Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1910-09-30

saving -is brought about largely through
using the power at Vernon, thus avoid
ing the necessity of installing a boiler
and engine plant which would cost $780,
600 or $4,000. Another economical ar
rangement will come in laying out the
plant so as to run part of the ma =
chinery day and night A third saving
will be secured in not raising working
capital but depending upon the banks
in borrowing the necessary funds The
climatic factor was considered and Brat
tleboro was compared with Adams,
Mass, which makes as good cloth as is
made in this country and incidentally
pays as big dividends. Mr.. Chace also
discussed the important problem of fair
ly skilled labor and of the satisfactory
work of the French Canadians.
He spoke of the low cost of operating
the mill through securing power from the
Vernon dam. and of the practicability
Of running the machinery day and night,
which cuts down the expense for cleo
tricity and cheapens the general cost
such as salaries, insurance, taxes, de-
probation on building and machinery.
He said the machinery would be of the
latest and most approved type, and not a
mill in the United States would be bet
ter equipped for the production of these
yarns and goods than this one. Mr.
Chace read a list of dividend rates Of
six mills, showing returns of six to 16 per
per cent. Cotton mill men consider 50
a spindle a fair amount to make in n
year, but figuring Conservatively the Fort
Drummer mill ought to make at least 81
a spindle, which on its small capital
would be about eight per cent
Mr.. ChaCe said i'm closing that the mill
would require about 300 persons and he
hoped the industry would be so success
full that il would require doubling and
probably trebling that number in the
course of time. With 800 people at least
so tenements would he required The
help will be approximately one half male
and one half female. The weavers, most
ly men, will receive approximately $12 a
week. and the girls or women in the
spinning room probably $3.50 to 50 a
week, while sundry minor help would be
required about the mill Good mill ten
ements should be provided under health
ful conditions. well plumhed II il is
possible to get good sized building lots
it Is much better for the town and for
the help Tenements of five rooms ought
to be easily provided so as to rent for $40
a month
Henry l. Hartman, general manager
Of the Connecticut River Power com
pany, said ii was more satisfactory to
his company to sell its power near the
plant than to carry it to distant points
1t had been said that the dam would be
OF great advantage to Brattleboro and
make the town grow. The power COM
pany wants to do something for Brattle-
boro. He referred to the cotton industry
as the leading industry of New Eng
land, never SO strong as today growing
twice as rapidly as in the South. The
failures in dividends with cotton mills
were less than in the bonds of the high
grade railroads, so that the scheme was
not speculative. There was not one dol
lar of water in this enterprise, nothing
ion ND
Brattleboro would get in on the ground
floor. The low capitalization and the
economy in operating were subjects
touched upon, but after all, the manage
ment was the prime factor in the success
of the mill In closing Mr.. Hartman
summarized the important conditions
which were all good here-freight rates,
supply, help, power and management
Rev Roy NJ. Houghton asked several
questions regarding labor conditions
competition in the South etc, which
Messrs. Chace and Hartman answered
satisfactorily.
Mr.. Cowles called on Cashier w. Fl.
Bracket of the Peoples National bank,
who read from commercial report, show
Ing the high ratings of the men inter-
ested in the proposed project. Mr.. Brack-
EFT spoke of the satisfactory results from
the investment of $15O,OOO by Brattleboro
men in the power company
c. c. Fits said that with the nat
ural resources already developed Brat
tleboro now had a chance for great in
dustrial growth. He hoped to see a
string of mills from here to Vernon. and
Bratueboro become not only the first
town of southeastern Vermont, but the
greatest in the state. He spoke of the
operatives working 10 hours a day as
good, honest, desirable citizens, and of
the advantage to the textile manufacture
ers coming here and in having local in
terest identified with the mill. There is
no dlfhculty In the industry going else
where. Massachusetts towns are wait
ing for such chance. The large in
Vestors in the mill want the support of
local people Never before, said Mr. Fits,
had Brattleboro had presented the propo-
sition of standard industry managed by
successful men. The importance of get
ting the cotton mill leaders Interested in
Bratteboro and in having them learn
that this is a good town to live in were
subjects discussed He believed the in
Nestment would be a good one and would
help Bratueboro He thought that II we
stood still we would retrograde, and that
we should be energetic and pushing. He
urged the local men to give llberallv as
they thought their nelghbors ought TO
give, and to start the town on a good,
strong, healthy growth.
George J.. Durham thought here was a
great opportunity for attractive invest
lnent ana Tor securing to the town an
important industry. These cotton mill
men were good men to be associated
with. No water in the stock appealed TO
MT Durham, and he said he was not
AFRAID Of having the town absorb a few
hundred French Canadian operatives. He
referred to the $4,000 raised here for
the power company. He said three or
four times the amount needed now goes
out from local channels into the West
every year. He said investments here at
home would give us in 10 years the
largest and best town in Vermont.
DR.. II. d. Holton said he has seen the
town grow from 2900 population to 5000,
and this growth was brought about by the
public spirit of few men. Not talk, but
action was what was wanted
Judge j. NJ Tyler spoke of Brattle-
ooro as desirable residential community
and said that from purely selfish stand
point he would not care to see 1000 French
Canadians here, but that this was a mar
row view, manufacturing was what the
town needed, that 1t should court and
covet new industries. On the statements