Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-12-06
FIRST SMOKE TALK
BY BOARD OF TRADE
Variety Of important Subjects
Discussed Tuesday Night
field-valuable Granite Deposit Ac-
quired by c. V. Grant.

quired by c. v. Grant.
The first smoke talk of the season by
the board of trade was held Tuesday
evening in Festival han with small at
tendance Hon. Benjamin w. Porter of
Greenfield, president of the Western New
England Chamber of Commerce, spoke
on the development of western New
England and the work of the organiza-
ton of which he is the president. AS a
result of his business talk" as he call
ed 1t, the board of trade voted unani-
mousiy to apply for membership Fol-
lowing Mr. Porter's talk the members
listened to an explanation by Nj. j. Mo-
ran of the newly formed building and
loan association and e. V. Grant, sec
rotary of the c. IL. Grant Granite COM
pany, told of a large field of granite in
vernon which he hopes to develop into
paying investment for local persons.
resolution expressing the boards regret
that the legislature failed to pass the
recent over-pass bill introduced by Rep
resentatve h. c. Crosby was offered by
Dennison Cowles and was adopted unani-
mously.
In calling the meeting to order Presi-
dent Major G. Houghton said that dur
ing the coming season the board hopes
to accomplish much in the way OF local
improve 1t is planned especially
to begin work for better roads and Ii is
hoped that as much may be done in this
regard as for the improvement of the
sidewalks, which the board accomplished.
He also announced that one of the
towns old industries was being re-or-
ganized and it was expected that the
plant would hire more hands than ever
He referred to the 5. A. Smith Co. S plant
Mr.. Houghton then introduced the speak
err of the evening.
Mr.. Porter did not make long speech,
but his talk demonstrated that he is
live wire,' and at the close of his re-
marks he was applauded vigorously. He
said that when the Western New Eng
land Chamber of Commerce was first
planned last June the members from the
local board of trade were among the
most enthusiastic for its formation, but
after it had been organized the board
voted not to come in. 1t was his inten-
ton, he said, to try to show that the
organization was working for the in
terests of this section of New England
and that Brattleboro should be repre-
scented. The chamber is working for
good roads, labor laws, water Transport
tation improvements, Improvements in
the Connecticut river, conservation of
natural resources, re-forestation and all
the developments that will tend to i'm
prove western New England. By work.
ing in unison the Improvements could
be brought about, and he urged that as
Brattleboro had a reputation of knowing
what it wants and then getting 1t the
benefit would be mutual.
He then explained the work that is
being done in Greenfield along the lines
of civic improvement. The Federated
societies were organized year ago. Each
of the 100 organizations in the town is
representated on a committee and this
committee is represented by an execu-
tive committee of which Mr.. Porter is
president. The organizations are work.
i'm in and Greenfield iS
receiving the benefit of an improved
public spirit. Among the things ac-
complished is a reduction of 80 cents a
thousand in the price of gas and next
year it is expected that the water sup
ply, which is affected by the vegetable
growth that also affects the water here,
will be improved
Mr.. Moran explained the newly or
ganized Brattleboro Cooperative Build
ing and Loan association and Charles F.
Keefe, vice president of the Franklin
County Trust company of Greenfield,
who accompanied Mr.. Porter, spoke OF
the success of a cooperative bank in
his town. Mr.. Keefe is conversant with
banking laws and told of the history and
growth of the cooperative idea along
banking lines. Dennison Cowles moved
to apply for membership in the West
ern New England Chamber of Commerce
and the motion was carried unanimously.
c. V. Grant spoke for several minutes
in regard to the granite and marble in
dustry in this state and of a granite vein
which he had located and bought at the
old Howe farm in Vernon, now owned by
S. S. Pike. The vein is valuable and Mr..
Grant hopes to interest local capital
The development of the property will
be easy as a spur track will be built
and 1t is Mr.. Grants intention to build
a stone shed on the Hunt meadows now
flooded, and begin work on the Vernon
property within a short time. He plan
ned to begin last week, but the man
who will have charge of the quarry was
not able to come. The quarry will be
about three miles south of the Brattle-
boro station. The vein is 300 to 400 feet
in width and covers about 35 acres of
land. The lines of the Connecticut River
Power company pass through it so that
the power problem may be solved easi-
ly. On motion Of Mr.. Cowles it was
voted that a committee from the board
of trade consult with Mr.. Grant on the
quarry proposition.
Mr.. Cowles also introduced this reso-
luton: Whereas, the House of Repre-
sentatives at Montpelier has defeated the
bill introduced by our representative
providing for an over-pass on Bridge
street In Brattleboro with an eighteen
1S) foot clearance; and
Whereas, the bill was introduced at
the request OF our railroad committee
anu dlter very CareIul consideration OF
plans for safeguarding all persons from
danger now
BE it resolved that the Brattleboro
board of trade expresses its deep regret
that the House of Representatives has
seen At to defeat the measure, and fur
ther expresses its belief that the action
OF the House was the result OF a pos
sible misunderstanding Of the local con-
ditions surrounding and having relation
to the over-pass.
"And be it further resolved that we
express the hope that there may still
be some way in which the legislature
can help us to avoid the very serious
consequences which will come to this
town and vicinity II some relief is not
granted us in this matter"
Upon motion of C, o. Robbins the
speakers from Greenfield were accorded
a vote OF thanks and then refreshments
were served by the Official caterer, Hal
l.. March.
During the last ten years the number
of 1pnrnfpra nt into Canada avcaadad :