1939: 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 the latest Federal estimate. In the 1930 population native whites were 315,904; foreign-born whites, 43,061; Negroes, 568. The largest cities are Burlington, 24,789; Rutland, 17,315; Barre, 11,307. The capital is Montpelier, 7,837.

Mineral Products.

Sales of monumental granite, which constitutes Vermont's leading mineral resource, amounted in 1939 to a reduced total from the important Barrie quarries of 605,660 cu. ft. valued at $1,849,607. Supplies of marble were also lower at 212,080 cu. ft. (value, $1,539,571). The product of the slate quarries in 1938 had a value of $1,729,655. Sale of talc, with some pyrophyllite and ground soapstone, added $329,084 to the total value of the state's minerals, which in 1937 amounted to $7,042,547.

Education.

In 1939, Vermont had 1,200 public elementary schools with 52,736 pupils and 2,084 teachers. There were 92 public secondary schools with 663 teachers and 16,281 pupils. The state also has six colleges: University of Vermont, Middlebury, Norwich University, Bennington, St. Michael's, and Trinity; and in addition, Vermont Junior College, Green Mountain Junior College and Goddard Junior College. State expenditures for education in 1938-39 amounted to $935,296.76, with supplementary amounts from towns and cities equalling $5,360,000.

Legislation.

The Legislature held its biennial session from January 11 to April 14, 1939. Many important laws were enacted and several interim commissions appointed. In connection with the flood-control program of the national government in the Connecticut Valley, the Governor's assertion of state sovereignty over the state's natural resources was supported. Annual appropriations of about ten million dollars were voted in addition to three and one-half million to repair flood-damaged highways.

Finance.

The state bonded debt on June 30, 1939 was $7,041,031.90. Receipts during the fiscal year were $15,716,930.53 about one-half of which were tax receipts. Disbursements were $16,014,395.10, including non-revenue items and capital investments. During the year, the state paid $962,132.50 as old-age assistance to 5,480 persons. State payments by the Unemployment Compensation Commission amounted to $154,304.41.

Banking.

At the end of the year the assets of state banks were $135,039,271.63, and deposits were $110,203,585.45. Only one bank was in receivership. State revenue from bank taxes amounted to $410,205.34.

State Officers.

The chief officers of the state 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.