72 LAND TENURE 



perature, rainfall, etc., and possibly economic statistics as to 

 assessed valuation, crop yields for a period of years, etc. Since 

 this is the age of "blue sky laws," "pure food laws," and certified 

 products of various kinds, it is logical to expect a development 

 of some form of land certification. 



As Vermont Sees the Problem of Land Trading. The 

 Agricultural Commissioner of Vermont, in a recent report, 8 

 discussed the problem of the sale of farms in that State. Both his 

 experience and his conclusions are typical, and are worth quoting 

 in full: 



"Land values in Vermont are so low in comparison with those in other 

 parts of the country that proper. advertising of our opportunities as carried 

 on by the publicity bureau of the Secretary of State's Office, coupled with 

 assistance in the way of giving specific information to prospective farm buyers 

 residing at a distance would undoubtedly enable Vermont to attract a large 

 number of people who would become good farmers and good citizens. It has 

 seemed to the commissioner of agriculture that as a preliminary to a satis- 

 factory program of this kind an example should be made of real estate agents 

 who are carrying on a campaign of farm sales which result all too often in 

 injustice to the purchaser. 



"We have in many sections of the State farms containing much rough 

 land which may be bought at low prices. This affords opportunity for a 

 certain type of real estate agent to purchase or secure options upon these 

 properties at small cost and then, by advertising them for what they are not, 

 sell them to unsuspecting persons at prices which will net the agent a large 

 profit. While the purchasers of these properties might succeed if the farms 

 were secured at their real value, they are unable to make a living and pay inter- 

 est upon the excessive capitalization. Therefore, after a period of discourage- 

 ment they abandon the property in disgust. The State thereby losing the 

 possibility of securing a desirable citizen. 



"One such case was brought to our attention in the spring of 1913 by the 

 late Bishop William F. Weeks. An investigation showed that the real estate 

 firm of M. Susskind & Co. secured by option or otherwise the contract of 

 certain farms in Sandgate which were subsequently sold to some German 

 families. One of the farms, known as the Hamilton farm, was sold to one Paul 

 Gobel, who, after occupying it for a short time, was obliged to abandon it 

 after foreclosure of a mortgage on the personal property. The records of this 

 case seem to indicate that Gobel had been induced to buy this farm through 

 misrepresentation and fraud. A report was made to Gov. Allen M. Fletcher, 

 with a request that the matter be investigated by the legal department of 

 the State. An investigation by Attorney General Brown led to the indictment 

 of M. Susskind and Otto Trieb, members of the firm of M. Susskind & Co., 

 at Manchester, June 1914. For various reasons the case was not brought to a 

 final issue until Aug. 15, 1916. On this date the respondents entered a plea 

 of nolo contendere, paid a fine of $200 each and paid Paul Gobel a sum of 

 money which partially reimbursed him for his loss. It is hoped that this 

 example will put an end to real estate operations of this nature in the State 

 of Vermont, because such sales profit only the real estate operator and are a 

 detriment to all others." 



8 Eighth Annual Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture, State of 

 Vermont, 1916, E. S. Brigham, Commissioner, pp. 13-14. 



