The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-25
a RUTLAND BOARD OF TRADE

Our patrons have doubtless read with in
terest tho reports of the discussions al
the meetings of the slate producers al
Poutney--we say slate, because that has
been the main topic considered. Brandon
as all know, has for years sustained far.
mers and mechanics club, from which much
of good has resulted Burlington, and per
haps other towns of the state, have "boards
of trade" Throughout the west, every
town so situated as to be shipping point,
n center of trade, or at the junction OF
! lines of communication, have their boards
of trade. In one sense, perhaps, they dc
not correctly answer to their appelation
but in lis broader meaning ii is not mis-.
homer. We have before us, several of
these reports, from California st. Paul,
| Minneapolis and Duluth, Minnesota, from
Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri Illinois, and
from various western as well as eastern
towns. Its membership. in each and every
place, is not confined to any particular
business, trade or profession. Merchants,
mechanics, farmers, "railroad men in
every branch, lawyers, physicians, pharma-
cists, hotel keepers, clerks, editors, pub
fishers, clergymen, employer and employe
in fact all callings are represented And
they all have common objcct-thc bust
ness growth and prosperity of the town.
Here all can stand on the same level No
jealousies can come in to disturb the har-
mony. investigations are made, infOrma-
ton is given and received, committees are
appointed, and the grand result is an adj
veriiscment, so to speak, Of the business
advantages Of the town. needed industries
are called in and fostcred, and the old dead
life is sloughed off while activity and ego
aheadiiyencss' takes its place. These meet
ings, these organizations, these discussions
and clashings of ideas. and this dssemina-
ton Of intelligence are what build up towns
and invite immigration, because they show
that the business men Of all classes and
kinds are wide awake and interested in the
place of residence.
IN examination of these several reports
has again suggested the question, why
should not Rutland organize board of
trade Its advantages are innumerable, its
disadvantages none. Every argument is in
lis favor, hardly any against. The only
possible objection we have heard thereto is
want Of time" to attend thereto. Is this
so 1t might have been an objection
twenty years ago, but we do not believe it
is now. Then hours of business-that is
men between those hours "dd their trad
ing'-were from six or seven o'clock in the
morning until nine or ten, or even later, in
the evening Now, as we are informed,
business is mostly transacted. with, per-
haps, the exception of SATURDAYS. from
nine or ten o'clock IN the morning to five
or six o'clock in the afternoon. We have
conycrscd with Il number of our best bust.
ness men-thosc doing the largest business
and the most of them say that ''they do
not pay expenses" outside of the hours
named. Certainly, one or two evenings
each month could be spared for such meet
tings, and others for investigations, pre-
parations for reports and discussions. The
experiment has already been successfully
tried OF closing stores, ETC., one evening
during the week, without any interference
with business or detriment to the public.
Rutland has large resources. as vet unde-
vclopcd, and hardly appreciated or under.
stood. Every man residing therein will
receive benefit from an increased popula-
ton, the introduction of new industries. the
expansion Of business, and the use of all
our resources. We can only know what
we are and what we have, by investigation
and inquiry The most economical, and
at the same time profitable, de-
velopment and use Of our dormant re-
sources can be the better attained by
mutual conference suggestion and com
parison. The growth of Rutland in twenty
five years has been wonderful. 1t can be
far exceeded in the next twcnty-fve-yc
tcn-years. We do not want to wrap our
selves up in sheet, wait for something to
'''h 'I' Avn o'Iilt OIlt " ulStONtT us. |
Let us organize board of trade or some
thing like it. let every man interested in
that interest great or small
make it matter of principle and duty to
attend and take part in such meetings.
They, in such case, would be profited every
way--pecuniarily, intellectually and other
wise. \ mass of information and Stats
ties would be gathered, which being prop
orly 'digested" and pat into shape, would |
give to Rutland the impetus she so much |
needs. We would feel the impetus among
and we would see its results in |
the introduction of outside capital, an in |
creased population, and thorough deycl-
opmeni and use of our almost inexhaus,ible |
and business resources.