Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-03-15

each way between Brattleboro and
South Londonderry, the Bratteboro
board of trade invited men from the
various towns in the valley to come to
Brattleboro Saturday to meet the board
of trade directors and start the ball roll
ing. About 20 came and were given
complimentary dinner, enough Bratte-
boro men joining them to make party
of over so. All were enthusiastic over
the prospect of a boom for the West
River towns, whose natural attractions
for summer boarders are among the
best that can be found anywhere but
have remained largely undeveloped be-
cause of the inadequate train service
There is no room for doubt that the
towns along the line of the railroad are
on the eve of an era of prosperity, ana
the appreciation of their citizens was
manifested frequently in complimentary
references to the board of trade The
board likewise is much gratified over the
response that its efforts have received
thus far. 1t is a movement for the
mutual benefit of all the towns that has
been undertaken, and with the willing
ness of this town to match all the rest
in the matter of finances and with
hundreds of city residents knocking at
the gateway of the valley the plan can
not fail
The visitors were met at the railroad
station by the directors of the board OF
trade and escorted to the Brooks House.
At IL o'clock two special electric cars
carried the party TO the Fort Dummer
Mills cotton factory, where an hour was
spent examining the plant. At 1.So an
excellent dinner of roast turkey was
served by Landlord G. E. Sherman.
At the close of the dinner President NJ.
c. Houghton of the board of trade called
the meeting to order and thanked those
present for their interest in the plan to
develop the summer resort business in
the West River towns, which he charac-
terized as the Berkshires of Vermont He
requested Attorney Clarke c. Fits, rep
resenting the committee appointed by
the board of trade to take up the matter
of better railroad facilities with the
Central Vermont road, to state the work
done by the committee.
Mr. Fits said that the board of trade
had directed its attention to the indus
trial development Of its own town, the
growth of which was now assured A
sad condition confronts the smaller
towns, which are declining in population
and wealth. The problem is to turn the
tide in their favor. The first desire is
to get more residents and establish more
frequent railroad communication. Up to
this time the service of the West River
railroad has failed to attract persons to
the valley, so the board of trade has
undertaken to see what can be done in
that regard. The committee, consisting
Of ]. G. Estey, c. r. Crosby and Mr..
Fits, negotiated with the railroad, told
them the plan and purpose and told them
that the people could reasonably be ex-
pected to bear some of the burden as 1t
would be losing venture for the road
for year or two. The railroad officials
showed figures to prove that the present
passenger service was Improbable and
were told that it never would show
profit unless the valley was built up.
A letter from General Manager G. c.
Jones. who expected to attend the meet
ing but was called to Boston Friday
afternoon to a railroad conference, was
read by Mr. Fits. The letter was dated
at ST. Adams March 5, was addressed to
Mr.. Fits and read as follows:
Referring to the proposed improved
summer service on the West River road (;
beg to say we are arranging, effective
May 1st and continuing until the middle
of June, when our regular summer
shedule goes into effect, for two pas
senger and one mixed train each way,
and after the summer schedule goes
into effect and continuing until October,
or later If the business warrants, three
passenger trains and one mixed train
each way. Commencing with the sea-
son of 1918 it is our intention to estab-
lish on this line a motor car passenger
service, making trips between Brattle-
boro and South Londonderry with such
frequency as the business may warrant.
I'VE beg to assure your committee OF
our hearty cooperation in your efforts
to develop the West River Valley as a
summer resort. A little later we will
arrange a meeting with your committee
to definitely decide the question Of train
schedules
yours truly,
&c. C. JONES, General Manager"
Mr.. Fits said it was hoped to