar; raised four hundred and fifty bushels of potatoes; amounting in value, with growth of stock, to $2,262. Deducting amount of money paid out for labor, ($400,) leaves an income of $1,862. Mr. Hawkins purchased the farm a few years since for $6000. Such is but a moderate specimen of Vermont farming. Vermont is manifestly a better farming State than New Hampshire.
Those big oxen owned by Hon. Leonard Keith, of Barre, were sold a few days since for $350. They weighed 5200 lbs.
Yours truly,
K. DICKERSON.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Reflective
What themes does it cover?
Agriculture
Crime Punishment
Social Issues
What keywords are associated?
Vermont Farming
Hyde Park
Jail Fire
Agriculture Yields
Corn Planting
Maple Sugar
Oxen Sale
Lamoile County
What entities or persons were involved?
K. Dickerson
Messrs. Editors
Letter to Editor Details
Author
K. Dickerson
Recipient
Messrs. Editors
Main Argument
the letter provides observations on hyde park, vermont, including a recent jail fire and the profitability of local farming, portraying vermont as superior to new hampshire in agriculture.
Notable Details
Jail Fire On May 13, 1859, Extinguished By Community With Pails Of Water
Curtis Haskins' Farm: 250 Acres, 150 Tons Hay, 70 Cattle, Yields Of Oats, Corn, Cheese, Maple Sugar, Potatoes Totaling $2,262 Revenue Minus $400 Labor = $1,862 Profit
Big Oxen Sold For $350, Weighing 5200 Lbs.