Rhode Island, 1947

[Music] only 48 M long and 37 Mi wide the smallest state in this land of ours is the state of Rhode Island but although it is the smallest state Rhode Island lays claim to a greater number of historic sites and other points of interest and can be found in some of the largest states in the [Music] union the first White Settlement in Rhode Island was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams in order that he and his followers might enjoy religious freedom today throughout the state are reminders of an era when America gained her independence and grew to maturity this is the famous Old Kingston Inn which continues to serve Travelers as it did during its reign as a regular Stage Coach Stop nearby in the town of North Kingston is the birthplace of Gilbert Stewart the famous artist who painted our best known portraits of George Washington and here in the town of Anthony is the Homestead of General Nathaniel Green second in command of the armies of the American Revolution under General Washington but perhaps the proudest symbol of Rhode Island stirring past is the old colony house at Newport with the reading of a proclamation from this balcony Rhode Island became the first of the original 13 colonies to voice its acceptance of the Declaration of Independence on the shore of naragansett bay is Rhode Island's capital the city of Providence Providence is also the state's greatest industrial center Rhode Island being one of the most highly industrialized states in the union producing more industrial goods in proportion to its population than any other state number one industry is the production of textiles and Providence her busy Mills turning out millions of yards every year plays an important part in supplying the nation the oldest university in Rhode Island is brown University which looks down on Providence from one of the city's highest hills dedicated to the spirit of religious tolerance Brown is proud of its Charter that has ordained Through The Years all the members hereof shall forever enjoy full free absolute and uninterrupted freedom of conscience in the northern part of the state is the wool manufacturing city of w socket were you to visit W Saka today you might think you were in a foreign land where almost everyone in the city speaks French a large portion of the population being of French Canadian descent signs newspapers local radio and movies are usually in the French language and until recently English was taught in Wocket schools as though it were a foreign language in the western part of the state near the Connecticut line is the city of Westerly a typical New England Town blending an atmosphere of culture with the successful air of a progressive Industrial Center Westerly too is an important textile town but westerly's main industry is granite its quaries yielding several varieties of fine grain Stone particularly suitable for delicate carving done on monuments [Music] another of Rhode Island's industries is commercial fishing and here's a fair sample of those famous Rhode Island [Music] lobsters not all of Rhode Island's communities are given over to Industry however one of the nation's best known resorts is Newport famed for its elaborate summer homes in the old sections of Newport history Comes Alive along the narrow streets during the British occupation of Newport During the Revolution the tyrannical General Richard Prescot had his headquarters in this house and in the heart of the old city is Washington Square here stands a statue of a former resident of Newport commodore Oliver Hazard Perry the hero of the battle of Lake Erie the most interesting historical marker in Newport to many is this mysterious Tower known as the Old Stone Mill the worn inscription on its rocks never has been fully deciphered but it is believed that the mill may have been built by ring Vikings centuries before Columbus discovered America Al Al though less than half of Rhode Island is devoted to farming highly scientific methods of Agriculture have developed a high yield per acre the State College at Kingston specializes in research and instruction in the raising of small farm produce and they do pretty well too by the looks of this fine crop of Irish cober potatoes experiments at the agricultural school have resulted in improving plants such as this High growing heavy bearing blueberry bush M now just bring on that flaky pie [Music] crust a few Farms are devoted to the raising of Oats Alfalfa and other feeds for Rhode Island's major farming activity dairying with about four out of every 10 farming Acres being given to the raising of cattle the raising of poultry is also an important Farm activity recogniz this fellow that's right the famous Rhode Island red for recreation Road Islanders usually turn to their 246 M of Coastline with its clean wh sanded beaches and stretches of quiet water boating goes well with Rhode Islanders too from homemade skiff to seagoing Cruiser sail ho the many riatas held off the Rhode Island Coast number some of the top events of the yachting calendar and attract boating enthusiasts from all parts of the [Music] globe indeed there you have Rhode Island the smallest state of the union but with a Heritage and individuality unsurpassed by States many times her size Rhode Island has history dating from 1636 the year Roger Williams founded the first White Settlement on narraganset Bay she has always had singleness of purpose being the first of the original 13 colonies to accept the Declaration of Independence and she has sound representative government administered from her capital and largest city Providence hers to is the distinction of being the most highly industrialized state in the Union producing more textiles jewelry and other Goods in proportion to her population than any other state and hers is the spirit of freedom and tolerance which the state was born and to which Brown her oldest university is [Music] dedicated a tiny state Rhode Island smaller than many counties in other states but with its history industry and spirit of friendly invitation it is a state that contributes an important share to the prosperity and general well-being of this land of ours