Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-04-26
BOARD OF TRADE YEAR
Many Things Accomplished for
Good OF Brattleboro
ident Houghton and Secretary Hopkins
Re.elected--Other Business.

Neutrality-suspicious. Business.
That the east year was one of ac-
compishments by the Brattleboro board
of trade was shown in the annual meet
ing of the board in Festival hall We'd
nesday night Many things were done
for the benefit of the town, and other
benefits are under consideration. 1t was
an interesting occasion with very salts
factory reports from the various officers
and committees. President Major c.
Houghton and Secretary Carl S. Hop
kns both of whom have come into Of
flee since the election year ago, were
re- elected.
About IS persons were present when
President Houghton called the meeting
to order. The clerk, c. S. Hopkins, read
the report of the last annual meeting,
following which the president read his
annual report After placing due EN-
phasis upon the value of the work of
Dennison Cowles, whose health made 1T
necessary for him to resign in the mid
die of the years activities, Mr. Hough-
ton called attention to some of the
things done by the board the past year
Early in June the directors called the
attention of the town authorities to the
need of changing the Hunt farm road to
make better southern approach to the
town. The road is nearing completion
now. The project of better train SER
vice on the West River railroad was
launched Nov. "a c. c. Fits, J. Harry
Estey and c. r. Crosby being appointed
a special committee. For this an appro-
priation of $500 was made and ii was
voted to increase the amount to a sum
equal to what the citizens of the valley
would raise. The improved service will
be begun next week. The West River
Valley association was organized March
8 to boom the valley. A committee as
sisted the school committee in selecting
a site for a new school building. Through
the activities of the transportation com
mttee better train service to New York
is expected. Much valuable work was
accomplished in get together meetings
and various movements were started for
the good of Brattleboro, such new
sidewalks, street surveys and a new
village charter.
The membership is now 202, a gain of
80 in the year, yet many of the towns
best citizens are not members. Mr.
Houghton bespoke the cooperation of
all with the committee for the Made
in Brattleboro' exhibit at the coming
Valley fair. He said he had hoped to
be able to announce that a new indus
try had been induced to locate here, but
that the matter was not settled. 1t is
necessary to have more tenements right
away for the people who are coming to
operate the mills Mr.. Houghton said
he hoped some plan would be worked
out for building more houses like those
already built, rather than large blocks,
as the smaller houses work more to the
towns advantage, in appearance and in
other ways.
Greater cooperation was urged. do
not think that everything we do should
put money into our pockets, the presi-
dent said, but work for Brattleboro' s
good and then take what benefit comes
to us, directly or indirectly" He ac-
tl,a r,ft hn otnrc
and members and spoke especially of
the efficient work of the secretary.
The report of Treasurer c. A. Boyden
showed receipts of $3433.03 including last
years balance of $1031.40. The cash on
hand April 20 was s16SS93. The treas
urers account with the Fort Drummer
Heights association showed receipts of
$1,000, including last years balance Of
$4,000. The balance on hand April &c
was $22S07 The assets of the associa-
ton amount to $2S7S07 and the liabilities
to s2450. The treasurer said that about
$1,000 was collected the past year more
than in any previous year.
Secretary Hopkins's report covered to
a certain extent matters spoken of by
the president. He said the board was,
without doubt, the largest civic organi-
cation of its kind, in proportion to popu-
lation, in any town or city in New Eng
land He mentioned the printing of
ZD,UUU SIPS advertising tne lOWn, 10 De
| inserted in letters the exhibit of pic
lures representing the business life of
the town in the international municipal
| congress and exhibition in Chicago last
| fall; the successful effort to have more
notice Of the town in the summer books
! of the railroads; appropriations to the
day nursery and the rest room; the es-
| tablishment of bureau of information
where rooms, with or without board,
| could be listed, of which there are now
81; the appointment of a committee to
investigate certain buildings contem-
plated or being erected, which resulted
in the appointment of a building in
spector by the village bailiffs; the re-
duction in membership fees for out-of-
town members.
Mr.. Hopkins expressed his thanks for
the assistance given by the local news
papers and newspapermen, and in one
of his closing paragraphs said: ut is
very gratifying to see the large number
Of neat, attractive cottage houses that
have gone up during the past year. and