Vermont is very close to the most highly developed industrial center on the face of this globe.  These centers, through coordination, invention and choice of work, have been able to produce greater values per man per day.  Men with the spirit of industry and a practical knowledge gained by experience in these highly developed centers go out from such centers and build up other industrial centers wherever the best opportunity appears.  The nearest places to these centers are the most natural fields in which to start new organizations.  But when no cooperating spirit is found near at hand, these carriers of industry go till they find better places.  Many have traveled past Vermont because we were busy in other lines and our money was being sent to other states for investment.  Many of our own men left the town of Windsor during the last sixty years, and from this one town there has been built a number of important industries in other states notably in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

It is not necessary to assume that the industrial spirit has spread under the guidance of man or just by chance as these men of practical knowledge and enterprise have drifted.  It may be that the successful new centers were merely a few of thousands of attempts in other places.  Our problem is to study the conditions under which these industries thrive and then see how we can establish these conditions.

In this way we will be acting in harmony with the natural drift or natural law, if you prefer, and this is one of the purposes of this book.

VERMONT FAVORABLY LOCATED.

Our nearness to these industrial states give us an advantage over more remote states, but it is not sufficient in itself to bring our share of industrial expansion.  Nevertheless it is one of the greatest advantages and constitutes one of the strong points on which we base our faith in our plan for greater industrial development.

The next element to nearness to existing plants is the spirit and understanding of the people.  Vermont has the best spirit of industry but has not the fullest conception of industrial life and opportunity.  It is this purpose of setting forth the principles of desirable industrial life that constitutes the next step.

When these principles are understood, we will improve the chances for the acquisition of local industries through the coming of others from nearby states or by the establishment of new plants by some of our own people who are already well qualified to carry forward such enterprise.  But whether it is brought about by these or any other means, the basic principle on which successful industries are built must be known and must constitute the policy of organization and management.

The principles set forth are basic.  They constitute the necessary addition of the practical knowledge of invention, management and general business knowledge gained in existing plants.