The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-09-16
FRANK Z. HOWE. Editor and Publisher
The Need Of Tenements.

Brattleboro Is In the same fix as
Bennington In regard TO a scarcity Of
tencments. the growth of the village
being practically halted because there
are no more places for people TO live.
The Brattleboro board Of trade has
taken up the matter and Is urging the
starting Of a local building aud loan
association. The Brattloboro Phoenix
prints the following In regard to the
proposal:
The officers OF the board of trade
llnd themselves constantly hampcred
In their efforts to secure new indus.
tries for Brattlcboro by the fact that
no tonemcnts are To be- had for new
Corners 10 the town. one Of the FIRST
questions which any concern asks II II
Is considering In q new place Is as to
whether there are suitable places for
its employees 20 live. Mr.. Fox. the
secretary OF the board. Is constantly
receiving requires for toncmcnts from
men or families who wish to come
here. Il b. a fact known to everybody
that no desirable tencmcnts are 10 be-
had and the difficulty In housing PEG.
pie who wish 20 come here Is In
creased by the fact that the cost Of
building ~ now so high. Men who
have capital hesitate about putting up
new buildings. feeling that In year
or two the cost OF material may bcleHB
and they might suffer loss should they
begin the erection OF new houses now.
The board OF trade officers have
turned this subject over many times
and Just now they are asking them.
selves whether nc least partial
remedy might not be- found by the es.
adjustment here Of a building and
loan association OF the kind which b.
common in the larger towns Of Massa
chusotts and New Hampshire. The
idea Of these associations H. In brief
that "a capital fund shall be- subscrib
I'd by men interested lu the towns vel
fare. this fund 10 be- divided into
shares and these shares sold 10 men Of
small means who wish 90 build and
own their own houses 4 man Who
wishes 60 build house worth say
$4,000 aud Who has saved n half ur q
third Of that amount can readily Dor
row the money to build hls house. Thi
case o. different with n man who has
pnly 5000 or $500 at command. Under
the plan of management of the build
Ink and loan association. "a man OF
small means would be- loaned the
money which b. needs iu the form uf
The sale to him Of a certain number ui
shares. uu which be- would De- under
obligation 90 make n certain monthly
payment. and be- would be- put under
cumuuisl0u by % small nnc aud other
proper penalties u be- did not meet
this obligation.
This D. the primary idea which can
be- fully elaborated should any general
public interest Tn such n scheme b.
huwn. Reports which have been e.
criycd from New Hampshire and Mas
.achuaetts towns show that such a..
s0cintiuns have been almost uniformly
successful and have proved n source Of
profit 90 their members. besides en-
cuuuring n spirit Of home building in
the town. In rrattlcboro's case. for
instance. could dozen men work for
day wages be- encouraged to build
houses Tor themselves another season.
these houses when built and occupied
would leave room for a dozen other
families in tpucmentH thus vacated.
A. ln the case of life Insurance. the
tendency Of the building aud loan as.
ISOLATION o. 90 institute "a system 81
compulsory saving Besides this.
such institutions build up the town by
/ encouraging BODYBUILDING and by
making permanent residents ~ men
aud families Who would DRIFT away
acre they simply hlrcrs Of tenemcuts
The officers of the board Of trad,
/ simply advance this suggestion Tor a.,
citizens OF Hmtticboru 90 discuss
among themselves " there D. a dis
position 10 regard u fayorably an up
portunity will b. given 90 talk Il over
| In an informal way in meeting 81 cit
liens. and there are men thoroughly
] informed in regard 90 these assOCia
iious aud their management and opera
ton who could be- brought here 10 ~
plain the plan In detail and answer all
/ questions.