1938: Vermont

Area and Population

Admitted to statehood March 3, 1791, Vermont ranks 42nd in size among the states, with an area of 9.564 sq. mi. In population it ranks 45th, numbering 359,611 according to the census of 1930; 383,000 on July 1, 1937, according to a Federal estimate. Of the 1930 figure, 67 per cent made up the rural population. The native whites were 315,904; foreign-born whites, 43,061; Negroes, 568. The largest cities are Burlington, 24,789 (1930 census); Rutland, 17,315; Barre, 11,307. The capital is Montpelier, 7,837.

Agriculture.

Dairying predominates as a farm industry, and owing to low prices of dairy products, the farm situation was not as favorable in 1938 as normally.

Mineral Products.

Vermont's outstanding mineral products are monumental granite and marble. Production of the former in 1937, chiefly from the important Barre district, amounted to 856,990 cu. ft. valued at $2,406,583, compared with 799,600 cu. ft. in 1936, valued at $2,170,092. Marble, produced largely in the Proctor area, increased from 220,270 cu. ft. in 1936 to 392,100 cu. ft. in 1937. Comparative values were $1,161,579 (1936), and $1,539,571 (1937). These two products accounted for nearly half of the total value of Vermont's minerals, which with some talc and lime, amounted in 1936 to $6,225,396.

Education.

In 1938 Vermont had 1,514 public graded schools, with 51,680 pupils and 2,015 teachers. There were 94 public high schools with 16,153 pupils. The state has six colleges: University of Vermont, Middlebury College, Norwich University, Bennington College, St. Michael's College, Trinity College; and three junior colleges: Vermont Junior College, Green Mountain Junior College and Goddard Junior College. State expenditures for education in 1938 amounted to $199,767, and towns and cities contributed $5,353,523.

Legislation.

As the Legislature meets biennially in odd years, no session was held during the year 1938.

Events of Interest.

National ski events were held in January and February in Stowe and Brattleboro. The hurricane and flood of September 21, 1938, caused a total damage of $7,000,000 on farms, including special damage to maple trees; and $4,000,000 on highways.

Finance.

The state debt on June 30, 1938, was $7,718,031.90. The receipts during the year were $16,574,017; disbursements, $15,752,429. In 1938 state aid was being given to 342 families for dependent children, to 137 blind persons, and 5,230 old age pensioners.

Banking.

During the fiscal year ending June 30, 1938, the assets of state banks decreased by $7,124,527.34, while deposits decreased by $4,494,047.66, to $113,185,004.43. Shortly after the close of the fiscal year six mutual savings banks were merged into one institution, while one mutual savings bank was placed in receivership, thereby reducing the total number of state banks to forty-three.

State Officers.

The chief officers of the state, all re-elected on November 8, 1938, are as follows; Governor, George D. Aiken; Lieutenant Governor, William H. Wills; Secretary of State, Rawson C. Myrick; State Treasurer, Thomas H. Cave; Auditor of Accounts, Benjamin Gates; Attorney General, Lawrence C. Jones; Commissioner of Education, Francis L. Bailey.

United States Senators:

Warren R. Austin, Ernest W. Gibson.