Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-03
The Meeting.

were still burning, G. F. Thompson started
out with a paper which embodied call
for a citizens meeting in Festival hall
Thursday evening to express sympathy for
the firm of S. A. Smith & Co. and also to
tender to them substantial aid. This pa
per quickly received 40 or 80 signatures,
and when the hour named, 1880 Thursday
evening, came, Festival hall was filled with
citizens of the village who were evidently
there for very serious and earnest pur-
pose.
Col. George w. Hooker was chosen mod
orator by a unanimous vote. lie said that
it was unnecessary to state the object OF
the meeting. A leading industry had been
wiped out in a few hours, an industry
which had been established by go ahead
business men whose employees were among
the best class of workmen in Brattleboro.
The question is: Shall Brattleboro help to
rebuild this industry? We cannot afford to
lose it. We must not, and we will not lose
it. An expression of sympathy is good as
far as it goes, but it is of no moment when
capital is required. Action, quick and de-
cisive, is what we must have.
G. F. Thompson was then chosen secre-
tary of the meeting. l.. F. Adams moved
that a resolution be drafted, expressive of
the sympathy of the people of Brattleboro
with S.A Smith & Co. and their employees.
The chairman appointed L. F. Adams, OIL.
French and G. II. Davenport committee
to draft such resolution. The resolution
which was brought in at later stage of
the proceedings, was as follows:
The Resolutions of Sympathy.
We, the citizens of Brattleboro, in pub
lie meeting assembled, desire to extend to
- q 10 n the
members individually, and to their en-
ployes our deep feeling of sympathy for
the misfortune that has overtaken them,
and which we recognize also to be the mis-
fortune of Brattleboro. We recognize,
also, the very cordial relations which have
always existed between the firm and the
people of the town, and we earnestly hope
for their continuance in the rebuilding
and continued prosperity of the establish
ment which has long been so important a
factor in our local life.
W. H. Bracket said that he and others
had had long interview during the after
noon with S. A. Smith and f. l.. Hunt,
members of the firm. The question had
been asked them whether the sum of $1,000
or $4,000, raised and contributed by the
people of Brattleboro, with exemption
from taxation for a term of years, would
be an inducement to the firm to rebuild.
Mr.. Smith and Mr.. Hunt had answered
that it would not In the first place they
did not wish to accept any gift from the
people of Brattleboro, and in the next
place if the firm decided to rebuild it would
be necessary to have working capital OF
at least 100000 to start with. They
could probably realize 1000 from theiI
own assets, and could borrow $25, 900 more
They were then asked whether a sub
scription by our people of S25, 900 in stock
for the formation of new company would
be an inducement. In regard to this Mr.
Smith and Mr.. Hunt would not speak de-
cisively, though they thought favorably Of
and Younger member of the firm, was theI
called in, and the proposition explained Il
him, and he was inclined to say that sucl
plan would be feasible and acceptable
and that under it the factory could be re
built and the business continued.
Mr.. Bracket felt sure that bona fid'
subscription of $25, 900 in cash for stool
would induce the firm 70 rebuild and re
main. The plan would be to form an en-
tirely new company under the Smith q
Co. management, the old firm to turn II
what would represent $4,000 in capita
stock and our people to furnish the bal
ance of S25, 900, this stock to take its pro
portonate share of the profits of the bust
ness. L. F. Adams, G. A. Harris, o. j
Pratt, G. A. Boyden and w. II. VintoI
warmly approved this plan, and expressed
the belief that the investment would be
paying one. j. l.. Elmer, one of the employe
of the company, favorably impressed thu
meeting with his good spirit and apprecia
ton of the situation in remarks in which
he stated the interest of the Smith q Co
employees in this movement and suggests
that each employe might well turn in hi
last months poy and take certificate o
stock in exchange for it.
The chairman then appointed W. ii
Bracket, l.. F. Adams and G. A. Harris
committee to receive subscriptions TO
stock. The committee drew up pape
fixing the value of shares at 500 each, bu
at the suggestion of Col. II. E. Taylor, az
proved by Col. Kittredge Haskins, tn
value of shares was put at $50 each. Sui
scaiptions were then called for, and In jus
10 minutes $4,000 had been subscribed
In 80 minutes more the subscription ha
been raised to over $4,000. In othe
words 1t was S:20 when W. H. Vintor
chairman of the board of selectmen, pI
his hand to the paper with a subscription {
$1,000, and at o'clock over $4,000 wa
on the paper. Following is list of sui
scribers and the amounts for which the
ouhsorihad.