The Water Poaver of Vermont. 651 



^vitll^n a few rods of the head of the Battenkill, and runs 

 north through the entire length of Ruthxnd county. It 

 receives along its course valuable contributions of water. 

 At Sutherland Falls, Middleburj and Weybridge are 

 valuable falls which alone afford water power for the use of 

 millions of dollars in manufactures. There are already 

 located upon its banks some of the finest manufacturing 

 establishments in the State. 



The Battenkill is 44 miles in length, about one-half of which 

 is in Vermont. It waters in this State about 225 square 

 miles, and affords many excellent mill privileges, and its 

 banks afford many valuable sites for manufacturing. 



There are hundreds of smaller streams tributary to our 

 larger rivers, whicli afford most valuable water power. 

 The varied smaller lakes and ponds which dot our State 

 possess millions of wealth in the water power they afford if 

 rightly improved. I will not detain you longer to particu- 

 larize, but proceed to draw conclusions from the facts as 

 thev suggest themselves. 



The Connecticut basin forms the eastern portion of the 

 State through almost its entire length, comprising the 

 counties of Windham, Windsor, Orange, Caledonia and 

 Essex, and is, of course, tlie leading water power of Ver- 

 mont. 



The leading characteristics of our water power are : 

 1. The great number of water powers in proportion to the 

 territory. The more important falls on the larger streams are 

 known to all, but the working, wealth producing force, 

 scattered almost throughout the entire length and breadth 

 of the State, is almost incredible when fully considered. 



