The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-11-22
PROFITABLE TALK
ON VARIOUS TOPICS
Board of Trade Smoker Last Evening
Proved of Value to All Who At
tended and Brought Out Much
of Interest to Those Present.

Between 70 and 100 members of the
board of trade gathered in the grange
banquet hall last evening and spent
over two hours discussing informally
the various projects with which the
organization is identified. The differ
ent topics were brought up by the
president Charles o. Robbins, and diff
ferent members followed with express
sions of opinion and suggestions. The
time spent in this manner was not
only enjoyable but held much of profit
for all who attended. The first sub
iect to which the attention of the
meeting was called was that of the
power which will be available for use
in Brattleboro by the construction OF
the Connecticut river dam. When the
charters were turned over to the pres
ent company by the local men interest
ed in the enterprise it was agreed that
5000 horsepower should be reserved
for this town, but in order to secure
this amount onethird of it must be
contracted for by Dec. 26, 1907. In
behalf of the power company Charles
A. Harris said that he did not believe
il would be the intention of that cor
poration to make this town forfeit its
right to 1000 horsepower If 1t was not
contracted for by Dec. 26 of this year,
but it was the opinion of several, in
cluding Col. j. G. Estey, that the com
pany should not be given the oppor-
tunity whatever its feeling in the mat
ter. The discussion developed the fact
that the company is not yet in a po-
sition to say just how its power will
be sold and for this reason intending
purchasers are at a disadvantage. On
motion of H. P. Wellman, however,
the chair was empowered to appoint
a committee, numbering among its
members the three probably largest
users of power in town, to make can.
vass of the town for the purpose OF
ascertaining how much power will be
taken by present industries and to ef-
feet if possible a tentative agreement
with the company in order to hold the
option.
The matter of the Brattleboro Mer-
chants association was then brought
mn and a number of members told OF
the success which had attended their
use of this collection system. There
was also considerable discussion with
regard to the advisability of forming
a building and loan association, and
an informal vote showed that many
of those present were willing to be-
come investors in such an institution.
President Robbins then brought up
the question of the local rest room
and told of the success which had at
tended it since it was opened a few
weeks ago. Reference was made to
letter from the post office department
asking for an expression of opinion
from the board of trade as to the
parcels post idea, and after some dis
eussion it was decided to take no vote
until the members had been given an
opportunity to enlghten themselves
further regarding the project. AS TO
the advisability of having a banquet
followed by an address by some prom,.
nent person George l.. Dunham moved
that this be left in the hands of the
directors and the motion was carried.
After more talk on various topics ad-
iournment was taken and the members
enioyed a luncheon furnished by
Halls restaurant.