Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-11
The Vermont Industrial Association

The ueop,e Of this State have long felt
the ICED Of some means of directing the
attention Of residents Of other common
wcaltha TO the Inducements offered by
Vermont as a place of residence as we'll
as to the industrial opportunities to be
found within our boundaries. Our State
board of agriculture undertook to carry
on work of this kind for a short period
and a Vermont Improvement society hav-
ing for it's object something of thls nature
among other things was carried through
the preliminary stages Of organization.
During the past few years, however, no
organized effort of this kind has been
undertaken except by our transportation
companies in connection with cndeaVors
to direct the attention of the tourist pub
lie to the attractions to be found in the
regions penetrated by their lines.
Under these circumstances it is worthy
of note that an organization has been
chartered by the present Legislature I'M
der the name of the Vermont Industrial
association for the purpose Of establish
ing medium, through which to secure
the settlement of people within the State,
and to advance the Industrial interests OF
Vermont; TO buy hold. and sell and con-
vey real estate, to manage Industrial
farm or farms. for the propagating of
hlooded stock, to import and sell
such stock and sell the products there
Of; and by that name may sue and be
sued; may have common seal, ana alter
the same at pleasure; and may have all
the duties, rights and privileges. and be
subject to all the duties and Liabilities
set forth in the general law relating TO
corporations, The incorporltors are Henry
c. Sherman Of Boston, Mass, Joseph 4.
Bowman Of Minneapolis Mimi, Charles
II. Markham of Pomfret. Arthur ". Deck
or Of Buffalo, n. Y, Arthur Ropes of
Montpelier, Benjamin f. Bowman of Roy
alton.
The story of the way in which this
project took shape is told in an interesting
manner by the Montpelier Journal. 1t
says that the prime mover and persistent
genius in this enterprise is Capt. b. T.
Bowman, a native OF central Vermont
n soldier Of the Civil War For some
sixteen years preceding 1870, Captain Bow.
man had been in the West, in connection
with the railways of that region promot,
ing and managing immigration schemes
more particularly in territory tributary
TO the Chicago Milwaukee and ST. Pau
railroad in South Dakota. Marked success
attended Captain Bowman's plans and eff
forts in these enterprises. His work re
ceived the high commentator OF the 10
Calities and companies whose interest t.
he was serving. Captain Bowman was il
the East in 1900 looking after the inter
ests of the Grand Army in connection
with the encampment III that year il
Chicago He was favorably impressed b.
the possibilities presented here in hi
native State, and in the sentiment exist
ing in tho West, the growing desire Pre-
valent there among men of fortune t.
acquire rural homes in the East, and par
ticularly In Vermont, to which they coul'
retire for rest in the summer an,
on which they could spend tn
closing years OF their lives. Wha
seemed necessary in the situation
wss an ssency through which the West
srner aud the Vermont land owner ooul,
be brought together. Captain Bowman
determined TO supply that agency. lie
Goached his ycheLac' to number OF