The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1870-11-29
Mr.. Stearns at Home.
NOTES OP NY JOURNEY ACROSS THE
CONTINENT.
OLD ACQUAISTANCEs.


Among the Eastern people found in
California, | may mention Mr. Henry
Dorrance, one of the most skillful saddle
and harness makers found on the Pacific
Coast. He is located at Stockton, where
he has served the citizens of St. Joaquin
(San Wakeen) county as County Clerk
and Recorder, for several years, and now
seems successfully pursuing his business
in the manufacture aud sale Of saddles
and harnesses to larger extent than any
person l saw in that line, there. KNEW
Mr. Dorrance when he was young man
in Middlebury, Vermont. He learned
his business thoroughly with Hon. Calvin
Hill Of that town. and started business
in Rutland, but soon became victim tc
the Vermont attachment laws, under
whose operation SO many intelligent and
capable Vermont youths have been driver
from the state. The grab game Of 6rs
come, first served, which allows any 6dg
ETY. creditor, before be gets any judgment
or adjudication of his claim, to seize thu
property of any person starting business
on limited capital, and sell it to the ex
clusion of all other claims more homes
than his, excludes every thing like pa
tience and commercial confidence from
community. These laws are still cher
ished in Vermont to the ruin of enter
prise predicated on credit or any thin,
but ready cash in hand. But Mr.. Dor
rance has improved the facilities affordeC
by the State of California for enterpris
and has realized a substantial success.
renewed with great pleasure an oil
acquaintance with another son Of Yer
mont whom knew thirty years ago il
Middlebury, Joseph Stowe. Esq. He i
managing head Of the San Francisc
Branch Of the Russell Il Erwin Manu-
featuring Company. He has learne'
the apt and ready method Of transaotin
a varied business, which hurried life i
California makes necessity in every de
partment of successful trade. He ca
give more directions in ten minutes i
the matters presented for his judgment
than any person l have seen, with the ez
ception ofa Marine Insurance Director,
once met in Wall street, who seemed t
know the rate Of every vessel on the oceal
and the standing of the company in rela
ton to them.
USEFUL SOCIETY.
A useful organization in San Francisc
owes its origin to Mr.. Stowe. 1t is i
the nature Of commercial protectiv
unicn. Its ID ,mbers in case Of any los
or bankruptcy, agree to share whateve
can be made out of the bankrupt's asse,
pro rata among the members of the vi
ion according to the amount Of their r,
spective losses.
In the first place. they find the bc'
commercial lawyer in the city, hire hir
as their secretary, on a good salary, ful
nishing an Office or place where oil thei
business is transacted. They hold fr,
quent consultation meetings in which tn
standing of credit-customers or CORES
pondents, are freely discussed In cas-
any prejudicial Information as to al
customer comes to the Office, circular
are sent to each member with the inquir
as to how much the doubtful debtor ow,
} him or them. If nothing, the enquiry
SO endorsed and returned to the messeI
ger and no further attention is given /
those not having claims. But claimant
state the amount and are notified to me,
the creditors the same afternoon at Il
Office of the association. When the ere,
itors are together the standing and col
duct of the debtors are investigated.
it is thought best or the suspicious tral
saction is explained satisfactorily, Il
matter for that time is dropped. b.
otherwise. the claims are all assigned
! the Secretary, who brings single suit,
causes a single attachment to be issus
and sent to tho Sheriff for service by te
egraph, as the law allows. and the san
}, afternoon whatever the suspicious par
= has, is held for the benefit Of his credito
y by the sheriff. This combination m,
r appear exacing aud severe, but the who
n association having an interest in serviI
4 q customer, if possible, they will not
d likely to sanction severity while there
:, hope OF amendment, and as whatever
), got is to be divided pro rata among ,
t tho claimants belonging to this societ
r the debtor is cherished, if there is al
n hope at all in his case. This associate
l. had s2,640, 900 Of registered claims pa
8 thorugh its hands last year, and some 81
K ty cents to the dollar was collected at
expense of less than one per cent.