The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-12-08
BOARD OF TRADES
ANNUAL GATHERING
Good Speeches and Good Food
Make Occasion Success.
FUTURE PROBLEMS OF THE TOWN

FUTURE PROBLEMS OF THE TOWN
Outlined in Address by Hon. Lewis A.
Waterman of Providence-Talks by
Martin Austin, 8. A. Richmond, Judge
il. Martin and Rev. M. J. Carmody.
Good music, an excellent dinner and
speeches replete with practical suggestions
for the good of Brattleboro combined to
make a decided success of the annual ban.
quet of the local board of trade which
took place in the Brooks House Wednes
day evening. Over $50 men were present
including guests from Greenfield and
Mortified Mass, lIinsdale, n. H., and
Springfield, VT, and the occasion was one
of mutual benefit, Previous to the banquet
short business session was held in the
hotel parors and the bylaws Of the organ.
ization amended in such a way as to do
away with the So initiation fee which has
prevailed heretofore. After this session
the directors met and voted in 20 new
members, making the total membership
1876.
Dinner was served promptly at 7.3O,
speakers, invited guests and board OF trade
officers occupying a long table at the north
side OF the room. The invocation was given
by Rev. +. O. 5. Osgood The menu was
as follows.
Grape Fruit au Madeira
Il al
Radishes Olives Celery
Boiled Penobscot Salmon, Hollandaise
Potatoes Chateau
Braised Tenderloin of Beef, Mushrooms
Mashed Potatoes Green Peas
Tomato and Lettuce Salad, Mayonnaise
Frozen Pudding
Assorted Cake
Toasted Crackers Roquefort Cheese
Demi Tasse
While cigars were being lighted the gath
ering was treated to selection by the
board of trade quartet composed of w. A;
Gilbert, W. s. Stearns, +. {. Adams and
A. L. Clapp. President NJ. c. Houghton
then called the gathering to ORDER taking
occasion TO refer briefly to the prosperous
condition of the organization. After letters
of regret had been read from the secretary
of the keene Commercial club and for
mer President Dennison Cowles Martin
Austin was announced as the first speaker,
his topic being, Our Manufacturing Inter
ests. Mr.. Austin said that Brattleboro
people were apt to spenu too much time
dreaming of great industries to come, and
on that account to forget the value OF the
manufacturing plants already here. He re
ferred TO the Estey Organ company as Brat
tleboro's greatest industry, saying that its
Of xttbp n
boro to make their permanent home was OF
untold benefit to the community, He SAID
the Estey company was at present employ,
ing about $50 hands and had been obliged
to run over time good deal the past year.
He referred to the establishment as with
out doubt the largest pipe organ concern
in America Mr.. Austin then spoke OF the
prosperous condition of other local indus
tries From inquiries he had learned that
the Hooker, Corser & Mitchell company's
business this year was something like 10
per cent greater than last, the company at
present employing about 300 hands. The
White River Chair company has increased
its output about % per cent this year,
and the local printing plants from 10 TO
20 per cent, fully 125 people being EN-
ployed in the printing industry. At the
S. A. Smith factory there has been a small
been obliged to run over time fully two
thirds of the year. its shipments for 1911
being exceeded only three times in %
years Mr.. Austin referred to other local
industries, including the Felch & Pier
Chair company, which is planning an eX-
tension in spite of the fact that New Eng
land trade has been dull of late, and said
that no competent man could fail to find
a job in Brattleboro. He spoke of the sug
gestion (made recently in The Reformer)
that the board Of trade look into the cost
of living in Brattleboro as compared to
other towns with equal advantages, and
gave the idea his hearty approval, saying
that the cost of living figures in the cost
of manufactured products the same as any
other item. In closing Mr., Austin recon-
mended that the board of trade consider
the advisablity of a Made in Brattleboro'
exhibit at the next Valley fair.
At the close of Mr. Austin's talk Clarke
C. Fits presented resolutions of sympathy
and encouragement to Former Secretary
Fox, and they were unanimously adopted.
Scion A. Richmond then spoke briefly on
the subject, Our Employees. He said that
most of the antagonism between labor and
capital was due to misunderstanding and
that as each came to appreciate the rights
of the other this antagonism would grow
steadily less. He believed the laboring
man was entitled to his share of prosperity,
the same as the manufacturer. He then
brought up the question of good roads and
said that they should be provided for the
people who walk as well as for those who
are able to ride in automobiles.
Judge James l.. Martin discussed the
high cost of living problem from none
tary standpoint, saying that laws could not
be depended upon to bring about regula-
ton. He took up the local question
of the need of public playground for Brat
tleboro, saying that the prudential commit.
tee of the Incorporated school district had
considered various sites including the land
west of the S. A. Smith factory and that
on Oak Grove extension, but had not yet
been able to make up its mind as to the
most desirable location. He moved that the
president of the board of trade appoint a
committee of three to act with the pru-
dental committee in investigating this
matter, which will soon be submitted to
the voters for decision.
Rev M. j. Carmody prefaced his remarks
by telling about the man who said there
were two classes of citizens who should not
take part in public affairs, namely, minis
tiers and lawyers-one because they knew
too little about such things, the other be-
cause they knew too much. The speaker
said he was willing to be impaled on one
horn of the dilemma if Brother Fits and
his associates would yield to the other.
Father Carmody then went on to say that
Brattleboro should welcome all classes of
newcomers whatever their nationality. He
spoke of the FrenchC Canadians as large
inf fio1 pIaco and caiI that tbay