The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-03-27
A Record Of ACCOMPLISHMENT

The Brattleboro board OF trade will
reach its fifth anniversary next
month. Its life thus far has been one
of continuous effort to make this
town bigger, better and more prosper
ous in every way, and its record of
Accomplishment along these lines Is
worthy OF a brief review at this time.
One OF the first matters that the
board took up after its organization
in 1906 was that OF improved railroad
service-sometbing in which II has
been actively interested ever since.
II had much to do with bringing
about relief from the freight conges-
ton which so annoyed local shippers
In 1907. and was instrumental in Sc.
curing a Saturday night train from
Brattleboro to Vernon while the con-
structIon OF the Connecticut river
dam was in progress. Its protest
against the curtailment OF passenger
service on the Sunday paper trains
was in no small measure responsible
for the restoration OF this service i'm
mediately. II made It possible for To-
cal merchants to secure fruit ship
ments during the summer in time for
delivery to their customers before
noon.
Early In 1908 the board OF trade
started the move for new passenger
station on the west side OF the track
and has been working for this greatly
needed improvement ever since. II
paid for the Brattleboro & Vermont
electric road charter which was grant
ed by the Vermont legislature OF 1908
and has kept the charter valid by
paying the state tax since then. How.
ever the local railroad controversy
is settled this charter will prove In.
valuable in giving Brattleboro the ia
cilities II needs. During the recent
session of the legislature the board
OF trade worked theoretically In be,
half OF the proposed Vermont Valley
charter. contributing 800 to send a
delegation OF local citizens to appear
at the committee hearings BY per
sistent effort the board OF trade In
duced the Central Vermont manage
ment to remedy the unsanitary condi
ton OF the toilet rooms In the pres
ent passenger station. II also
brought about the installation OF q
public telephone booth In the station
to the great convenience OF the pub
| lie.
To secure new industries for Brat
tleboro the board OF trade has striver
with zeal and persistence. Its rep
resentatlves have written hundreds oil
letters and travelled hundreds OF
miles investigating all sorts OF pro
positions. II played prominent
part In getting the Fort Drummer
mills to locate here. taking charge Of
raising the 100000 necessary to Sc
cure the big textile plant and buying
the real estate needed for the mill
site and for the homes OF operatives
Something like $4,000 has been spent
by the board OF trade on this pro
position. Il also contributed $500 t.
IN Felch a Pier Chair company which
Is now located In the old Williams
shop Matter exploiting the adyan
tages OF Brattleboro az town In
which 10 live and do business has
been sent to all parts OF the country
and the superiority OF this section a,
summer resort has been so success
fully advertised that accommodation
FOR vacations have proven hardly
equal to the demand.
The board OF trade has worked un
ceasingly for better highways. Il
bore the expense OF good roads con
ventlon In Brattleboro In the summer
OF 1905. aud last fall Joined with tn,
/ Bellows Falls board In taking m,
representative and senators Of Thu
county on trip Of inspection owe
modern highways in adjoining sec
tions Of Massachusetts and New
Hampshire. II has helped to beautif,
the streets Of the village by sharinI