Vermont

Most important of the Vermont tributaries of the Connecticut river are the Nulhegan, Passumpsic, Wells, Waits, Ompompa noosuc, White, Ottauquechee, Black, Williams, Saxtons, West and Deerfield, the last-named emptying into the Connecticut in Massachusetts. The south-western part of the State is drained to the Hudson river by the Battenkill and Hoosac rivers, while Otter creek flows north and slightly west to Lake Champlain. The streams are usually swift-flowing and in comparatively narrow and beautiful valleys. On the headwaters of the Deerfield are great power developments. In the valleys are soils of great fer tility, while the low rolling hills and uplands make excellent pasture. On the lower slopes of the mountains are white pine and hemlock; on the higher slopes spruce and fir are common. Among deciduous trees the State is especially noted for its sugar maples. Birch and beech are to be expected on the hills and in the lower areas oak, elm, hickory, ash, poplar, basswood, willow and butternut are to be found. Among indigenous fruit-bearing trees, shrubs, vines and plants are the plum, cherry, grape, black berry, raspberry, cranberry and strawberry. There were in 1936, 18 State forests with an aggregate area of 33,725 acres. These were patrolled regularly by the State forest service which since its establishment in 1909 had planted about 13,000,000 trees.

The temperature, the amount of moisture and the winds are favourable to the health of the people and to the productiveness of the soil. The mean annual temperature varies from to F, the eastern part of the State being generally colder than the western part, and the mountainous part of the centre coldest of all. The average annual precipitation over a long period of years is approximately 37.5 inches. Snow often appears in November in the higher altitudes but does not come to stay before December.

It remains until the latter part of March. The average fall throughout the State is about 90 in. annually, but there is less snow near Lake Champlain and in the south-western part than in central and eastern Vermont. Also spring comes earliest in these sections and in the lower portion of the Connecticut valley.

Population.

The population of Vermont in 190o was 641; in 1910, in 1920, 352,428; in 1930, 359,611. Its rank among the 48 States in 193o was 45th. Its growth of only between 190o and 1930 was smaller than that of any other State. With a density of 39.4 in 1930 it ranked 28th, as many western States were more sparsely settled.

Of the 193o population, 358,965, or 99.8% were whites, a per centage not exceeded in any other State. Of the whites, 43,061 or 12.4% were foreign born. Of the native-born 234,090 were of na tive parentage, 41,043 of mixed parentage, and 40,771, of foreign parentage. Chief among the foreign-born were the 27,182 Canadi ans, 17,320 of them of French blood.

In 193o more than two-thirds of the population (67%) were rural inhabitants. The percentage of urban population increased,

however, from 22.1% in 1900 to 27.8% in 1910 and 33% in 1930. The largest cities with their estimated population in 1930 were: Burlington, 24,789; Rutland, 17,315; Barre, 11,307. The population of Montpelier, the capital, was 7,837 in 1930.

Government.

The State is governed under a Constitution adopted in 1777, but since amended in important respects. An amendment in 1870 provided that every ten years the senate, by a two-thirds vote, is authorized to propose amendments, which pro posals, if concurred in by the majority of the members of the house of representatives, are published in the principal news papers of the State. If they are again approved by a majority of each house in the next succeeding general assembly, they are submitted to a direct popular vote, a majority of the votes cast being decisive. The amendment sessions are those in years ending with the figure one, such as 1921, 1931, etc. In the 1921 session 21 proposals were submitted to the senate of which four ulti mately became part of the Constitution. The right of suffrage is possessed by all citizens above 21 years of age who have lived in the State for one year, and who are "of a quiet and peaceable behaviour" and will take the freeman's oath.

The legislative department consists of a senate of 3o mem bers, apportioned among the counties according to population, but with the proviso that each county must have at least one senator, and a house of representatives of 248 members, one from each township. The members of both houses are elected bien nially. Sessions are also held biennially beginning on the first Wednesday after the first Monday of January in odd-numbered years. The governor has power to call special sessions when he deems it necessary.

The most important executive officers of the State are the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary of State, treasurer, audi tor of accounts and attorney-general, all elected by the people for terms of two years. In 1923 there were created seven administra tive departments: agriculture, education, finance, highways, pub lic health, public service and public welfare, each presided over by a commissioner or secretary. In 1927 the department of motor vehicles was created with a commissioner in charge.

The supreme court consists of one chief justice and four associate justices. Annually five general terms are held at Mont pelier and special sessions at St. Johnsbury, Rutland and Brattle boro. The supreme court justices are elected biennially by the senate and house of representatives in joint session. At the same session, in like manner, six superior judges are elected for two year terms to preside over the county courts to which they are assigned. A superior judge has two assistant judges in each county who are elected by the freemen of that county, and these three compose the county court, two sessions of which are held annually in each county.