Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-08-12
SUMNER HOTELS IN VERMONT
PROFITABLE.

| Discussion of the need of chain
| of summer hotels in Vermont to pro-
mote our states interests as a noble
pleasure ground" has become general
in tho press Of Vermont. and 1t is
gratifying to note that Brattlcboro
bids fair to add large hosiery to
the number which help TO induce Wis
itors 10 enjoy Vermont's wonderful
scenery 1t is realized that summer
hotels make big white Mountain sea-
sons possible and a list OF fine hntcls
would answer similar purpose In
connection with the tourist season In
the Green Mountain state.
As was to he expected. the question
OF the probability or possibility or
selling liquors in summer hotels has
come to the front. and tho necessity
of taking this factor into account Is
being discussed pro and con The
Rutland Herald. for example says in
the course OF lengthy editorial on
this subject:
''Thc same parties who have made
this great hostelry-IIotcl Champaign
at Bluff successful are always
interested In Vermont. Several sites
have beer had in mind for summer
hotels on tho shore. Bow and Arrow
Point Thompson'q Point. For, Cassn.
Bas!a 1Tarbor, Chimney Point-per-
haps half a score Of desirable locn-
tiona havo beer canvassed with the
always turn and ask the facts about
the liquor laws. then postpone their
prospective Investments indefinitely"
The Enoshurgh Standard takes the
other side Of tho case:
The idea that summer hotels can
not be successfully operated in Yer
mont without selling liquor Is n fam
iliar fallacy which has been effect
ually exploded by experience and yet
there are those who. like the Rutland
contemporary. persistently close their
eyes to the facts and solennly put
forth proposition. the error OF which
has been thoroughly demonstrated.
Take. for example. the Woodstock
Inn. This hosiery was started as a
commercial proposition to build up
Woodstock by inducing summer tour
lists and boarders to come and thus
Introduce to strangers the natural
beauties of the state. IIere are the
actual financial facts: First, an issue
Of stock OF $4,000; second. an issue
of bonds Of $4,000: third, an issue of
notes OF $4,000 total investment
$4,000. The first year showed n de-
felt OF $4,000 while the second year
showed an even balance. The hotel
has now been run thirteen years with
the financial result that the sos00u
In notes and tho $4,000 in bonds have
been paid and the hotel Is earning to-
day a very large income on the orig
inal stock. Here we have o very sue
cessful commercial; enterprise and ali
without selling a drop OF liquor in
fac; the managers OF the Woodstock
Inr are absolutely and unqualiheldy
opposed to the issuing of licenses IN
Woodstock
Other examples might be given but
the case of the Woodstock Inn alone
in Woodstock can be done IN any en-
terprisng and prorressiv. town. IN
any section of Vermont located on
any main thoroughferc and blessed
with good roads.
In St Adams there is a substantial
license majority which practically as
sures the granting OF liquor licenses
yearly, ard vet in all the years since
hn
projec: Of new hotel has made no
headwoy. In Brattleboro. on tho 9TH
err hand. whore the chances are two
to one that the town will vote no, the
summer tourist business has out
grown the present hotel accommoda
lions and plans for a large hotcl ia
take care of tho increasing summer
business are we'll under way. IN
Burlington. normal license city
where according to the Horald's the
DRY summer hotels should flourish
the hotel situation shows no advance
ment over seven years ago.
The Equinox House in Manchester
is crowded with summer tourists and
boarders from one end of the season
to the other. and Manchester, with
the exception of one year, has invar-
l q
Montpelier, a no license city, IL max
ing money out OF summer tourists
while in Waterbury the proprictors
Of the Waterbury Inn have invested
heavily in the hotel enterprise with
full knowledge that Waterbury votes
against license.
Nothing is palmer than that the
idea that II Is necessary to run a bar
TO assure success in the summer ho-
. tel business Is a falacy and one tina,
Is not justified by any experience
based upon sound commercial lines
We are credibly Informed that one
: OF the most successful hotels in the
State. conducted In a no-license towr
Is allowed to furnish its guests witt
liquors at the table. although 1t /.
utterly impossible for residents OF
the town In which 1t is located to Sc
cure n drink from It's supply. II thi.
is the case, II would be far better thai
the hotel In question were conductec
under some such law as that proposed
at the last session OF the Legislator,
to allow summer hotels with half n hun.
: dred rooms or more TO furnish liuuol
to guests. thus guarding against the
possibility of introducing Raines no
% tells. than that the people OF towr
should wink at violations OF the Law
In this manner.