The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-09-06
BENNINGTON COUNTY
VERMONT IMPROVEMENT
ASSOCIATION NEWS

now and then attributed to the Ben
nington County Vermont Improve
ment Association and to the prime
movers in this work. Some of these
motives are humorous in the extreme
However, suffice 1t to say that there
is but one motive and one spirit back
of the Association and in the hearts
and minds OF the prime movers and
workers in the organization. This
spirit is the spirit which President
Elliot says is to save the United
States, "the spirit of cooperation
for service"
Summer People
The Boston Chamber of Commerce
makes the following statement in its
book entitled New England" con-
corning the possibilities of New Eng
land for summe. people. Zone of
the greatest natural assets of New
England is it's adaptability for sum-
mer residence. This is not newly
discovered asset, but it is evident
that it is to be promoted in new
and better way, and that the develop
ment is to be along lines not until
recently developed. The areas es-
pecially adapted for summer resi-
dences have not been utilized to the
extent of ten per cent, probably not
to the extent of one per cent. In this
particular New England has no rival
in America. Whatever may be said
of other regions, and there are sever
al regions that present very great
summer-resort attractiveness, there
are no sections that in any sense
compete with New England. Its Of
ferings are unique. There is nothing
in the way of New England's assets
which would be likely to respond SO
readily and generously to the proper
promotive treatment as the summer
resort business. 1t is large, and 1t is
unique, but it is to be said that 1t
now exhibits the need of new meth
DDS and different conduct"
1t is very important that there
should be a spirit Of cooperation and
not a spirit of cut-throat between the
permanent residents and the summer
people. A great many of the sum-
mer people complain bitterly of the
way the permanent residents take
advantage of them. They often put
up the prices and treat them unfairly
in many ways. The permanent resi-
dents ought to bear In mind that
courtesy and justice and fairness will
go long way to bring and keep sum
mer people in a given community and
that the more generous and courteous
such treatment the larger the ulti-
mate gain will be to all concerned.
Improvements along all lines will
do much toward increasing this valu-
able asset of New England. Good
Roads, we'll kept yards and buildings,
an abundance of shade trees are of
the greatest Importance. Great sum-
mer resorts have sprung up here and
there because OF the single efforts of
few to clean up and beauty. Ben
nington County is one OF the most
beautiful counties in the United
States and the Bennington County
Vermont Improvement Association
appeals TO every one to do all with
in their power to enhance the I'M
rivaled beauty that Nature has be-
slowed upon us. The Association
appeals to the farmers as well as the
villages. The motor car makes 1t
possible for resorters to visit places
of natural beauty from time to time
within a radius of fifty miles of
where they live. IL the roads are
poor and the places unkept between
these beauty spots there will not be
much inducement for summer people
TO locate. There should be an Or
ganized effort throughout the entire
country to spray and prune some of
the fine trees that are along the
common highway and to plant others.
''The present day resorter" says
the Boston Chamber of Commerce"
is not inclined to accept that which
he once was satisfied with, in room
or table accommodations A too
large proportion of the summer
hotels have not kept up with the
times. They should be rebuilt and
their menus should be radically re-
formed"
Tea houses here and there would
be a great asset and help in develop
ing the summer trade. The raising OF
good vegetables is another important
item. The production of good butter
and fresh eggs and other farm pro-
duce is essential. The efforts of the i
Bennington County Vermont Improve
ment Association to improve the |
quality as well as to increase the |
quantity of our agricultural output
will be an important factor here.
The other days as the writer came
home he was told small boy with a |
bright lustre in his eyes and a big
smile upon his face, exclaimed Il
have earned dollar and quarter
today!" The boys mother was at
work doing some of the heavier
house work. Mother earned a dollar
and half that day. The little boy
had earned his dollar and quarter
from summer people and there are
scores of them doing likewise. This |,
Is but concrete illustration of one
Of the incidental benefits that come TO
The local residents through summer
people.
The Bennington County Vermont
improvement Association would not
be possible IL il had not been for the
people who have come to this County
as summer people, many of whom are
now permanent residents. These
people as a rule. take lively inter.
ast in building up the community and
Z the local people will but meet them
half way they will find them not a
ietriment but a great help. Some of
he summer people are refusing 10
ielp local projects for the simple
'eason that they have been treated
iiscourteously and have been impos-
ID upon in a financial way.
The Boston Chamber of Commerce
urther says. No competent estimate
" the money value of the summer
business in New England has been
made, and it is difficult to make even
IN intelligent guess. II we were to