Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-06-27
WILL EMPLOY 40 HANDS
BrattIeboro Is Assured of a New
and Desirable Industry.

Prompt Action by Business Men, Who
Subscribed the Necessary $4,000
Town Meeting to Vote on Exemp-
ton July 5.
The scope of Brattleboro's manu-
featuring interests bids fair to be
materially enlarged during the coming
months by the addition of plant for
the manufacture of furniture for ex-
port trade. Notice was given in The
Phoenix last Friday of a meeting to be
held in the town hall that evening to
consider the proposition of B. Souto IL
Co. of New York relative to establish
ing a furniture plant in Brattleboro.
The firm was in business in Randolph,
but their plant recently was burned.
The meeting was attended by good
number of business men and others
interested in the welfare of the town.
l.. F. Adams called the meeting to
order. Col G. w. Hooker was elected
chairman and John J.. Knowlton secre-
tary. The proposition of B. Souto &
Co was read by G. l.. Durham. In
substance it is this: b. Souto agrees
to erect a factory $50 feet long by
! oU ltGl Nlut anu lultt SlOllto ulbu,
store house 200 feet long by 60 feet
wide and two stories high; finishing
| building of brick 100 feet long by so
| feet wide; a brick boiler and engine
house: kilns with a capacity of 10000
to 10000 feet; and other smaller build
ings needed in their business. They
agree to equip the plant with machin-
| cry needed to manufacture such furni-
] fl.D E,s,,a .p1x an1n In
Randolph and sucn other furniture as
they might desire to make. They
agree to invest in such a plant from
| $4,000 to 100000 They agree to
employ not less than 40 hands for FIVE
years. increasing the number in con-
| formity to the requirements OF the bus
! mess.
AS an inducement to do this they
require of the citizens of Brattleboro
a plot of five acres of land so situated
that side track may be run to it from
the railroad toward which they agree
to pay $500. They require further a
bonus or gift of $4,000. not to be paid
in until the buildings are erected and
equipped They agree to execute to
trustees an obligation TO repay the
$4,000 If they fail within five years to
in case the plant is destroyed by fire
within that time. the insurance being
so drawn that the trustees may collect
that amount. They also require the
town to exempt their property from
taxation for five years. and require
the railroad to build a spur track to
their plant free of charge.
After reading the statement Mr..
| nup road a nrppoCitiOp from TDhn
Hunt and LeoBora Hunt giving the
citizens an option on plot of land
near a. G. Aliens. in which they
agreed to sell the land for 5000 an
acre if taken within 30 days. The
plot contains from six to seven acres
and is situated west OF the corn can
ming factory. Souto & Co. inspected
the land and pronounced it satisfact-
DRY.
The chairman called on G. c. Averll
for statement as to the financial
standing of Souto & Co. He stated
that they were rated by Bradstreet at
from S35. 900 to $50, 900 and by Dun &
Co at from $780, 900 to $4,000, with
the first grade credit in both cases.
The Bank of America in New York in
formed Mr.. Averill that the firm had
had an account with them for is years
and that their business had been salts
factory from the start. Mr. Averill
said that the firm came here with a
recommendation from ex-Mayor Van
Patten of Burlington.
L. f. Adams said that the PROPOSE
ton was one of the most businesslike
that ever had come to his considers
ton and that he was very much
pleased with the personality of Mr.
Souto as business man. He thought
Brattleboro could not afford to let the
opportunity pass. and that the estab
lishment of the business would be a
benefit to the merchants. the lumber
men and the farmers. Souto & Co
found the lumber conditions satisfact
DRY. beech, birch and maple being the
principal kinds of lumber used in theii
business. They prefer to locate In
Brattleboro rather than in other places
where they are wanted as the business
would be on the line of the New Lon
don railroad and nearer the New York
market. Under prosperous condi
tons they expect to employ 100 OF
more hands in few years.
Several citizens took part in dis
cussing the proposition, among then
c. F. Thompson, II. l.. Emerson, G.
w. Hooker and others, all of whom
spoke favorably. Chairman Hooker
then appointed l.. F. Adams. G. c
Averill and G. l.. Durham trustees t
carry on the negotiations with SoutC
& Co., to receive subscriptions and t
look after the interest of the citizens
in the matter.
Lawyer C. C. Fits presented sub
scription paper, drawn up in lega
form, making the subscriptions bind
ing when the sum of $4,000 is raised
that amount covering the bonus anC
the cost of the site for the plant, anC
making the subscriptions payable OF
Is days notice. Subscriptions wer,
then called for, and in 20 minutes
$1,000 was subscribed, which, witt
amounts pledged outside, made tn
available sum about $4,000.
Before the meeting adjourned j. L
Knowlton presented resolution
which was adopted, calling upon tn,
selectmen to call special town meet
!. ing to see if the town would vote t,
exempt the firms property from taxa
ton as required in their proposition
This meeting will be held a week from
tomorrow, July 5.
, Since the public meeting the trus
tees have secured subscriptions t,
the required amount,-$6000. Ne
gotiations with the Central Vernon
Railroad company for railroad facili
! ties are expected to be favorably cor