St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-11-05
ENCOURAGE LOCAL TRADE.

The eloquent address of Judge Adj
vocate Charles A. Bartlett of New
Hampshire at the opening of the
touched upon a subject that deeply
concerns the business interests of
Vermont as well. The truths it con-
tanned, and likewise the remedy it
suggested for the evil complained of,
are equally applicable to every trade
centre in this state.
The amount of money annually
nay monthly, weekly, daily-sent
from the towns of Vermont to the
large retail stores in the cities is
enormous, and it is a tremendous
drawback to the prosperity of local
trade and consequently a heavy
drain upon the resources of the
people. These mammoth stores are
gradually absorbing almost every
line of trade, not only driving out
the old-time merchants of their own
cities, but drawing vast am cunt of
business from suburban towns and
surrounding commonwealth, to the
detriment and loss of the smaller
trader and country merchant who
helps support the town and the
state.
1.-The great bane OF all the cities
and villages in New Hampshire to-
day." says General Bartlett, and he
might well have included Vermont,
''is the pernicious and growing habit
of our people of carrying the very
cream of their retail to Boston, thus
fattening and enriching Boston up
on the retail profits which in equity
and good conscience belong to our
local trade. The phenomenal growth
of the retail trade of Boston within
the past few years is not so much
owing to the increase in local de-
mand as to the fact that cheaper and
better railway facilities have enabled
her merchants to extend their trade
of this character for hundreds of
miles into the interior. Now to
far greater degree than we are apt
to realize, this local retail trade is
the dependence Of our villages, and
cities as well, for their healthful
growth and prosperity. 1t employs
vast armies of people in its daily
prosecution, and they in turn are an
important factor in the farmers
market. 1t builds your spacious
and imposing blocks upon your bust
ness thoroughfares. 1t renders posi-
BILE the profitable employment Of
millions of home capital, and in just
so far as this trade is diverted from
us and carried away out of the state,
in just so far are our cities and vii
lagos crippled and impoverished,
and that, too. by those whose in
terest it is to support and upbuild
them. however thoughtlesslv and
Internationally they may do so. No
man and no woman need hope to es-
cape the retailers profits by trading
in the great retail houses of Wash
ington street. So far from that,
they will actually pay higher retail
profit than they would if they had
purchased the same articles in the
store nearest to their own doors.
But you Say there is greater
variety there to select from and an
advantage in that. If this be true
why is it so? 1t is poor encourage
ment for your traders TO carry great
lines of expensive goods upon their
shelves in great variety when they
know that larger per cent of those
not pay them even the cold COM
pliment of a passing glance but go
straight to Boston whenever they
want anything in that line. Just
give your local merchants the as
surance that they shall have the full
local trade to which they are en-
titled and you will quickly find in
their enlarged and modernized stores
every article whether of necessity or
luxury, in ample variety, that enters
into the economy Of New Hamp
shire life
"In conclusion Gen. Bartlett says
Beautiful and charming as your vii
lage now is, if you would pour upon
your streets, during the next decade
the full volume of trade of which this
is the natural trade center, you would
not recognize in the Exeter of 1900
the Exeter of today"
This is undeniably true, and ought
to be taken home by the people, O
every village and every town of Yer
mont Island Pond Herald.
THE Duty OF MERICANS TO