St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-11-23
MET AT The COLONIAL.
Good Crowd Greeted the Speakers
at Public Meeting of The
Commercial Club.


planned for the public meeting ofthe
st. Johnsbury Commercial Club at
The Colonial last Friday evening
was successfully carried out. A few
minutes before time for the speak
! ing to commence word was received
from Rev. D. J. O'Sullivan of st. Al
bans that he was unable to come as
there were two funerals in his par
/ ish he must attend. The other
speakers we're present and the boys
and the girls glee clubs of the Acad-
envy were in good trim SO the meet
| ing can easily be called success.
The gathering was called to or
der by Pres. G. w. Steele who spoke
| briefly of what the club had accomp-
lished and said that it still needed a
more general support.
The girls glee club of the Acad-
emy was then called and sang two
selections in a manner that brought
them liberal rounds of applause.
F. H. Brooks was called on to
speak of the possibility of new
hotel here He said that the mat
ter was in somewhat indefinite shape
at present but the club could an
nounce that there was man widely
known as a successful hotel man
who was willing to be identified
with the undertaking both in the
way of capital and influence. He is
not willing and will not assume all
the responsibility for such an under
Ii, Of T0Io
bury must do their part. AS soon as
things are in shape the club will
come to the people for help and if
they have their cooperation hotel
can be built here.
George C. Seavey, editor of the
New England Farmer of Spring
field, Mass, was next introduced.
His was the main address of the
evening and its general note was to
learn for ourselves what our re-
sources and possibilities are, adver-
tise them and get new blood to helV
us in the work He said that YER
mont's opportunity was one of pro-
gress, that while affairs might be in
good shape they could and ought to
be improved. We should look upon
Vermont as a great corporation with
the taxpayers the stockholders.
At the present time Vermont farm
lands right at the threshold of the
markets in New England are drug
on the market at $40 per acre
while in the western states lands
that will produce no more are selling
for $3.50 per acre. To change
these conditions Vermont only
needs to fully utilize the powers and
resources we already possess. The
key note to Vermont's development
is cooperation.
Vermont should do six things.
First it should enact a law Gre
ating a Vermont promotion board
and appropriate 100000 for it's use
annually. This board should have
authority to find out the resources
of Vermont that can be developed
to the best advantage.
Second we should provide state aid
for farmers and settlers. Loan mon
ey to any man ready to start in
farming at a low rate and secure the
loan with a state bond. This will
furnish the capital needed.
Third we should organize the dis
tribution of all Vermont produce.
Have it sent to the market by the
trainload and not in small lots.
Then have agents at the trade CEN
ters to properly dispose of it. Have it
properly graded and honestly Ia
belled so the name of Vermont on
it will be a guarantee of it's quality.
Fourth we should plan CAM
paign of advertising Vermont pro-
ducts. The state should cooperate
with the producer in this. Let the
creameries appropriate a certain per
cent of their receipts for advertis-
ing Vermont butter and cream and
the state put in dollar for dollar
with the creameries.
cho h1piTa
into the state. New people bring
new ideas, new courage and new
possibilities.
Sixth we should promote the new
education, the directed education and
train our boys and girls in agricul-
culture, domestic science and man
ual training.
We should legislate for humanity
and not property, should develop
our water powers and sell the power
at cost, help the new settler and re-
vivify our agricultural life. It is a
big program and will meet with OPP
position. 1t will take time but the
regeneration of Vermont is
straight business proposition.
The boys glee club then gave two
selections and the audience tried to
recall them for another but they
could not respond.
The closing addess was by Fa-
ther e. c. Drouhin of Notre Dame
Church. He spoke in an informal
way but said SO many plain and
apt things that his, talk aroused
considerable enthusiasm. He said
that we should give more attention
to making our town beautiful and
attractive Make a visitors first
impression of the town good and it
will always remain with him.