The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-18
BOYS WITH A BUSINESS
What Two Boys Have Done Other
Boys May Do.


Boys May Do.
The same rule that makes sue
cessful business man makes a success
full business boy; that is, to find some
thing which people need, and then let
them know that you can supply il. OF
course, there are certain standard
kinds of business OF which every boy
thinks-selling newspapers, or run
ming errands, for example. But the
really alert boy wants to invent a
business of his own
Here is what a couple of boys of my
acquaintance have done in a business
way:
The best business boy ! know is
James Conroy. of Plainyille. Like
most boys, Jimmy had increased his
spending money by shoveling snow,
but in Plainvllle most of the sidewalks
had taken care OF themselves. This
last winter Jimmy decided to extend
his business and hire other boys to do
the shoveling. SO, late In November,
he went from house to house. politely
explaining that he proposed to make
1
snow, Just as the man who cleans the
New York streets does, at so much a
cubic foot. He showed that it would
be much more satisfactory to know,
every time 1t showed, that the shovel
ing would be done, and just how much
it would cost, without waiting to make
a bargain with any one who might
come along. BY this time people
were interested and when Jimmy
measured their walks and showed
them how much three inch snowfall
would cost, most of them signed his
contract.
Meanwhile Jimmy organized at
school a shovel brigade of boys who
agreed to report to him at the first
snowfall, to work at fair, fixed price
and to keep on working until his last
sidewalk was finished. Jimmy as
signed each boy to a house and waited
for the snow. Fortunately, it came
on Friday night, aud Jimmy could use
his brigade all day Saturday OF
course, some boys shirked, though
that did not hurt Jimmy, for he paid
only for work done; but it was busy
day for him, seeing that the walks
were promptly and properly cleared
and collecting his payment.
The next storm was so heavy that
1t nearly swamped Jimmy; but he
rose to the emergency, hired several
men who preferred sure work to sim
| ply hunting for a job and he made
a good profit, for, of course, the more
snow there was, the better for Jimmy.
In the spring he saw that the same
system could be applied to moving
lawns; with better results, too, for he
would give steady work to two men.
So he made contracts for the season,
basing his price on the number Of
square feet in the lawn. The last
time | saw him he told me that he in
tended to try to get the work of cut
ting all the lawns and shoyeling all
the sidewalks which belonged to their
small city,
Then there is Joe Sargent Of Mon
roe. Monroe is a summer place
near big city. Every night the bus.
mess men come out from the city, and
many of them, though they do not
care to keep horses, prefer to drive
from the station to their homes along
the shore. Formerly, If they were
fortunate, they found disagreeable
liveryman or one of his untidy stable
boys waiting for the train. Some
times there were no carriages at all,
and sometimes, worse yet, when a car
riage was ordered for a particular
train, no carriage came and the bus
mess man lost his train-and his tent
per, too OF course people grumbled,
but what could they do? They had to
hire Jones and take their chances or
else walk.
Last summer | found on the station
platform an alert boy, about thirteen
years old, whose Carriage sirg'
sounded earnest and inviting When
smiled, In some establishment, the
boy seized my suitcase, placed 1t care
fully In an old carryall and darted for
another passenger. looked at the
team. Everything, horse, harness and
carryall, was old, but everything was
clean and well polished. Decidedly,
the new stable was worth trying and
| wondered who had started it.
Soon the boy returned with another
passenger in tow, climbed aboard and
clucked Get upl"
Whom do you drive for?' I asked.
For myself, sir was the answer,
you see, It's vacation. and
thought perhaps people would ride
with me II | started In business. SO
took our old horse and hired this
carryall | hope | may have your
trade, sir, this summer. won't miss
any trains II can help IT,"
He had my precise on the spot.
Many Of the cottages tried him and
finding that he could be relied upon.
became regular customers. Joe soon
had more work than he could well do
with his one team.
Then some business men dubbed
together and lent him money to buy a
second team. This was not charity,
for II was worth while to be sure OF
catching the train, and Joe never fail
ed BY the end OF summer he had
bought the carryall and more than
paid for the second team. This year
he plans to start with three teams
and soon he will control the livery
business In Monroe, Walter Dun
ham IN April ST. Nicholas
1vcvv.