St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-12-25
Vermont News.
New Pension Agent.

NHdlles FAIRBANKS, appointed United
States pension agent for Vermont and
New Hampshire, is cousin of Vice
President Fairbanks. He had long
civil war record to help him to the ap-
pointment, having served three years in
20. h, 2nd United States sharp-shooters.
lie was the youngest of six brothers, all
OF whom enlisted from Bethel. VT, in the
federal army. His war career included
capture at Gettysburg and imprisonment
at Libby prison and Belle Isle. In 1886
he was appointed special examiner of
pensions, located at Concord, n H. In
1898 he was discharged under Presi-
dent Cleveand's second administration,
to be reappointed again in 1897 under
civil service rules, with headquarters at
Boston. Mr.. Fairbanks has always
named his residence as Concord. His
new duties will give him his office there.
Mr. Fairbanks is but 81 years old, hav-
ing entered the army when only 16. He
says he is a stalwert republican and an
earnest supporter of Roosevelts admins
tration. There were eight other appli
cants for the position, seven of them
from New Hampshire and the other
from Vermont
Fire which started from an unknown
cause destroyed the store of the Vermont
Marble Co. at Center Rutland early Sat
urday morning. The building was valued
at $4,000 to $4,000 and the stock at
SIS, ZOO to $4,000. The store and its
contents were burned and it is expected
that the insurance will cover about two
thirds of the loss. The business was
H,,E LII +
master and.the post-office was also in
the store. All the government property
was in safe and it is thought none was
destroyed The building was in flames
when the fire was discovered by the night
watchman of the company There is no
fire department in the village but at
O'Clock the department of Rutland was
called to save the schoolhouse which
stands about rs feet from the store and
this building was saved.
The store building was one of the land
marks of the village and was built for
Methodist church. 1t was sold to the
marble company about 20 years ago.
The company has rented another build
ing and will reopen the store as soon as
possible
Justice for Maple Syrup Swindler.
Stephen Wilton Jr., of Utica N. Y,
was convicted and sentenced in the
United States court at Utica Monday to
pay $500 fine and serve three months |
in jail for carrying on swindling opera
tions through the mails. The evidence
showed that Whitton contracted for
large quantities ofmaple syrup and other
products in Vermont and other sections
u nj 10 trxy Co.,
prices for the same. His negotiations
were carried on through the mails and
he gave the names of all the Utica banks
as references. Many farmers and pro-
ducers correspondent with him and sent
forward their products but. it is alleged,
failed to receive any returns. The evil
dence was so voluminous that several
days were occupied in taking it, but the
jury gave verdict of guilty within ten
minutes.
Representative Haskins' Bill.
The Brattleboro Phoenix says that a
bill of great Importance introduced in the
House of Representatives bv Col.
Haskinsis entitled ITO promote military
education in civil institutions of learning
in the United States" and is designed for
the benefit of institutions like Norwich
university, which makes military instruc-
ton fundamental in thecourse OF regular
study. Provision smade for the issuance
of arms, ordnance, ordnance stores, sig
nal and engineer supplies and quarter
master stores to such schools. The
schools are to be rated in four classes
and to schools of the highest class such
as Norwich, the government is to pay
500 a year for each student and to those
in the second class $50 a year for each
Fstudent.
Manchester, N. H., vermonters.
The Manchester Vermont association
held its annual meeting Friday night
and elected the following officers: W. NJ.
Rockwell, president; Grant 6. Skinner,
Fred ]. Bixby, Frank H. Challis, Richard
Wilder and Albert E Dodge, vice-presi-
dents; Mary V. Tobie, secretary; H. Fox
Davis, treasurer; Mrs. William Rockwell,
Mrs. Grant G. Skinner, Mrs. Charles
Day, Mrs. Richard Wilder, Mrs. Albert
T. Dodge, Mrs. Mary Laraba, Mrs. Ira
fAV