1942: Vermont

Area and Population.

Admitted to statehood on March 3, 1791, Vermont is known as the Green Mountain State. It ranks 42nd in size among the states with an area of 9,564 sq. mi. In population it ranks 45th, having 359,231 residents, according to the 1940 United States Census. The largest cities are Burlington. 27,626; Rutland, 17,082; Barre, 10,909: and Montpelier, the capital. 8,006.

Mineral Products.

Production of monumental granite, which constitutes the state's leading mineral, amounted in 1940 to 650,000 cu. ft. valued at $7,300,000. Marble production had a value of $1,500,000; slate, $2,000,000; and tale $230,000,000.

Education.

The number of public elementary schools open in 1942 was 1,102, with 1,931 teachers and 45,000 pupils. Public secondary schools numbered 91, with 699 teachers and 16,201 pupils. The number of persons of school age (5-17) was 74,221.

State expenditures for public schools amounted to $934,471, of which $678,516 was state aid. The average teacher's salary was $1,070. Local school expenditures totaled $5,245,498.

Special matters of interest during the year were the contribution of the schools to the war effort in furnishing extra labor in farm work, especially in making maple sugar, in which 1,400 high-school pupils were employed; all schools shared also in the local defense program in collecting scrap, etc.; and 2,000 pupils were enrolled in out-of-school defense courses.

Finance.

The state bonded debt on June 30, 1942, was $6,650,031, representing a retirement of about $1,000,000 per annum. Receipts during the fiscal year were $20,859,356; disbursements $17,014,898, of which $5,540,959 went for highways, $2,904,560 for charities, hospitals, etc.; $1,168,501 was paid for old-age assistance to about 5,500 persons, making an average grant of $17.72 per month. Payment of unemployment compensation benefits amounted to $316,007 for the year.

Banking.

Assets of state banks for the year totaled $132,447,621, an increase of $5,133,898 over the preceding year. Total deposits were $117,088,405. State bank taxes were $362,973 for the year.

Defense.

During 1942, a State Council of Safety was organized which functions actively in all phases of civilian defense. A State Guard was also organized, and now numbers 113 officers and 1,409 men. An Aeronautics Board was established to develop airports within the state. An Industrial Agent named to promote the state's industrial production, later reported the operation of 18 new industrial plants. A special commission was actively engaged in studying the question of child welfare, and a special committee was appointed to deal with the question of farm labor.

State Officers.

Governor, William H. Wills; Lieutenant Governor, Mortimer Proctor; Secretary of State, Rawson C. Myrick; State Treasurer, Levi Kelly; Auditor of Accounts, David V. Anderson; Attorney General, Alban J. Parker; Commissioner of Education, Ralph E. Noble.

United States Senators:

Geo. D. Aiken, Warren R. Austin.