The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-01-20
STICK TO THE FARMS
Railroad Mans Advice to People Of
Vermont.

Railroad Mans Advice to People of
Vermont.
Bellows Falls, Jan. 14.-"Four
things | advise every Vermonter,
whatever his age; Stay in Vermont
and work, work, work" said First
Vice-President Byrnes of the New
York. New Haven G. Hartford and
allied railway systems at banquet
at the Hoel Windham which broke
up at about half-past two yesterday
morning The occasion was the an
nual spread of the Bellows Falls
board of trade, and the speech made
by the guest of honor lasted two
hours and twelve minutes, and was
applauded to the echo
After the 66 guests had done full
justice to the generous banquet. DR..
Edward Kirkland, president of the
board Ct trade, raped for order and
introdu ed as the postmaster c. W..
Osgood, long one OF the leading bust
ness men Of the place. The first two
speakers were Il. X. Morrison, presi-
dent of the Acworth, N. H., board of
trade, and Z, l.. Hildreth, yice-presi-
dent OF the Brattleboro board OF
trade. Each of these men emphasiz-
ed the value Of similar civic organi-
cations.
AS the guest OF honor was born in
Bellows Falls Sc years ago, he made
his opening remarks of an autobio-
graphical nature, telling many Incl
dents OF his early life here while his
father was a section hand on the old
Vermont Valley road. With his par
ents he emigrated In 1862 to an out
post In Minnesota between which and
the Pacific ocean stretched IAN I'M
broken area of virgin soil" At Is he
entered the University OF Minnesota
from which he was graduated, and
later received a diploma from the law
school OF Columbia University. Until
he was 2S he spent at least three
months OF each year at hard work on
his fathers farm, and to this vigorous
open air exercise he attributes his
present working capacity. While
practicing law in Minnesota he met
Charles S. Mellen, (whose parents
came from Alstead. ~ H., few
miles from Bellows Falls,) and has
ever since allied his fortunes with
those OF this well-known railroad
president. At the present time Mr..
Byrnes is president OF the Mont
pelier & Wells River railroad and
connecting lines. vice-president OF
the entire New Haven system and
allied lines. and a director in a dozen
other railroads.
Mr.. Byrnes in his speech dwelt on
Vermont and Vermonters. and advis-
ed the farmers OF the State to stick
to their farms, and work them to the
limit rather than to hang around the
village half OF the forenoon after
carrying the milk to the creamery.
AS free western lands are nearly ex-
hausted the Vermont farmer OF today
stands a better chance on his native
soil than In any Of the empire states
OF the West, where farm values are
rapidly increasing The speaker de-
i clared that the better part OF the
warp and wool Of the West today
as far as moral fibre was concerned
was the outgrowth OF emigration
from Vermont: the rest came from
other parts of New England, as New
England was the builder OF the West
When he began to talk about the
New England railroad situation
everybody paid close attention. Mr.
Byrnes declared that a double track
from Greenfield north to the White
mountains was absolutely essential
and that the contamination OF this
was but a matter OF few years al
the most. He also stated that II was
matter OF but a few months when
the Boston & Maine would build
massive hotel on the summit OF
Mount Washington, to which they
would construct scenic railway
without parallel anywhere. MT
Ryrnes said that no state In the un
ion needed better railroad facilities
than Vermont. Men may emigrate
elsewhere. but their places are quick
~ supplied and the railroads can Sc
cure no divorce from the soil.
Speaking about late trains Mr.
Byrnes declared that the railroads
were not at fault, as every moment
the train lags behind the railroad
loses money. For the first three
months OF 1911. the New Haven sys
TEN lost money. but the leaks had
now been stopped and dividends were
again In sight.
The speaker discussed the famous
axe gang" which had lately made
visits here and elsewhere, cutting
out employees and making drastic
changes. The object OF all this was
TO get dollars worth OF labor for
dollar OF money, and to promote ellie
ency In every arm OF service. Also
TO secure a spirit Of unQuesuoned
loyalty on the part Of every employe
40 that all should consider the inter
ests OF the system theirs.
In speaking OF President Mellen
/. Mr.. Byrnes showed both loyalty and
/ affection. and declared that his exc
outive had worked an average OF 10
hours a day for the past 80 years
and took relaxation only when nc
: went to church on Sunday and
played the church organ and then
went into the primary department
with the children and answered the
questions with them. But he said
that Mr.. Mellen was himself the sys
tenn" as far as the New Haven was
concerned. and that the directors
Al