Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-01-29
s25. 900 OR 100000.


Amount I'm the Proposed Com" and
C.sl..t Industryi---RePort Ofthe Com
,,i,,.e al, Meeting Last Wight
mating was held at Festival hall last
,raring To hear the report of the commit
~ annointed to investigate the coffin and
oaskat industry, which has made a propo-
sition for locating in Brattleboro, and also
IN consider the question OF organizing
hoard of trade. In spite OF the storm
there was an attendance OF between lOJ
and 200 citizens, who showed nVely IN
terest in the proceedings. +. Z. Crosby
called the meeting to order. lie was maze
chairman and II. L. Emerson was chosen
secretary. -.,,...i,,-.. go.
rlanation. said that the two young men,
Heinz and Hollins, who are at the head Of
Tho nronosed industry, came to BratlleborO
recently on a visit TO Mr.. DeCosta, whom
thew had engaged as superintendent of their
business. and at his suggestion they looked
over the Centrevile building, which they
Thought a good location for their factory.
Mr. Crosby and w. II. Bracket talked
with the young men and were favorably
IMPRESSED and thought it advisable that
some action be taken. The result was the
citizens' meeting last week and the ap-
nointment of L. f. Adams, c. w. Dun
ham and S. S. Hunt as a committee to in
vestigate this proposed industry.
This committee went TO Boston last
week. Mr.. Durham, speaking for the com
mittee. said the industry is now in the
hands of Joslin Brothers & Co., long
established concern, which has factory
in Whitman, Mass, and Warerooms in
Boston. The sales are all made from the
Boston house. Tue goods go to all parts
of New England. For reasons stated the
rent of the Boston warerooms is secured at
a nominal sum. On going TO the factory
in Whitman they found that from % to 80
men are employed there in the manufa =
turing department The covering and
trimming of the caskets is done principally
in the Boston warerooms. Joslin Brothers
are men of ample means. One of them is
In i'll health. They are engaged in various
kinds of business, and are now willing to
dispose of the casket industry. Heinz is
the bookkeeper in the Boston Office, while
| Hollins is the salesman npOn the road.
| Joslin Brothers stated that their entire
business in this department amounts TO
about 100000 yer. A large part Of
! this consists in the coverings and trim
| mings. comparatively cheap class Of
! help is employed at the Whitman factory.
! Joslin Brothers give Heniz and Hollins
very high commentator. The young men
! have organized as a corporation under the
laws of the state of Maine, where the sub
scription of only three shares of stock is
required. They claim to have $4,000 Of
| their own money which they are ready to
put into the business. They say they can
secure S25, 900 from the firms customers,
which consist Of undeTtakers in the various
towns and cities. None of this money has
been subscribed. They wish 10 start with
an assured capital of $50, 900 to $65 900,
and wish the balance of SIS, 900 or $780,
600 to be subscribed in Bratteboro. JOS
lin Brothers said the profits OF the business
had been very satisfactory" but hey did
not wish to invest money in the new en-
terprise. They thought that, with good
management, it ought TO pay seven to nine
per cent dividends.
Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Hunt confirmed the
| general report made by Mr.. Durham. The
committee agreed that the impression they
had received was favorable, and they had
no doubt of the truth of the statements
made, but they questioned whether it was
desirable for Brattleboro to give $25, 600
for an industry which would employ only
% or 80 hands. If only $4,000 or $l5,-
| 900 were required they could recommend
more definitely. Another trouble was that
the concern had no capital subscribed and
was not ready to make definite PROPOSE
ton.
Questions were asked and suggestions
were made by several citizens. Col Hook
er thought it decidedly in favor of the en-
terprise that the goods manufactured were
articles of necessity. 1t was a bright and
! ousiness-.ike scheme for the young men to
interest their customers in the enterprise,
thus assuring their trade. Col Haskins
asked, among other things, whether the
young men wouli be willing to incorporate
under the laws of Vermont, which require
majority of the stock to be held in the
state, and which would prevent the indus
try from being removed from Brattleboro
against the wish of our people. Ii was
suggested by several speakers that the COM
mlttee ascertain definitely whether Heinz
and Hollins can get their concern into
shape with definite statement of capital
subscribed and a definite proposition to
make to our people.
1t was finally left for the committee 10
Try TO do something of this kind. and TO
report at meeting to be called within two
weeks. AT that meeting the same COM
mi'teei is to report upon the organization of
board of trade